Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today we are considering eight bills, six sponsored by Republicans and two by Democrats.

I look forward to working with the chairman to bring the additional five Democratic bills to the floor that were unanimously approved by the committee in a timely manner.

I thank my colleagues, Representatives LaLota and McGovern, for their work to bring this bill to the floor today.

In fiscal year 2022, Federal agencies awarded 4.57 percent of contract dollars and a record of just over $28 billion to service- disabled veteran-owned small businesses, but this number does not tell the whole story.

Every year, a handful of agencies do not meet their individual agency goals, showing that there is more that can be done. This legislation will require SBA to issue guidance and to provide training for agencies when they come up short. It is also important to highlight that Congress has raised the service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses' goal to 5 percent of Federal contracting dollars moving forward, so additional guidance and training will be timely.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey), the ranking member of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal procurement goals are one way that Congress helps to ensure that small business government contractors can enter, compete, and remain in the Federal marketplace and that they receive a fair share of contracting dollars when doing so.

This bill will provide agencies with additional tools and training to maximize awards to firms owned by service-disabled veterans and meet their small business goals.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work of my colleagues on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4669, as amended.

This legislation would allow SBA and the Department of Energy to enter into an MOU to formalize the research and

development activities that are currently under way. Investments in R&D are critical to providing high-paying jobs for Americans, increasing small business innovation, and ensuring our country remains competitive.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. LaLota and Mr. Thanedar for their bipartisan work, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses produce more than 14 times more patents than large businesses and universities and employ nearly 40 percent of scientists and engineers. Enhancing coordination between the Small Business Administration and the Department of Energy will hopefully increase opportunities for small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors for their work, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, empowering female entrepreneurs has long been a top priority of mine and enhancing the programs that impact the success of women-owned small businesses continues to guide my work on our committee.

That is why I am pleased we are considering my legislation, the WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act, which, as amended, will improve and enhance the SBA's women-owned small business contracting program.

The WOSB program is a valuable tool for Federal agencies to contract with small businesses that are owned by women. However, a number of factors hinder the program's effectiveness. These limitations then translate into reduced contracting opportunities.

As a result, the data continues to show that women-owned small businesses are not seeing the contracting opportunities that should accompany the level of participation in the Federal marketplace.

My bill will move away from self-certification and require Federal agencies to only count contracts awarded to certified WOSBs toward their procurement goals.

This bill will help address a major concern that I regularly hear from WOSBs: that the program is more difficult to use than the other SBA programs, and that it is in part because WOSBs are not SBA certified.

Stakeholders highlight that when combined with other confusing and cumbersome WOSB-specific requirements, the lack of SBA certification creates a risk that disincentivizes use of the authorities by contracting officers.

It is my hope that by moving more WOSBs through the SBA certification process, we will see Federal agencies more confidently and frequently set aside sole source contracts to women-owned small businesses.

That has always been the goal of the WOSB program: to level the playing field for women in industries where they are underrepresented. My bill helps to do just that, and I urge all Members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I have drafted this bill in a way that I believe ensures women-owned small businesses will not be harmed during the transition away from self-certification and that Congress has the tools necessary to conduct oversight of that transition.

There are sufficient protections built into the legislation so that women-owned firms are not penalized and specifically will not lose contracts if issues arise during implementation. Utilizing WOSBs in our Federal marketplace is critical for their success and the success of our national economy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill to enhance the WOSB program, bolster its use, and provide female entrepreneurs with additional opportunities for success. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today, we are considering H.R. 5265, the Small Business Administration Rural Performance Report Act, which, as amended, requires an annual performance report and budget justification for the Office of Rural Affairs.

Mr. Golden has worked relentlessly to increase SBA outreach to rural small businesses and make sure the Office of Rural Affairs remains active. I commend Mr. Golden for his efforts, and I am quite disappointed we are not considering his legislation today, which would have enhanced the Office of Rural Affairs and was unanimously approved by the committee in September. I look forward to its speedy consideration.

Today, we are considering legislation that would require a performance report and budget updates from the Office of Rural Affairs so that we can stay apprised of its activities. Currently, we get this information by simply asking the agency for an update, but this bill would now statutorily mandate that it is provided.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Pappas for joining Mr. Alford in sponsoring this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are powerful drivers of economic growth across the United States, employing 46 percent of the workforce and generating two-thirds of new jobs. In rural areas, self-employment tends to be higher than in urban and suburban areas, but the challenges they face are much greater. Rural small businesses have a harder time securing affordable capital, finding talented workers, and making ends meet.

