Congressman Hank Johnson (D - GA), today issued a press release applauding the American Small Business League (ASBL) and its President Lloyd Chapman for their efforts as an advocate for small businesses, specifically businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans.
On May 21, Congressman Johnson proposed bipartisan legislation known as the "Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2009." H.R. 2568 would provide small businesses across the country with billions of dollars in additional contracting opportunities. Chapman originally drafted the concept for the bill with guidance from the nation's preeminent expert on contracting law, Professor Charles Tiefer.
"Lloyd Chapman and the American Small Business League deserve recognition for the hard work they have done trying to bring an end to the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants," Johnson said. "Their efforts, along with the passage of H.R. 2568, will provide a significant boost to our nation's middle class economy."
For more than 7 years, the ASBL has tirelessly fought to stop widespread abuses, which have lead to the diversion of more than $100 billion a year in federal small business contracts to corporate giants.
In 2002, information provided by Chapman lead to the first Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the diversion of federal small business contracts to large corporations. As a result of the investigation, the first congressional hearing into widespread abuses in small business contracting programs took place on May 7, 2003. Since then, more than 15 investigations have separately confirmed that Fortune 500 corporations and other companies, which exceed the government's small business size standards, are receiving billions of dollars in federal small business contracts. Chapman and the ASBL have been instrumental in spurring government inquiries into this issue.
In one such report, 5-15, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General stated, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today is that large businesses are receiving small business procurement awards and agencies are receiving credit for these awards."
Chapman has spent more than 20 years advocating for the rights of small businesses across the country. During that time, Chapman and the ASBL have won a series of federal lawsuits, which have forced the release of information that proves Fortune 500 corporations have received small business contracts. In its history, the ASBL has worked diligently to raise awareness about the diversion of federal small business contracts to large corporations and to advocate for small businesses across America.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ga04_johnson/07_22_2009_hr2568.shtml