Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8) announced this week that legislation he introduced five years ago has finally begun to move its way through congress.
The legislation passed by the House of Representatives, called the Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act, ensures American veterans will play an import part in rebuilding roads and bridges across the country.
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“My Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act is a simple, yet powerful update to current law: It would allow Veteran Owned Small Businesses to compete in an existing infrastructure small business program,” said Fitzpatrick speaking on the House floor. “Members of this body, from both sides of the aisle, should see the positive impact that can be made by putting the most trained workforce in history on the job of rebuilding our roads and bridges.”
The legislation will be an integral part of another bill passed earlier this month. The Surface Transportation Reauthorization & Reform Act of 2015, a multi-year, fiscally responsible infrastructure bill. The $325 billion measure clears the way for major infrastructure projects at the federal level. Fitzpatrick’s Fairness to Veterans Act would allow veteran-owned small businesses (VSOBs) to compete for those contracts.
“With more than 250,000 service members transitioning each year from the military to civilian life, and about one-quarter of veterans saying they are interested in starting or buying their own business, this Congress can lay the foundation for them to succeed in the private sector,” said Fitzpatrick. “Our veterans are problem solvers. This bipartisan bill ensures we’re tapping into the most highly skilled workforce in history and utilizing their unique skills to get our economy moving again.”
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Fitzpatrick’s push for contracting parity for veteran-owned businesses is emphatically supported by the American Legion, representing 2.3 million military veterans, according to a statement by the national commander
“On behalf of the 2.3 million members of the American Legion, I would like to express support for HR 1694, the Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act. Resolution 339 passed at the American Legion’s 2014 National Convention states that the American Legion ‘supports legislation to ensure equal parity for all veterans in small business government contracting programs, thus ensuring no veteran procurement program is at a disadvantage in competing…’,” said Michael Helm, National Commander of the American Legion. “The American Legion supports passage of this legislation and applauds your leadership in addressing this critical issue facing our nation’s service members and veterans.”