Administrator Guzman is increasing SBA's commitment to rural America by appointing a new director to the office and improving the outreach and engagement with rural small businesses. She recognizes the importance of ensuring rural small businesses have access to SBA's vital programs. With this type of assistance, rural small businesses can thrive and, in turn, create good-paying jobs and lift up communities.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank Mr. Alford, Mr. Pappas, and Mr. Golden for their leadership on this issue, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representatives Ellzey and Thanedar, for their work on this bill, the Encouraging Success Act.

The 8(a) program is one of the most effective tools for minority businessowners to get their foot in the door of the Federal marketplace.

The program is critical for entrepreneurs who have faced discrimination. This bill requires the SBA to regularly assess, and, when necessary, update the economic threshold for program participation.

I share the sponsors' concerns that the lack of reassessment or readjustment can penalize growth and that a regular assessment will ensure that the program keeps pace with changing economic environments.

Mr. Speaker, the National Minority Supplier Development Council has said that this legislation will enhance the effectiveness of SBA programs, including the esteemed 8(a) program, ensuring they continue to serve as powerful catalysts for community wealth building and inclusive economic development.

The 8(a) program remains a win-win for the government and for communities across the country. It has led to

a more diverse Federal market and supply chain, provided billions of dollars annually through streamlined contracting processes for minority businessowners, and continues to work to help minority businessowners overcome the real and ongoing discrimination that would otherwise hold them back.

Keeping 8(a) intact and relevant must remain a top priority. I appreciate the sponsors for their work, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate the great work of my colleagues on this bill, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

I will close by noting that 3 weeks ago, the committee held a hearing on small business size standards and contracting policies and the barriers they can pose to growth.

As we discussed, the Federal Government needs to both recruit and retain small business government contractors.

We are seeing that retaining small firms, like those in the 8(a) program, is a necessity for the health of the industrial base.

This bill will contribute to the retention of growing small businesses. It is a productive step designed to ensure that minority businessowners can succeed, thrive, and grow in the Federal marketplace and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today we are considering H.R. 5426, which will require the SBA to put a link to the IG's fraud hotline on its website for whistleblowers to report suspected fraud.

The good news is that the Biden administration SBA already has a link to the OIG's hotline on its main landing page, but with this bill, it will be here to stay.

In July, Inspector General Ware testified that his office has received 250,000 hotline complaints since the beginning of the pandemic, and more than 90,000 have been identified as actionable. This amounts to more than 100 years of investigative casework.

To that end, the single most important action we can take to support the OIG is to make sure we give them the resources they need to investigate bad actors.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the efforts of Ms. Van Duyne and Mr. Landsman to curb fraud, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Over the past 3 years, this committee has played an important role in examining the pandemic relief programs, which helped millions of small businesses stay afloat in unprecedented times.

While there may be disagreement on the actual estimates of fraud, it is clear we need to work together to protect the integrity of the SBA programs from bad actors.

The SBA, under the leadership of Administrator Guzman, has taken strong steps to root out fraud in the pandemic relief programs and put strong controls in place to prevent future fraud.

In 2022, SBA established a Fraud Risk Management Board, aligning its practices with GAO's oversight policies.

A new role was also created, the SBA Special Counsel for Enterprise Risk, to advise the administrator of fraud and risk management activities.

The agency continues to work collaboratively with the SBA Inspector General, the Interagency COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, and the Department of Justice to recover stolen funds.

I thank Ms. Van Duyne and Mr. Landsman for looking for ways to enhance the work that the SBA is undertaking to combat fraud, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representatives Maloy and Scholten, for their work on this bill.

Since its inception, the WOSB program and the administration of the program have been a challenge for SBA. Similarly, Federal agencies have faced challenges using the authorities that Congress has put in place to streamline contracting with women-owned small businesses.

While working to boost participation of WOSBs and enhance the use of these authorities, Congress must also advance initiatives that are designed to protect the integrity of the program.

One issue we are addressing today is the inspector general's report that states there is a discrepancy in SBA's implementation of the program. The purpose of this bill is to align SBA processes with the IG's report and to clarify that we expect SBA to have a process similar to the other socioeconomic contracting programs for WOSB certifications.

Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate my colleagues for their work on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I thank Ms. Maloy and Ms. Scholten for this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering H.R. 7102, the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act.

