On the recordJanuary 8, 2019
Let me just respond to the gentleman's comment regarding the shutdown. The fact of the matter is that the President campaigned and told the American people that he will build a wall and that it will be paid for by the Government of Mexico, and that is not what he is telling us now. Besides, this is the President's shutdown, and he was very proud when he made that comment to Speaker Pelosi and the minority leader, Chuck Schumer. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of this important legislation to provide much-needed oversight of small business participation in the streamlined acquisition strategy known as category management. {time} 1715 H.R. 226 requires that contracting activity under this new regime be reported in the annual goaling report from agencies to Congress. This data would allow us to better understand how small firms fare under this new system and make adjustments if needed to guarantee an equitable playing field. This bill protects the small business industrial base by giving a mechanism for much-needed accountability. It is supported by the National Small Business Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the National Electrical Contractors Association, which is the voice of the $171 billion electrical construction industry. I thank the ranking member for his support of H.R. 226, and I remain committed to ensuring small firms are competitive within the Federal marketplace. Mr.…
