Dear Friends,
The Small Business Committee’s efforts over the past year uncovered that the federal government owes more than 1,200 small firms a total of over $3.1 million based on contracts they held with the federal government. I’m pleased that the General Services Administration has acknowledged the error, and that these small companies will now get the money they are owed. I strongly believe that the federal government should be doing more of its contracting with small businesses, since they often do the best work for less money. If we are to encourage small businesses to spend the time and resources to engage in federal procurement, we must ensure that agencies live up to their side of the contracts. Read about the result of the Committee’s investigation in the Washington Post exclusive.
The case with GSA demonstrates how vital congressional oversight is as a constitutional check on the Executive branch. In the past few weeks, Congress has taken up serious matters surrounding the State Department’s inaccurate release of information following the terrorist attack in Benghazi, the Justice Department’s sweeping seizure of phone records of the Associated Press, and the Internal Revenue Service’s disturbing targeting of certain nonprofit entities based on their political views. Congressional oversight is essential, not only to reduce government waste, but also to protect citizens' rights from the tyranny of an arrogant, overreaching bureaucracy.
Sincerely,
Sam Graves
Chairman
|
On Wednesday, the Committee held a hearing assessing the changes in the patent system, and how to safeguard the innovations of small businesses as new challenges arise. Witnesses testified on the changing landscape of patent law and the effects on small firms, which develop 16 times more patents per employee than large companies. The hearing also examined concerns about Patent Assertion Entities, or “patent trolls,” and the impact of reforms made by the American Invents Act, which was signed into law in September 2011.
On Thursday, the Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade, under the chairmanship of Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), held a hearing appraising the benefits that many small businesses would reap from the construction and operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline promises to enhance our nation’s energy security, expand economic and job growth, and lower energy prices for Americans. The construction effort would be a boon to many rural communities, bringing in local commercial activity and creating opportunities in fields that include numerous small business contractors. The project would boost the demand for various skilled labor occupations, and create an estimated 42,100 jobs.
Earlier today, President Obama visited the business of a key witness in Thursday’s Subcommittee hearing. Ellicott Dredges in Baltimore, Maryland, is owned by Peter Bowe, who urged Congress and the administration to allow the Keystone XL pipeline to go forward, as reported by CNN.
|