[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4875]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        FAIRNESS TO VETERANS ACT

  (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, as Congress begins to take up the 
critical and long overdue discussion of long-term infrastructure 
investment, it is important that we utilize one of our greatest 
resources--our Nation's veterans.
  Right now, there are over 380,000 veteran-owned construction firms 
across the United States, including thousands in my home State of 
Pennsylvania. These veteran-owned businesses are primed to play a vital 
role in the rebuilding of our Nation's roads and bridges. However, 
right now, when it comes to Federal transportation contracts, we are 
failing to recognize their full potential.
  That is why I have introduced the bipartisan Fairness to Veterans Act 
in an effort to level the playing field by providing veterans access to 
existing preferences. Fairness to veterans is a simple idea that says, 
if any group is going to get special treatment from our government, it 
should be those who have served in our Armed Forces.
  I am proud to have the support of veterans advocacy organizations 
like the American Legion, local veterans groups, and a bipartisan band 
of lawmakers in advancing this legislation. I encourage each one of my 
colleagues to join us as a cosponsor and ensure that we are fighting 
for and are fair to our Nation's veterans.

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