So we want to see that steady increase keep going and not plateau until it is at or above the 23 percent.

We need more PCRs, without question, to look at and review these contracts, these bundled contracts, and unbundling them, because that is a huge issue.

I firmly believe that the Federal Government must unleash the job creation potential of small businesses to drive our nation's economic recovery.

And there is no doubt about it, except that oftentimes they are overwhelmed running their business on a daily basis.

It means jobs. For every $140,000 that is spent in contracting dollars, it means one job.

I think it is very important.

That is terrible, at anytime, but especially now.

Half of all the procuring federal agencies have yet to achieve the women's business contracting goal.

Well, I think with all exceptions on this contracting, go to 2007, the only area where we have achieved it was small disadvantaged businesses at this point.

The Washington Post did a story today on tracking stimulus spending.

I am glad the omnibus legislation removed the rule of women's contracting goals of the SBA because it was not right.

This is simply unacceptable. I hope if anything that is learned from this hearing is that small businesses deserve their fair share of federal funds.

I would like to see every small business set-aside have a footnote in there that they come to their local PTAC.

If the DBE program goes away, which is the backbone of our country, so will the majority small business companies that do under 17 million three years annually.

I appreciate the suggestions you have made about how each agency should account for how the stimulus dollars are spent.

It is major. And two weeks ago we were out here with our women's group, Women First, and 14 of our women were here from across the United States.

We are asking today that the Committee move expeditiously to pass the legislation drafted last year by Senators Kerry and Snowe as an amendment to the DoD Authorization Bill.

Unfortunately, they have been cut significantly.