The U.S. House is taking steps to make it easier for veteran owned businesses to get contracts with the Veterans Administration. Panama City Republican Neal Dunn sponsored the legislation.
Federal law already directs the VA to give preference to veteran owned businesses when it comes to contracts. But like many large institutions the VA works through subcontractors, and some of those agencies don’t face the same requirements. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL2) wants to change that.
“This bill simply directs the VA secretary to determine whether veteran owned and service disabled veteran owned small businesses are sufficiently represented on the contracts for VA to follow the law,” Dunn says. “If not the VA must consult with the GSA to increase the representation on all the contracts.”
The legislation focuses on the General Services Administration which helps the VA purchase things like office supplies. The measure comes in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year ordering the VA to use the same preference requirements all its purchasing.
CLARIFICATION: an earlier version of this story listed Dunn as the measure's co-sponsor.
