Nydia M. Velazquez: “small businesses need opportunities. Repeatedly, small businesses have demonstrated that they can provide the government…”

“small businesses need opportunities. Repeatedly, small businesses have demonstrated that they can provide the government a superior product at an affordable cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, small businesses are seeing their opportunities dwindle as agencies place expediency over job creation in our local communities and what is best for the American taxpayers. The cost of this is the creation of mega contracts that are so big that only big businesses in corporate America can compete. What they are telling American small businesses is that the $285 billion Federal marketplace is not open to them. When President Bush took office, he promised to change this and to open the Federal marketplace to small businesses. Even 2 years ago, during Small Business Week, he issued a small business agenda and made contract bundling his top priority. Since taking office, not only has he done nothing to change this, but this administration has failed to meet any of the small business goals set up by Congress. This is outrageous. Today's legislation is a perfect example of that.”