Press Releases

Chabot Praises Passage of NDAA and Small Business Contracting Reforms

WASHINGTON - House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) today applauded the passage of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2016 (NDAA), which included a number of Small Business Committee legislative proposals to improve the federal contracting process.

Many of these provisions were successfully marked up by the Committee on Small Business on March 25, 2015.  In April, Chairman Chabot, along with several other Small Business Committee Members including Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Rep. Cresent Hardy (R-NV), testified before the Armed Services Committee in support of these contracting reforms aimed at increasing small business participation rates. A large portion of those proposals were included in the Committee’s legislation.  Chairman Chabot then testified before the Committee on Rules in favor of including the remaining provisions, which he and Rep. Bost spoke in favor of during floor consideration of the bill. All of the provisions were ultimately adopted. 

“Small businesses are vital to our industrial base and this bill makes sure they have the opportunity to meet our national security needs,” said Chabot. “I want to thank Chairman Thornberry for his tireless effort in assembling this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, and for including these common sense contracting reforms. I look forward to working with him and our Senate counterparts to ensure America’s small businesses have greater opportunity to compete for federal contracts, because when they do, it improves quality, reduces costs, and ensures we have a robust industrial base supporting our military.”

Versions of the following bills were included in the NDAA:

• H.R. 1481 introduced by Chairman Steve Chabot

• H.R. 1444 introduced by Rep. Richard Hanna

• H.R. 1390 introduced by Rep. Steve Knight

• H.R. 1386 introduced by Rep. Carlos Curbelo

• H.R. 1583 introduced by Rep. Cresent Hardy

• H.R. 1410 introduced by Del. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen

• H.R 1429 introduced by Rep. Mike Bost

As passed by the House, the NDAA increases opportunities for small businesses in numerous ways in order to increase competition, innovation and job creation. Highlights include:

• Increasing transparency into the health of the small business technological and industrial base;

• Holding agencies accountable for subcontracting opportunities;

• Relieving regulatory burdens on service contractors;

• Making it easier for small businesses to team and joint venture for large contracts;

• Cracking down on contract bundling and consolidation;

• Ensuring that size standards are properly created and implemented;

• Providing  small business advocates with necessary training;

• Restricting the misuse of reverse auctions; and

• Adding a small business representative to the Federal Acquisition Council.

Further details on the NDAA can be found here.  

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