Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4326, the Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act.

This bill will expand oversight over the government purchase card system by ensuring that all small businesses contracting programs are under the purview of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

This legislation follows a joint Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations and House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing, where we discussed reports that cited irregularities at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This hearing uncovered numerous violations of Federal procurement laws with regard to government purchase cards.

According to witness testimony, including individuals from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA's Office of Management issued government purchase cards that were being used illegally. This includes recipients using government purchase cards above the micro-purchase threshold in the same manner as micro-purchases.

As ranking member of the Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations, I believe we must ensure that our small businesses have access to Federal contracts by guaranteeing that money associated with government purchase cards are not used for wasteful spending.

The reckless misuse of government funding uncovered at the VA has prevented some small businesses from accessing the Federal dollars owed to them. This legislation would ensure that every agency properly monitors purchase card activity to better free up the funds allocated to small businesses, including disadvantaged businesses.

We have a responsibility to our Nation's small businesses to guarantee that there is a level playing field for them to offer their products and services. We cannot provide that level playing field if there are inefficiencies and waste occurring within our Federal agencies.

Before I close, I would like to thank Representative Hardy for his support and cosponsorship.

I want to urge my colleagues to support the Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act because supporting small business is simply the right thing to do.

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