Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act of 2019
Floor Speech
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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Ms. Velazquez, for yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, we are currently on the 18th day of President Trump's government shutdown. On a daily basis, the economic harm of the shutdown is being felt more acutely by small businesses in the Federal marketplace than their larger competitors. In contrast to large firms, small firms often rely on just a few contracts to provide a large portion of their annual revenue. As such, many report that, during the shutdown, they may have to lay off staff
Small firms are projected to lose out on nearly $301 million daily in new contract work because agencies cannot enter into new contracts during the shutdown.
I urge the President to put America first and agree to reopen the government.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 226, the Clarity on Small Business Participation and Category Management Act of 2019. H.R. 226 seeks to improve reporting on small business participation in Federal contracting.
This legislation requires the Small Business Administration to report to Congress on the number of small businesses awarded best in class contracts and the dollar amount of such contracts. This information should help us get answers regarding how category management impacts the participation of small businesses, including minority-owned, women- owned, and veteran-owned companies, in the Federal marketplace.
Market research has shown that past contract consolidation efforts by the Federal Government have decreased the number of small prime contracting opportunities in the Federal workplace. In fiscal year 2017, the percentage of contracting dollars that went to small businesses was 24 percent, down from 26 percent in fiscal year 2015. As such, concerns about the impact of category management on small businesses are understandable.
As a longtime advocate for small businesses, I am pleased to cosponsor this legislation, and I thank the gentlewoman from New York for bringing this bill forward.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support small businesses by voting in favor of this legislation.
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