Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) successfully offered an amendment to the bipartisan Small Business Opportunity Act (H.R. 3980) during the Small Business Committee's markup on contracting bills and the Small Business Administration (SBA) budget this afternoon. This bill, which was approved by the Committee, is part of the House Committee on Small Business' contracting reform initiative. More information on the Committee's initiative can be found here.
The Small Business Opportunity Act will make it easier for small businesses to compete for contracts by allowing their advocates greater participation on the process. Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBUs) and Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs) are an important part of making certain our small businesses have the opportunity to compete for government contracts, providing invaluable advice and assistance to small firms during the sometimes lengthy and procurement process. For that reason, it is important that these advocates have the necessary training to advise small businesses.
Schilling's amendment would allow current PCRs who have not yet achieved the certification requirements in the Small Business Opportunity Act five years to receive the necessary certification and training to comply. Without this amendment, the Small Business Opportunity Act may have resulted in the SBA having to let go of PCRs that help small businesses but do not yet meet the certification requirements in the bill, harming small business by interrupting the procurement process.
"With so many families and businesses struggling with increasing food and energy prices, it is important that folks in Washington work to advance job creation," Schilling said. "This is a short, sweet amendment that would ensure PCRs maintain their jobs as they receive the certification and training necessary to comply with the underlying bill. I am grateful to the Chairman, Ranking Member, and my colleagues who introduced the bill for working with me on this bipartisan amendment, and am thankful for the support of fellow members of the Committee."
Schilling worked with Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) to ensure legislation was signed into law that would remove the cap on the number of public-private partnerships Arsenals can enter into, increasing the ability of the Rock Island Arsenal to enter into contracts, grow their workload, and create jobs. As part of the Committee's contracting initiative, Schilling in February introduced the bipartisan Building Better Business Partnerships Act (H.R. 3985) with Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), to help remove bureaucratic impediments for small contractors wishing to do business with the federal government and enable them to grow and create jobs. The Small Business Committee is expected to mark up Schilling's bipartisan contracting legislation in the coming weeks.
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