Jeff Duncan: “when the White House Conference on Small Business met in 1995, it listed unfair government competition with small…”

“when the White House Conference on Small Business met in 1995, it listed unfair government competition with small businesses as one of its top concerns and most serious problems. This is not a new problem. In fact, during the Eisenhower administration in 1955, the administration felt it necessary to adopt as official U.S. policy the following statement: The Federal Government will not start or carry on any commercial activity to provide a service or product for its own use if such product or service can be procured from private enterprise through ordinary business channels. Yet every day in almost every congressional district, big government agencies are competing with small businesses. This is why I have introduced H.R. 716, the Freedom from Government Competition Act. This legislation is supported very strongly by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Coalition for Fair Competition, and numerous other professional associations, too many to list at this time. In addition, H.R. 716 already has more than 20 cosponsors from both parties and Senator Craig Thomas has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. This legislation will require that Federal agencies get out of private industry and stick to performing those functions that only Government can do well, while allowing our great private free enterprise system to do those things it does best, providing commercial goods and services in a competitive environment.”