[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE SERVICE OF KEVIN BOSHEARS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SMALL 
 AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 
                                SECURITY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 25, 2019

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Kevin 
Boshears, the Director of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) 
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) upon his 
retirement from Federal service. Over the past sixteen years, Mr. 
Boshears has forged a reputation as a trusted resource to small 
businesses that seek to provide goods and services to DHS. From the 
Department's earliest days, Mr. Boshears helped create a culture within 
DHS that prioritizes engagement with small businesses in furtherance of 
its diverse missions.
  In my work on the Committee on Homeland Security, I have come to 
appreciate his steadfast commitment to opening doors of opportunity to 
small, disadvantaged and minority-owned business that face barriers to 
entering the Federal marketplace. Under Mr. Boshear's leadership, DHS 
has the distinction of being the largest agency to earn a ``A'' grade 
on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Small Business Procurement 
Scorecard and it has retained that score for nine years in a row. 
Remarkably, in fiscal year 2017, DHS earned its third ``A+'' rating, 
awarding nearly 35 percent of total contracting dollars to small 
businesses, exceeding the government-wide goal of 23 percent.
  Mr. Boshears dedication to the small business community has resulted 
in many other accolades throughout his impactful career. In 2005, Mr. 
Boshears received the SBA's Federal Gold Star Award of Excellence in 
recognition of his efforts to carry out the aggressive goals and 
strategic initiatives that help ensure a role for small businesses in 
the federal marketplace. And, in July 2018, Mr. Boshears received the 
prestigious DHS Management's Award for Technical Excellence, followed 
by the DHS Secretary's Award for Leadership Excellence in November 
2018.
  As Mr. Boshears closes out his time at DHS and as a civil servant, I 
rise to honor his contributions and wish him well.

                          ____________________