Front view of the Capitol

Congressmen Carter, Evans Propose Expansion of Supports for Small Businesses Seeking to Participate in Federal Contracting

September 23, 2022
Press Release

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) and Congressman Dwight Evans (D-Pa.) introduced the Small Business Set-Aside Extension Act of 2022. This legislation would extend the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Program, which provides business development support and assistance to eligible small, disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) seeking to participate in federal contracting. This bill would allow the minority, veteran and women-owned business owners that participate one more year to utilize the program.

The 8(a) Program is currently a nine-year program within the Small Business Administration that offers business development and assistance to eligible small, disadvantaged businesses seeking to participate in federal contracting. A major benefit of the program is that participants have access to training, technical assistance, and contracting opportunities in the form of set asides or sole-source opportunities.

“We need to help level the playing field so that business owners of all backgrounds can benefit from federal contracting opportunities,” said Congressman Carter. “This one-year extension will help more, small, historically-disadvantaged business owners greater utilize the business development supports and resources that this program provides. It’s a small but important step forward to uplift our SBE business community.”

“I’m pleased to support this extension of the 8(a) program and the help that it provides to small businesses, which are a vital part of our neighborhoods in Philadelphia and across the country,” said Congressman Evans.

The text of this legislation was previously passed out of the House of Representatives as an amendment by Congressman Troy Carter within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It is being reintroduced as a standalone bill while discussions on NDAA continue between differing versions in the House and Senate. The full text of the bill is available here.

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