John Kerry: “I am pleased today to be re-introducing legislation, the ``Small Business Federal Contractor Safeguard Act,'' designed…”

“I am pleased today to be re-introducing legislation, the ``Small Business Federal Contractor Safeguard Act,'' designed to protect the interests of small businesses in the Federal marketplace. Currently as the Ranking Member, and last Congress as Chairman, of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I have focused a considerable amount of energy on increasing the role of small businesses in the Federal marketplace. Not only is it an issue of fairness, but it is in the best interest of our economy and our national security. In fact, the Small Business Administration was created after World War II to ensure that small businesses would be viable for defense-related production, to build a diverse pool of suppliers so that the country would not be dependent on only a handful of companies. As this country prepares for war in Iraq and continues the on-going war on terrorism, we should be improving that viability and expanding that diverse pool. We should be increasing our business with small business, not reducing it.”