Let me begin by commending Ms. Davids for her leadership and bipartisan efforts to codify the Office of Native American Affairs at SBA. She is a valued member of the Committee on Small Business and has remained committed to working with stakeholders to make this bill a reality.

The office has been a tremendous resource for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians seeking to launch and grow their small businesses. Throughout the year, it engages in several outreach activities, including consultations, development and distribution of promotional materials, and participation in national economic development conferences.

Codifying the office would ensure that Tribal small businesses have access to SBA's full range of business development tools regardless of the administration.

Importantly, the legislation requires that the assistant administrator report directly to the Administrator, ensuring the voice of the Tribal communities will be heard at SBA.

I also thank Mr. Crane for joining Ms. Davids in her efforts, and I strongly support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Native American-owned businesses are powerful economic engines, contributing over $33 billion to the U.S. economy every year and employing more than 200,000 people in their communities.

By enhancing the Office of Native American Affairs, SBA will be able to work on behalf of Indian Country and better target resources to Indian Tribes.

I once again thank Representatives Davids and Crane for their bipartisan work to provide assistance to these critically important businesses and entrepreneurs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Joe Sobota. Over the course of his career, Joe spent over 40 years in public service primarily advocating for the best interests of American small businesses. Joe worked under four different chairs of the House Small Business Committee from 1978 to 1998. While working on the committee, he gained a reputation for his consummate professionalism and exhaustive knowledge of Small Business Administration programs. Joe had a wide range of responsibilities, including SBA oversight and budget activities, acting as liaison between the agency's authorizing and appropriations chairs, and serving as the committee's expert on disaster assistance issues. As the top Democrat on the committee for over two decades, I know just how vital the work of staffers like Joe is and recognize his positive impact on American entrepreneurs during his time in the House.

After leaving Congress, Joe joined the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy in March 1998. At Advocacy, his primary responsibility was addressing the issues facing millions of veteran entrepreneurs nationwide. He has a great deal of reverence for veterans who continued to serve their communities by starting a small business, and it showed in his work. Much of Joe's tenure at Advocacy was dedicated to overseeing the implementation of the landmark Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999. His work to help achieve the goals of this vital legislation helped provide much needed counseling and training to millions of veteran small business owners across the country.

Colleagues in government will remember Joe as a dedicated public servant whose work on behalf of small businesses helped support the dreams of countless American entrepreneurs. His impact and commitment to small businesses will not be soon forgotten. My thoughts are with his family and all who were fortunate enough to know him. May he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Waters for yielding.

I rise today in strong opposition to this resolution. As one of the central architects of section 1071, I understand better than most what this provision does and doesn't do.

During my time as ranking member of the Small Business Committee and as a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, I have seen women- and minority-owned small businesses struggle to access capital due to the lack of data and transparency related to small business lending.

The scant data that does exist continues to show these businesses lack the same access to financing compared to White-owned firms.

Section 1071 attempts to remedy this by requiring financial institutions to collect and report on the demographics of small business owners applying for financing.

Doing so facilitates the enforcement of fair lending laws and identifies businesses and community development needs.

Supporters of this resolution claim it will excessively burden smaller institutions. However, CFPB Director Chopra recently testified that approximately 2,000 banks will be exempted from the rule's reporting requirements.

Others claim the rule is too intrusive. Yet, safeguards like voluntary reporting--and you are going to hear time and again that this is a mandate even when I took the text in the manual and read it to the Members. It is voluntary. It is not a mandate. Unique identifiers are included in the rule. Without this information, discriminatory lending will continue.

When crafting this rule, the CFPB conducted considerable outreach to small firms and considered thousands of public comments from entrepreneurs.

During a recent Small Business Committee hearing, we received testimony that this rule will help the market better address both the lack of access to affordable capital and the rise of irresponsible lending.

Madam Speaker, I will not yield.

It will allow lenders to help tailor their products and services to meet their borrower's needs and spur additional investment in small businesses without creating another government program.

If you are for smaller government spending, look right here. Let's remedy this situation where we have empirical data that minority women, small businesses, female-owned businesses, and rural businesses do not have the same access to affordable capital.

It has been 13 long years. We cannot reverse course now. To do so would be an insult to the minority-owned businesses that are counting on our support.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this resolution.

Madam Chair, I thank Ranking Member Grijalva for yielding.

I rise today in opposition to this disingenuous bill introduced under the guise of protecting National Park Service land.

If Republicans were really concerned about protecting our national parks, why did they vote to cut the National Park Service budget by approximately half a billion dollars in the appropriations bill that they passed less than a month ago?

