Week Ahead for the Committee: March 5- 9

 Committee to Hold Markup on Contracting Bills and Hearing on Rising Energy Costs

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Small Business Committee, chaired by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), today announced the schedule for the week of March 5, 2012.

On Wednesday, March 7, 2012 the Committee on Small Business will conduct a markup of its Views and Estimates on the Small Business Administration’s FY 2013 budget request and six small business contracting bills. The markup will take place in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The legislation that will be marked up includes:

• H.R. 3850 -- The GET Small Business Contracting (Government Efficiency Through Small Business Contracting) Act of 2012, sponsored by Chairman Graves and Rep. Bill Owens (D-NY)
• H.R. 3851 -- The Small Business Advocate Act (SBAA) of 2012, sponsored by Chairman Graves
• H.R. 3893 -- The Subcontracting Transparency And Reliability (STAR) Act of 2012, sponsored by Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce Chairman Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)
• H.R. 3980 -- The Small Business Opportunity Act of 2012, sponsored by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations Ranking Member Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR)
• H.R. 4121 -- The Early Stage Small Business Contracting Act of 2012, sponsored by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR)
• H.R. 4118 -- The Small Business Procurement Improvement Act of 2012, sponsored by Rep. Mark Critz (D-PA)

“The Small Business Committee has worked very hard on crafting procurement system reform legislation to give small businesses a better chance in the contracting community,” said Chairman Graves. “Contracting reform is a triple play for the economy – it’s good for small businesses, it’s good for the taxpayer, and it’s good for the government.”

On Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. the Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations will conduct a hearing entitled Powering Down: Are Government Regulations Impeding Small Energy Producers and Harming Energy Security? The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

In recent years, a number of small energy producers and their trade associations have identified new regulatory barriers and hurdles to oil and gas development on federal lands. These new requirements have not only limited access to important resources, but they have also increased the cost and uncertainty in developing oil and gas. These policies have resulted in the creation of fewer new jobs by small producers and a reduction in our nation’s energy security. The hearing will focus on federal policies pertaining to onshore oil and gas development on federal lands controlled by the Bureau of Land Management.

“At a time of high unemployment and soaring fuel prices, small businesses shouldn’t have to fight the federal government to create jobs and bring American made energy to the market,” said Chairman Mike Coffman. “The regulatory policies that this administration is pursuing are not only harmful to the nation’s economy and energy independence; they are an impediment to small business productivity and growth.”

Details

Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 1:00 p.m.
2360 Rayburn House Office Building
Small Business Committee
Markup: Small Business Contracting Reform Markup

Thursday, March 8, 2012, 10:00 a.m.
2360 Rayburn House Office Building
Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations
Hearing: Powering Down: Are Government Regulations Impeding Small Energy Producers and Harming Energy Security?

 
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