Week Ahead for the Committee: December 9-13

Committee to Hold Hearing on Small Business Health Options Program, Joint Subcommittee Hearing on Reverse Auctions in Federal Acquisitions

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Small Business Committee, chaired by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), today announced the schedule for the week of December 9, 2013:
 
On Wednesday, December 11, at 10:00 a.m., the Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce and the Veterans' Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will conduct a joint hearing titled, Contracting Away Accountability – Reverse Auctions in Federal Agency Acquisitions. Please note: This hearing will be in Room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building.

The purpose of this hearing is to examine the uses of reverse auction contracts in light of a forthcoming report by the Comptroller General. Specifically, the hearing will examine the budgetary effects of various reverse auctions services, their effect on competition, and whether additional guidance or legislation is necessary.

Also on Wednesday, December 11, at 1:00 p.m., the Small Business Committee will conduct a hearing titled, The Small Business Health Options Program: Is It Working for Small Businesses?
The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges are required by the health care law to assist small businesses in identifying, comparing, and purchasing health insurance coverage for their employees. The purpose of the hearing is to examine the status of the establishment of both the federally-run and state-based SHOP exchanges. Gary Cohen, the Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will testify. 

“The health care law is the cause of major uncertainty and expenses for small businesses, and the Administration’s severe mismanagement of the Small Business Health Options Program only adds to that burden,” said Chairman Graves. “Recently disclosed documents reveal further proof of the disturbing mismanagement of the SHOPs, which is not surprising considering the June GAO report that I requested showed that CMS was behind schedule. Small businesses deserve better. I look forward to getting clear answers from CMS about why implementation problems were ignored, how and when decisions were made to delay SHOPs, and what is being done to remedy its mistakes."

Watch the hearings live HERE.
 
Event Details:

Wednesday, December 11, 2013, 10:00 a.m. EST
334 Cannon House Office Building
Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce and the Veterans' Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Contracting Away Accountability – Reverse Auctions in Federal Agency Acquisitions

Wednesday, December 11, 2013, 1:00 p.m. EST
2360 Rayburn House Office Building
Small Business Committee
The Small Business Health Options Program: Is It Working for Small Businesses? 
 
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