| WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Sam Graves helped pass H.R. 1873, the Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act through the House today. The bill, co-sponsored by Graves, enjoyed wide bi-partisan support passing 409 to 13. The bill is designed to help small businesses get federal contracts by limiting the “bundling” of contracts to larger companies.
“The federal government shouldn’t discriminate against businesses because of their size,” said Graves. “We should encourage entrepreneurship because it helps create jobs in Missouri.”
The federal government is responsible for contracting out $340 billion in services every year. The bill boosted the federal procurement goal to 30 percent of contracts going to small businesses. The number of small businesses has grown by 10 percent in the last decade. In addition, small businesses are directly responsible for seven out of every ten new jobs in America.
“Small businesses are the economic engine of this country,” said Graves. “We need to make navigating the federal bureaucracy easier for them and that is just what this bill does.”
Graves is a member of the Small Business Committee. The bill will now be sent to the U.S. Senate for its approval.
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