The point here is not to protect the National Park Service. The point here is cruelty.

If extreme MAGA Republicans really wanted to preserve public lands, why have they passed bills that include shameless giveaways of our public lands and waters to the destructive oil, gas, and mining industries?

If Republicans really cared about our Federal lands, why have they continuously tried to gut bedrock environmental laws, like the Endangered Species Act, since taking the majority?

Republicans do not care about our national parks. They are simply looking for more excuses to spread anti-immigrant rhetoric.

I know firsthand that the situation in New York is a humanitarian crisis and not a partisan issue. If you want to tackle the root cause of this, let's get together to draft legislation. We have legislation that has been introduced--in many instances, bipartisan legislation. Let's get real and deal with the broken system that we have in this country and address comprehensive immigration reform.

We must ensure that people fleeing violence and persecution, regardless of nationality or other demographics, can access asylum and the refugee resettlement system in this country, as required by law.

New York City is doing all it can to accomplish this, but it cannot do it alone. The real solution here is to increase support for the city and the individuals exercising their protected right to seek asylum in the United States.

The bill before us today is performative and vilifies migrants, making it harder for New York City to meet this moment.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, which would allow the Secretary of the Interior to provide housing when States sending asylum seekers to New York City fail to meet certain conditions.

Today, there are over 65,900 asylum seekers currently in the care of the city. To respond to this influx, our city has opened 213 sites, including 18 large-scale humanitarian relief centers.

A guiding principle of New York City's response has been that people fleeing violence and persecution deserve a functioning asylum and refugee resettlement system in this country.

To my colleagues who are intent on labeling these people illegal, I ask, do they not have the legal right to seek asylum enshrined under the Geneva Refugee Convention and U.S. law?

Asylum seekers are human beings who have fled disaster, conflict, and persecution to come to the United States for a better life. They deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. They should not be used as pawns in cruel political stunts.

Politicians from States like Texas and Florida have bused asylum seekers to New York to get on cable news. These buses are often sent with little to no communication from officials in those States. Tens of thousands of migrants have been sent to New York from various originating States, no matter if they wanted to come or not. They may not have a clue about the conditions they will find in New York or the resources available to them.

As temperatures fall below freezing, there are lines of asylum seekers waiting outside of centers because they have reached their 30- day limit at city-run shelters. They have nowhere else to go. However, here we are, debating a bill that will close Floyd Bennett Field.

My amendment will ensure that asylum seekers--not illegal aliens but asylum seekers--who are bused from State to State without support, scant information, and no other options can access the resources they deserve. Specifically, my amendment allows the Secretary of the Interior to authorize the use of land controlled by the National Park Service for the purpose of housing migrants when a State fails to provide 48 hours' notice to the receiving State or provide truthful information to the migrants about where they are being transported to or provide the opportunity to refuse the busing.

We have heard hundreds of migrant stories about not knowing where they are being sent. We cannot allow this practice to continue without consequences. My amendment will help create an accountability system for the States that decide to deceptively bus migrants to other States like New York.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of the six bills we are considering today. America's 33 million small businesses are the foundation of our Nation's economy and account for two-thirds of new jobs. The Small Business Committee has a long tradition of working together on behalf of our Nation's small businesses. I am pleased we are coming together yet again.

Let me start off by thanking Representatives Bean and Mfume for their bipartisan work on H.R. 4666, which will help the committee fulfill its oversight responsibilities.

SBA was a lifeline to millions of small businesses throughout the pandemic. More than $1.2 trillion in economic aid was distributed to help businesses keep their doors open.

During these unprecedented times, the SBA, under the Trump administration, weakened and removed these internal controls in an effort to disburse funds swiftly.

This resulted in roughly 87 percent of likely fraud originating in the first 9 months of the pandemic, largely due to organized criminal syndicates and transnational gangs exploiting the weakened controls and stealing billions of dollars from the American people.

Upon taking office, Administrator Guzman strengthened internal controls, and they remain in place to this day, but the damage was done.

In order to improve our understanding and prevent future fraud, H.R. 4666 requires the OIG to send periodic reports over the next 2 years to provide the Committee with detailed information that it needs to conduct robust oversight.

Let me take a minute to commend our IG and their commitment to rooting out fraud and abuse. I also highlight the need to fully meet their budget request rather than make any cuts. Doing so harms their ability to hold fraudsters accountable.

