LaLota: “Leveling the Playing Field: Examining the Landscape of Veteran Owned Small Businesses”

Summary

Opening statement of Subcommittee Chairman LaLota, as prepared for delivery, at a July 23, 2024 joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. The hearing concerns veteran-owned small businesses and federal contracting. LaLota says the number of small businesses receiving federal contracts has been cut in half over the past 10 years and new entrants have fallen by nearly 60 percent. He says the Federal Acquisition Regulations, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations and Federal Register rules run over 94,000 pages. He thanks Stephen Hayduk, a Vietnam Veteran and his constituent, and yields to Ranking Member Scholten.

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Opening Statements

LaLota: “Leveling the Playing Field: Examining the Landscape of Veteran Owned Small Businesses”

July 23, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity is holding a hearing titled “Examining the Landscape of Veteran Owned Small Businesses.”

Subcommittee Chairman LaLota’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Welcome to today’s joint subcommittee hearing, entitled, “Leveling the Playing Field: Examining the Landscape of Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.”

First, I want to thank our witnesses for joining us today. Your time here is very much appreciated, and I look forward to your testimonies. I’d like to specifically shout out Mr. Stephen Hayduk, a Vietnam Veteran, and my very own constituent. Sir, thank you for your service to this nation, and thank you for being here today.

I’d also like to thank the VA Subcommittee on Economic Development for joining us in this effort today. Today, our Subcommittees will be focusing on how we can get our nation’s Veterans more involved in the contracting space and more involved on Main Street in general.

We must address the alarming decline in the number of small businesses receiving federal contracts, having been cut in half over the past 10 years, with the number of small businesses entering the federal contracting system decreasing by nearly 60 percent in the same period.

We all know the crucial role Main Street plays in increasing competition, innovation and stimulating our economy. Yet they have been systematically squeezed out of federal contracting for decades.

Unfortunately, this decline in small business contracting comes as no surprise as the Biden Administration actively steers our economy and national security in the wrong direction. Veterans should have abundant opportunities in this space.

Our nation’s Veterans bring unique skill sets to the marketplace, and we must ensure they have the resources they need to compete in the procurement marketplace. They possess innate leadership and entrepreneurial qualities that cannot be taught. Unfortunately, often times when Veterans attempt to transition back to civilian life, that journey can be extremely challenging.

Entrepreneurship is a fantastic way for Veterans to regain mission focus, but it is no easy process, especially thanks to today’s current economic landscape brought about by this Administration. Veteran-owned small businesses should be able to easily operate in the contracting marketplace, too.

Sadly, the bureaucratic red tape small businesses are forced to navigate is extremely harmful and burdensome. Needless to say, the complexity of these barriers makes it even harder for small businesses to enter the federal marketplace.

For example, involvement in federal contracting requires a sufficient understanding of the long and cumbersome Federal Acquisition Regulations, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations and the applicable regulations in the Federal Register.

Together these documents are over 94,000 pages long and require thousands of manhours to read. Veterans – and small business owners at large – should not have to do this just to compete. It is our job to give Veterans a fighting chance after all they’ve done for us.

This Subcommittee’s mission is to create a pathway for small businesses to succeed.

That’s why today’s hearing is absolutely paramount. I hope today’s discussion will lead to real-world solutions that will enhance the lives and realities of our Veteran-owned businesses.

Thank you all again for joining us today.

Your real-world experiences help us make meaningful improvements to ensure small businesses are fully utilized in the federal procurement marketplace.

We must work together to stop the decline of small business contracting and fight to keep Main Street open for business.

With that, I yield to my distinguished colleague, the Ranking Member from Michigan, Ms. Scholten.

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