House Approves Contracting Bill

New legislation offers more assistance to small-business owners in the federal marketplace.

House lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill aimed at boosting small-business contracting opportunities with the federal government.

The Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act, which passed 334-80, seeks to update contracting assistance programs overseen by the Small Business Administration and targeting businesses owned by women, minorities, and service-disable veterans, among others.

Under the bill, the programs will offer greater technical assistance, purchasing flexibility, and targeted benefits for small business in the federal contract marketplace.

It also imposes a code of conduct for all federal small-business contractors and a stricter oversight system to guard against fraud.