News From the
Committee on Small Business
Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology
Bruce Braley, Chairman


For Immediate Release
April 16, 2008     

CONTACT: Jeff Giertz (Braley) (202) 225-2911, Erin Donar/ Jaime Zapata,  (202) 226-3636

Subcommittee Examines Ways to Open

Federal Marketplace to Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Small businesses have always been drivers of economic growth. Given the threat of a looming recession, that is an especially important fact. It is also why allowing entrepreneurs fair access to the $400 billion federal marketplace makes sense. Today, Chairman Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology held an oversight hearing to assess the inclusion of small firms in federal contracting programs. The forum featured testimony from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various representatives of the small business community.

“We are focused on getting our economy back on track. One of our tasks towards meeting that goal is ensuring small businesses can bring their world-class products and services to the federal marketplace,” said Chairman Braley.

Last year, the House passed the Chairman Braley’s H.R. 1873, The Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act. Thebilldiscourages reverse auctions and contract bundling, which rob small businesses of the opportunity to compete for federal projects. It also raises federal small business procurement goals and ensures contracts are designed to leverage the efficiency that is a hallmark of small firms.

“This administration pays billions of dollars to large contractors, but it has never met its small business contracting goals. That means taxpayers are being denied the unparalleled efficiency and innovation that small businesses bring to the table,” said Chairman Braley. “Not giving entrepreneurs a real opportunity to compete with their larger counterparts is not just unfair; it’s short-sighted.”

Witnesses at the hearing also discussed the long-delayed Women’s Procurement Program. The initiative was enacted seven years ago, but has yet to be implemented by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Only after a lawsuit—filed by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce—did SBA issue a regulation for the program. As the Chairman pointed out, however, its proposed guidelines are unworkable, and merely the latest in a series of contracting decisions that run counter to the intent of law.

“It’s obvious this administration is not doing the job when it comes to small businesses and contracting. It is time to level the playing field and bring greater transparency to the process,” said Chairman Braley. “Small businesses are ready to maximize every single tax-payer dollar, and that is exactly what our economy needs.”

###

Click here to view list of witnesses and testimony.
Click here to view video highlights of the hearing.