July 12, 2024 7:05 a.m.

Friday, U.S. Representatives Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Val Hoyle introduced the Veterans Affairs Opportunity for Women-Owned Small Businesses Act.

A joint release said its bipartisan legislation to improve federal contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Vets First Contracting Program.

Hoyle said, “Small businesses are the cornerstone of Oregon’s economy, and women-owned businesses are key to our state’s success”. Hoyle said, “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”. Hoyle said the legislation will benefit businesses in Oregon and support the local economies.

Chavez-DeRemer said, “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”.

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

To assist the VA in serving the nation’s veterans, 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.