Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3867, Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, House Resolution 773 provides for the consideration of H.R. 3867, the Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act, under a structured rule.

As the Clerk reported, the rule provides 1 hour of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Small Business. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clause 9 and 10 of rule XXI.

Ten amendments that were submitted to the Rules Committee for consideration were made in order. All four Republican amendments that were submitted and six Democratic amendments that were submitted were all made in order. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Through a series of laws and procurement requirements, Congress established a benchmark for the SBA to give small businesses every opportunity to compete fairly for the award of Federal contracts. Despite a clear mandate that has been in existence for more than 50 years, small businesses have not received their fair share of Federal Government contracts. This is especially true regarding the service-disabled veterans, men and women, and minority-owned businesses.

In 2006 alone, the Federal Government spent over $417 billion on goods and services, but small businesses have been continuously losing out on contracting opportunities. This is a tragedy. Small businesses are the engines of our economy; and securing a Federal contract is a major financial boon for these entrepreneurs, especially veterans, women, and businesses in low-income areas.

We cannot afford for our budding entrepreneurs to be shut out of what should be an open market and be denied opportunities to succeed, not when their existence is so vital to our economy, especially. H.R. 3867 takes several critical steps to assist small businesses' participation in Federal procurement by updating and expanding the SBA's procurement programs.

First, it improves contracting opportunities for service-disabled veteran businesses. Today only 0.87 percent of Federal contracts are granted to service-disabled veteran businesses, a far cry from the 3 percent goal that was enacted in 1999.

H.R. 3867 gives service-disabled veteran businesses priority for Federal contracts, providing more opportunities for our Nation's veterans to become successful entrepreneurs.

It also codifies President Bush's executive order directing agencies to provide veterans resources and assistance they need to participate in Federal contracting processes.

Second, H.R. 3867 aids women-owned businesses with Federal procurement processes. The Women's Procurement Program was enacted 7 years ago to increase the number of contracts awarded to businesses owned by women.

However, the SBA has been dragging its feet in implementing the program, costing women tens of billions of dollars in lost contracting opportunities. H.R. 3867 fully implements the Women's Procurement Program, giving women-owned businesses greater access to the Federal marketplace.

The bill also takes the first step in modernizing the 8(a) program, which helps minority-owned businesses secure Federal contracts; but it has not been updated in over 20 years. The bill updates the 8(a) program to reflect today's economy so that minority-owned businesses have time to grow and graduate from the initiative.

Finally, H.R. 3867 continues the Democrats' commitment to combating fraud and eliminate wasting taxpayer dollars.

The bill enhances business integrity standards to ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to reputable individuals. It promotes self-policing to allow small businesses to challenge individual program awards. It protects disabled veterans by penalizing firms that falsely represent themselves as service-disabled veteran businesses, and it requires on-site reviews by SBA personnel before HUBZone contracts are awarded.

Madam Speaker, the bill before us today, H.R. 3867, has extremely strong bipartisan support. It passed the Small Business Committee by a vote of 21-4.

Among other organizations, it is supported by the National Federation of Independent Business, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

I would like to thank Chairwoman Velázquez and members of the Small Business Committee for their hard work that went into this piece of legislation.

Madam Speaker, we all recognize the importance of small businesses to our economy. It is imperative that we follow through on our commitments to small business and give them every opportunity we can to succeed.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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