Chavez-DeRemer, Hoyle lead bill to expand federal contract opportunities for women-owned businesses

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Val Hoyle (OR-04) have introduced bipartisan legislation to expand federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses.

Specifically, the Veterans Affairs Opportunity for Women-Owned Small Businesses Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide these businesses with similar priority consideration already granted by other federal agencies. 

“I’m honored to lead this commonsense, bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Hoyle, which would help empower women-owned small businesses by providing them with more VA contracting opportunities,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “Women entrepreneurs fuel economic growth and success in our communities, and I’ll keep doing my part to support their hard work.”

"Small businesses are the cornerstone of Oregon’s economy, and women-owned businesses are key to our state’s success. When I learned that women-owned small businesses do not have the same designation for VA contracts as they do with all other federal agencies, I wanted to act,” said Hoyle. “This legislation will benefit businesses in Oregon and support our local economies.” 

Currently, women-owned small businesses do not have the same designation for VA contracts as they do with all other federal agencies. Under the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Women-Owned Small Business Program, the federal government supports these underrepresented businesses by awarding them at least five percent of contracting budgets. This legislation would add the Women-Owned Small Business Program to the third tier of the Vets First Contracting Program. Veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses represent the first two tiers.

To assist the VA in serving our nation’s veterans while supporting local economies, the VA acquires products and services from businesses around the country for their nationwide system of hospitals, clinics, Veterans Integrated Service Networks, data processing centers, and National Cemeteries. In Oregon, there are 33 VA facilities, which include health care clinics.  

Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21), Deborah Ross (NC-02), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) are original cosponsors of the proposal. It has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Gary Petters (D-Mich.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the Vietnam Veterans of America have endorsed the bill.