Sens. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced bipartisan legislation on Wednesday that would align veteran contracting programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
The legislation is designed to make it easier for disabled veterans who own businesses to contract with the federal government. It would eliminate disparities between contracting programs within the VA and SBA.
“Our nation’s disabled veterans and their families have sacrificed much for our country, and we will forever be in their debt,” Burr, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, said. “During their service, veterans gain valuable knowledge and develop unique skills that are put to good use when they return home and open a small business. To help these veteran-owned businesses succeed, we should make sure there are clear-cut rules and regulations that do not hinder their business’s ability to prosper. With this legislation we will ensure that our veterans don’t have to fight massive bureaucracy after returning home from war.”
Both the VA and SBA operate Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) programs that streamline federal contracting opportunities for veteran business owners who were injured in the line of duty. The SBA administers a government-wide program. The VA maintains a database of verified SDVOSBs and oversees a separate contracting program called Veterans First.
Under the current system, the two agencies use different criteria to define SDVOSBs, which leads to inconsistent decisions about which firms qualify for federal contracts.
“Too many of these veterans are met with confusing rules and regulations and get the government go-round from multiple agencies when they seek help setting up or maintaining their small businesses,” King said. “The simplified process established by our bill will make it easier for service-disabled veterans to cut through the red tape and will help surviving spouses carry on their business should they need that support. After all, these veterans bravely defended this country – shouldn’t we find a way to make it easy for them to do business with the government?”
The legislation would make the definition of SDVOSB uniform between the SBA and VA. It would also allow spouses of veterans who are completely disabled or died as a result of service injuries to retain SDVOSB status for 10 years. Spouses of veterans who are not 100 percent disabled would be able to retain SDVOSB status for three years.
Under the measure, the Government Accountability Office would also be directed to evaluate whether the SBA or VA could take on a government-wide SDVOSB verification system and if that should undertaken.