"Ranking Member Velázquez Applauds Committee Passage of Nine Bipartisan Small Business Bills"
Summary
A press release dated January 31, 2024 from Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) on the House Small Business Committee's passage of nine bipartisan small business bills. Velázquez is quoted saying the bills improve SBA contracting programs, codify the Office of Native American Affairs, address childcare and work to recover fraudulent pandemic funds. The release lists each bill with its sponsors, including H.R. 5450 on the HUBZone preference, H.R. 7102 authorizing the Office of Native American Affairs and H.R. 6156 requiring an SBA study of for-profit childcare providers. It describes "The Put America on Commission Act," introduced by Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX) and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), which would establish a whistleblower office at SBA that refers tips to the Office of Inspector General and pays awards.
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Ranking Member Velázquez Applauds Committee Passage of Nine Bipartisan Small Business Bills January 31, 2024 Washington, DC - Today, the House Small Business Committee passed nine bipartisan small business bills to increase opportunities for small firms in government contracting, support Native American entrepreneurs, support independent childcare businesses, and fight fraud in Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. “The bills passed today make important improvements to the contracting programs at SBA, codify the Office of Native American Affairs, take a good first step on childcare, and work to recover fraudulent pandemic funds,” said Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “This committee has a long tradition of working together to get things done for small businesses, and I appreciate Chairman Williams and the Members of the Committee putting their differences aside and coming together to improve SBA’s programs for small businesses.” H.R. 5450, “Enhancing Competition in Contracting Orders Act” Introduced by Rep. Hilary Scholten (D-MI) and Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) This bill would clarify that federal agencies are required to apply the HUBZone preference to task orders on multiple award vehicles. The SBA has 90 days to issue implementing regulations. H.R. 6591, “The Encouraging Success Act” Introduced by Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) This bill would require the SBA to regularly assess the thresholds to be considered economically disadvantaged for the 8(a) program. H.R. 7102, “The Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act” Introduced by Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Rep. Elijah Crane (R-AZ) The “Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act” would statutorily authorize the Office of Native American Affairs at SBA. H.R. 7103, “The Agency Accountability Act of 2024” Introduced by Rep. Stauber (R-MN) and Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) H.R. 7103 would require the head of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) of a federal agency that does not receive an A grade on the SBA’s scorecard, or whose agency does not meet two or more of the subcategory goals, to testify before the House and Senate Small Business Committees. H.R. 6156, “The Child Care Small Business Insight and Improvement Act” Introduced by Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) H.R. 6156 requires the Small Business Administration to (1) conduct a study on the needs and challenges of for-profit childcare providers and (2) designate a full-time employee as the point of contact for for-profit child care providers. H.R. 7104, “The National SBDC Advisory Board Improvement Act” Introduced by Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) The bill would require the Board to submit an annual report to SBA and Congress on their activities and make recommendations to improve the SBDC program. H.R. 7105, the WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act Introduced by Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) The legislation: (1) requires federal agencies to count only contracts with SBA-certified WOSB firms toward the federal contracting goals; (2) establishes a process to address current self-certified WOSB firm that will need certification; and (3) provides for quarterly briefings on SBA’s implementation and progress for the House and Senate Small Business Committees. “WOSB Integrity Act” Introduced by Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) The bill would require that SBA or the third-party certifiers certify that an applicant meets the SBA’s size standards as a small business for participation in the WOSB program. “The Put America on Commission Act” Introduced by Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX) and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) The legislation would establish a whistleblower office at SBA in the Office of Performance, Planning, and Chief Financial Officer. The Office will manage the whistleblower tips, which include collecting information, referring the information to the Office of Inspector General, tracking the status of the cases, and paying the awards to the whistleblower.
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