Today, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County), Chair of the Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure, spoke on the House floor before three of his bipartisan bills to support Long Island’s small businesses unanimously passed the House. Ahead of their passage, LaLota spoke in support of his bipartisan Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act, Department of Energy (DOE) and Small Business Administration (SBA) Research Act, and the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and I am proud to see my first three bills pass the House today. Each one of these bills will support small businesses across the country in their work to support our entire economy,” said LaLota. “My Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act will increase opportunities and capital access for our nation’s heroes. My DOE and SBA Research Act allows facilities like Brookhaven National Laboratory to improve their already successful projects by participating in joint research and development activities. Finally, my WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act will help women-owned small businesses stay free from fraud.”

To watch LaLota’s remarks in support of the Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act, click HERE.

To watch LaLota’s remarks in support of the DOE and SBA Research Act, click HERE.

To watch LaLota’s remarks in support of the WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act, click HERE.

Background:

LaLota introduced the Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act in May 2023 with Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY). The bill would amend the Small Business Act to require training for agencies on increasing the number of contracts awarded to Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. To read the text of H.R. 3511, the Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act click HERE.

LaLota introduced the DOE and SBA Research Act in July 2023 with Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.). The bill would support increased joint research and development activities between the Department of Energy (DOE), National Laboratories, including Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the Small Business Administration. To read the text of H.R. 4669, the DOE and SBA Research Act, click HERE.

LaLota introduced the WOSB Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act in January 2024 with Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), the Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee. The bill would remove self-certified women-owned small business (WOSB) firms from inclusion in the SBA small business contracting scorecard. This will protect the integrity of the Women-Owned Small Business program by ensuring that all WOSB firms are truly women-owned. A similar provision phasing out self-certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses from the procurement goals passed in the FY24 NDAA. To read the text of H.R. 7105, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certification and Opportunity Expansion Act, click HERE.