Reps. Newman, Salazar Introduce Bill to Provide More Contracting Opportunities to Small Businesses

Statement

Today, U.S. Representatives Marie Newman (D-IL-03) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) introduced the HUBZone Price Evaluation Preference Clarification Act, new bipartisan legislation designed to expand contracting opportunities to millions of small businesses located in historically underutilized business zones. The bill would amend current language to ensure more federal spending is devoted to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) HUBZone program, which could then be used to expand the number of federal and private contracting opportunities for local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

"As we continue our road to economic recovery, we need to ensure the small businesses and local entrepreneurs in our most underutilized communities have more opportunities to thrive, and that starts by providing them with fair access to contract with the federal government," said Congresswoman Newman. "For too long, large corporations have dominated over small businesses, leaving too many without any federal contracting opportunities. By passing this bill, we can level the playing field for our entrepreneurs and give them the fair shot they need and deserve to grow their small business."

"Since coming to Congress, one of my main priorities has been helping small businesses contract with the federal government," said Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar. "Small businesses are struggling to compete when they are forced to go head-to-head with large corporations. This bill will ensure that small businesses contractors in underserved communities have a leg-up against their corporate competitors and are given a fair shot. That's why I am proud to co-introduce this legislation, which prioritizes small businesses, giving contractors the opportunity to fight for their American dream."

The SBA's Historically Underutilized Business Zone Empowerment Contracting (HUBZone) program is designed to provide small businesses located in areas with low income, high poverty, or high unemployment with contracting opportunities. Currently, funding intended for the HUBZone program and small businesses is being lost to larger firms due to incorrectly interpreted language regarding the program's price evaluation preference. This bill would clarify the program's price evaluation language to ensure the federal government is driving its spending towards HUBZone small businesses.

Congresswomen Newman and Salazar currently sit on the House Small Business Committee. This past fall, they introduced a resolution to recognize National Latino Small Business Day.

Source