Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4920, the Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting Preference Consistency Act. This bipartisan bill provides a necessary fix to ensure that nonprofit organizations that provide jobs for the blind and those with significant disabilities and companies that are owned by veterans receive their due and are no longer in conflict. The AbilityOne Program was enacted by Congress to give nonprofit organizations that employ the blind or those with significant disabilities preferential treatment in competing for certain Federal procurement contracts. Unfortunately, due to an unnecessary conflict between AbilityOne and a similar program, the Veterans First program, which sets aside some Department of Veterans Affairs contracts for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses, a legislative fix became necessary. H.R. 4920 provides that fix by grandfathering in VA contracts that predate the creation of the Vets First program to restore eligibility for nonprofit organizations that employ blind individuals or those with significant disabilities. This bipartisan legislation is proof that the choices between helping veterans and those with disabilities is not mutually exclusive. I thank Chairman Takano, Ranking Member Roe, and all the members on the committee for their work on the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.”