Emma Hardy: “We hear about fraud, waste, and abuse as it pertains to the Federal Government spending too much in this country. Last…”

“We hear about fraud, waste, and abuse as it pertains to the Federal Government spending too much in this country. Last year, the Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations within the Small Business Committee held a joint hearing with the Veterans' Affairs Committee to investigate the reports of fraud and manipulation at the VA when it comes to reporting small business goals. What we heard was shocking. The VA unlawfully spent millions of dollars on medicine, medical care, and prosthetic contracts. And even more troubling, these contracts, if administered lawfully and transparently, would have allowed veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses the opportunity to compete. That is why I stand in support of my colleague's bill, H.R. 4326, the Small and Disadvantaged Business Enhancement Act of 2016. It contains language to equip small businesses with the tools to root out deception and fraud. By having access to data in their toolbox, the small business offices would have not only reduced fraud activities, but it could also have potentially saved money by allowing competition in the process. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense language to help reduce fraud, waste, and abuse.”