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The Assuring Contracting Equity Act

Floor Speech

Date: July 23, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Business and Consumers Economy and Fiscal

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to introduce H.R. 3175, the Assuring Contracting Equity Act.
This legislation promotes economic development for many of the small businesses and communities that were hit the hardest by our country's recession and are still struggling to recover.

As I tour small businesses in my district, I am constantly reminded of the critical contribution they make to our communities. But too often our small businesses can't access or are unable to take advantage of federal contracting opportunities. By raising the contracting goal, the government will need to be more proactive in its outreach to small businesses. More contracts will help small businesses grow and hire more workers, empowering them to continue to give back to our communities.

The Assuring Contracting Equity Act will expand opportunities for small businesses to secure contracts with the federal government; particularly businesses owned by women, veterans, and minorities. The bill also provides increased access to government contracts for small businesses located in economically distressed areas known as Historically Underutilized Business Zones, or HUBZones.

In addition, the ACE Act improves accountability and transparency by requiring the Small Business Administration to report the percentage of all federal contracting dollars that are awarded to small businesses as well as direct agencies to prioritize large contractors that maximize subcontracts to small businesses.

In my district and across the country, small business owners are striving to succeed. The Assuring Contracting Equity Act could redirect an additional $10 billion in business every year to the nation's smallest companies, giving entrepreneurs the potential to expand their businesses and continue creating jobs and growing our economy.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Assuring Contracting Equity Act to provide a greater opportunity for success to the small businesses that deserve it the most.


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