Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) Leads Legislation To Offer Small Business Contractors Relief During Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC – In the face of the Coronavirus pandemic, small businesses are facing an unprecedented threat to their livelihood. Today, Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) of the Small Business Committee introduced legislation that would provide relief to small businesses across the country by granting flexibility to small business federal contractors and expediting the contract award process so that affected contractors can begin generating revenue. The legislation would:

• Temporarily remove the requirement for contracting officers to conduct market research so that contracting officers may grant sole-source award contracts for small business programs, including the women-owned, HUBZone and service-disabled veteran-owned small business programs;
• Increase total sole-source award contract values to $8 million for services and $10 million for manufacturing;
• And add one additional year to the 8(a) program to allow contractors impacted by a reduction or elimination of contracting opportunities additional time to remain 8(a) certified.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and we must ensure they stayed protected during these unprecedented times," said Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33). "This legislation will help small business contractors obtain needed resources that will help them stay afloat and keep them best prepared to serve their employees during this time."

"The federal government has a responsibility to ensure that small businesses can recover from the economic turmoil that the coronavirus pandemic has inflicted on Main Streets across America," said House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez. "I thank Rep. Veasey for his leadership in introducing this critical legislation that will expedite relief and open more opportunities to small businesses that contract with the federal government."

Today's legislation builds on Congressman Veasey's record of serving families and workers of Texas' 33rd district during the Coronavirus pandemic. This month, Congress passed an emergency response funding package of $8.3 billion of relief funds and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which takes smart, science-based measures to help families and workers obtain economic, health and food security.