As of this October, their work has resulted in nearly 1,200 indictments, almost 950 arrests, and over 600 convictions. Almost $400 million in seized or forfeited assets and more than $500 million in restitution orders have been returned to the American taxpayers.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4666, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations.

Mr. Speaker, while much of the focus today has been about pandemic fraud, we must also be mindful of the stellar work that the SBA did to help small businesses stay afloat throughout the pandemic. Distributing more than a trillion dollars in economic aid was a tall order for a small agency.

Today, we are seeing the fruits of their labor. Small businesses have been recovering with unprecedented speed and success, and more Americans are launching small businesses than ever before, with more than 14 million new starts since January 2021.

Once again, I thank Representative Bean and Representative Mfume, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4667, as amended, which will ensure any unused PPP funds are properly returned to the American taxpayers.

The legislation requires SBA to issue guidance for financial institutions on how to return PPP funds.

In May, the IG released a management advisory that said SBA's lack of guidance, regulations, and ability to account for returned PPP funds is an obstacle for anyone who opts to return unused PPP funds.

Unfortunately, this has led to confusion for borrowers and lenders, leading some lenders to even inform borrowers that the SBA could not accept funds. This bill will resolve the problem by requiring SBA to establish clear and detailed guidance for returning PPP funds to the

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey), the ranking member of the Innovation Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, the RECLAIM Taxpayer Funds Act requires SBA to establish clear guidance for borrowers, lenders, and financial institutions on how to return PPP funds. It will ensure best practices are in place in the event of another global catastrophe.

I thank Representative Salazar and Mr. McGarvey for their effort, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I lend my support to H.R. 4668, as amended, which requires the Office of the National Ombudsman to publish links to guidance documents for rules that have been certified to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Guidance documents help inform small businesses of regulations, but they can be difficult to find. Having a centralized website with hyperlinks to these documents will save entrepreneurs time and resources.

This legislation builds off the One Stop Shop Act, which was enacted into law last Congress. The new law requires the Office of the National Ombudsman to create and maintain a centralized website with hyperlinks to small business compliance guides.

I am pleased the SBA has their website up and running. H.R. 4668 will add more useful links for small firms and give them tools to make it easier for them to comply with Federal rules and regulations.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Molinaro and Ms. Scholten for working together on the POST IT Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Scholten), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing.

I understand that complying with Federal, State, and local regulations can be onerous for small business owners. Small businesses do not always have the resources that larger companies do to monitor regulatory actions. That is why having a centralized website for them to access Federal guidance and learn more about their responsibilities under a rule is vitally important.

We shouldn't be fooled by antiregulation rhetoric. Federal regulations can and do benefit small businesses and boost our economy.

Our jobs reports over the past 2 years attest to that. The Biden administration is building an economy that is delivering for Americans, adding more than 14 million new jobs since taking office. The U.S. economy is experiencing a record small business boom, with more Americans launching a business than ever before.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Molinaro and Ms. Scholten for their bipartisan work in crafting a bill that we can all support.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Houlahan, Ms. Scholten, Mr. Stauber, and Ms. Tenney for their work on H.R. 4670 and getting it to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, well over a decade ago, I helped enact and implement the SBA's Women-Owned Small Business program to better serve female entrepreneurs and small businesses contracting with the Federal Government. Unfortunately, setting up this program proved to be a challenge, and it was delayed longer than anticipated. As of now, it is up and running, and women-owned firms are certified by the SBA or a national certifying entity to participate in contracting programs.

This has led to improvements in the program's execution and enhanced its integrity. Most importantly, it has helped thousands of women-owned firms compete in the Federal marketplace.

However, there are some aspects of the program with less visibility, including and especially the operations of the four national certifying entities working with the SBA. That is why additional oversight is warranted, and this bill provides it.

This Small Business Contracting Transparency Act requires annual reports on the WOSB certification process to ensure it is serving female entrepreneurs as we intended.

Having this information is critical to further strengthening and improving the program to meet the needs of both the Federal Government and women-owned small firms.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4670, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government routinely fails to meet the goals of awarding 5 percent of contract dollars to women-owned small businesses. While this administration has prioritized meeting these goals and last year awarded over $28 billion to women-owned firms, more can be done.

H.R. 4670, as amended, is an important step in that direction. It ensures that we have the necessary information to conduct proper oversight of the SBA's programs designed to assist women who start and grow government contracting firms.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors of this bill and appreciate the bipartisan work of the committee to build in the HUBZone and SDVOSB programs. They face issues as well and could benefit from the additional reporting.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.