[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 114 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1573]]


          SMALL BUSINESS COMPETITION PRESERVATION ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 20, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4945) to 
     amend the Small Business Act to strengthen existing 
     protections for small business participation in the Federal 
     procurement contracting process, and for other purposes.

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4945 which 
will amend the Small Business Act to strengthen existing protections 
for small business participation in the Federal procurement contracting 
process, and for other purposes. My support for this bill is based on 
my concern that larger businesses may be influencing activities to 
group or bundle requirements so that they exceed $100K. Clearly, one of 
the original intents of the Small Business Act was to assist small 
businesses in competing for smaller Federal Government contracts. 
Ideally requirements under $100K should be awarded to small businesses. 
However, loose interpretations of the statute and a tendency toward 
bundling have caused small businesses to be cut out of the procurement 
process.
  The strength of this nation's economy is based on the contributions 
of small businesses. When these small businesses demonstrate that they 
have the ability to meet the requirements established in the contract, 
they should not be unfairly shut out of the process because of their 
size or lack of access. This legislation goes a long way toward 
eliminating the unfair practice of bundling a number of small contracts 
into one and awarding the contract to a larger business. I urge my 
colleagues to support this important legislation.

                          ____________________