Political Quotes

“I start out again by thanking my friend from Colorado for his work on this bill. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3082, as amended, the Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006. Title I of this bill improves the status of veteran and disabled veteran small businesses when competing for contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs. It would be a reasonable expectation, Madam Speaker, that of all the Federal Government's agencies, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be a leader in achieving the President's goal for annual procurement from at least 3 percent disabled veteran-owned businesses. Sadly, not. Our most recent data from fiscal year 2005 indicates that VA did barely over half of what the President asked and public law required. Deficient as it is, VA's record beats many other agencies, including the Department of Defense. According to the Small Business Administration, only three of 81 Federal agencies met the President's 3 percent goal. H.R. 3082, as amended, would require the VA Secretary to establish annual contracting goals for small businesses owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans. The goal for service-disabled veterans shall not be less than 3 percent. The Department of Veterans Affairs would also be required under title I to maintain and validate a database of small businesses owned by veterans and disabled veterans.…”