Kerry Cautious on Small Business Contracting Numbers

Kerry Cautious on Small Business Contracting Numbers
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Senator John Kerry(D-Mass.), Chairman of the Committee on Small Business andEntrepreneurship, released the following statement in response to therelease of the federal government's "Small Business Goaling Report" for2006. The Small Business Administration released the report detailing themoney each federal agency spent with small businesses, including tominority, women and service-disabled owned firms.
"I'm glad to see Administrator Preston has taken some steps to fix thefaulty and misleading small business contracting numbers and hold agenciesaccountable, but these numbers should still be viewed with caution. Despitethe federal contracting budget increasing by at least $20 billion lastyear, the percentage going to small businesses decreased and the governmentstill isn't counting the whole pie because of special exemptions andexclusions.
"It's critical that we continue to improve the reporting system andcount all contracts in calculations so we know the reality on the ground.It's not about meeting the goals for the sake of meeting a number. Doingmore business with small firms is good for our economic and nationalsecurity because it diversifies our supply base. I will continue to reviewand analyze these numbers and will work with Administrator Preston toensure that the entire government is truly meeting the small businessgoals."

SOURCE Senate Committee on Small Business-Democratic