Glenn English: “I would also like to salute the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms.…”

“I would also like to salute the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the ranking member, of the Small Business Committee for bringing forward this legislation now and on a bipartisan basis. Mr. Chairman, America's 23 million small businesses employ more than 50 percent of the private workforce and they generate more than half of the Nation's gross domestic product. They are the principal source of new jobs in the U.S. economy and the primary source of dynamism in the U.S. economy. But no matter how they shape our economy, small businesses in general, and notably women-owned businesses, still face an uphill battle when it comes to obtaining Federal contracts, that is why I rise in strong support of this legislation, the Small Business Competition Preservation Act of 2000. Mr. Chairman, small businesses have an inherent disadvantage of scale because of their size and resources. It is difficult for them to compete in a procurement landscape dominated by big business. Congress has, as the gentleman noted, enacted goals for Federal agencies that give small businesses a fighting chance in a playing field slanted toward the big boys. One goal calls for small business to be awarded just 20 percent of Federal contracts; but, Mr. Chairman, not a single Federal agency, not one, has met that goal.”