(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – On Monday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3082, the Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006. Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District -- Kansas) was a strong supporter of the legislation, which is designed to give veteran-owned small businesses priority in the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting process.

H.R. 3082, which also contains provisions related to memorial affairs, veterans’ employment, training, and education, requires that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs establish annual contracting goals for the department to enter into with small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. The goal for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses would not be less than three percent.

“I am a strong supporter of this legislation because it will help ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs gives our veterans, particularly those with service-related disabilities, proper consideration for contracting opportunities with the federal government,” Moore said. “It is also a strong demonstration of our country’s ongoing obligation to assist those who have sacrificed so much to protect the security of our country.”

H.R. 3082 would also provide incentives for the Department of Veterans Affairs to award more contracts to veteran and disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and would require annual performance reviews of senior procurement officials, denying bonuses to senior officials whose agencies within the department do not meet veteran or disabled veteran-owned business contracting goals.

H.R. 3082 now moves to the Senate for consideration. Congressman Moore will continue to work with Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback to see that this legislation moves through the Senate and to the President’s desk for his signature.