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Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as Oversight and Transparency for Small Business Certifications Act of 2026, members such as Roger Williams.
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June 23, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextOVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY FOR SMALL BUSINESS CERTIFICATIONS ACT OF
2026
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8879) to amend the Small Business Act to require a report on small business concern participation in a covered contracting programs, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8879
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Oversight and Transparency
for Small Business Certifications Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN PARTICIPATION IN A
COVERED CONTRACTING PROGRAMS.
Section 10(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 639(c))
is amended to read as follows:
“(c) Certification Reports.—
“(1) In general.—Along with the submission to Congress of
the budget of the President for each fiscal year pursuant to
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the
Administrator shall submit a report on small business concern
participation in a covered contracting program during the
year covered by the report that includes the following:
“(A) The total number of unique small business concerns
certified for participation in a covered contracting program.
“(B) With respect to applications of small business
concerns for participation in a covered contracting program—
“(i) the total number of applications for participation
that have sufficient information for the Administrator to
issue a certification determination, disaggregated by—
“(I) the number of applications certified for each covered
contracting program; and
“(II) the number of applications for which a determination
has not been made for any covered contracting program;
“(ii) the number of applications for certification for two
or more covered contracting programs and the percentage of
total applicants that received two or more certifications;
“(iii) the number of applications received through the
single, unified platform established by the Administrator for
receipt of certification applications; and
“(iv) the number of small business concerns certified for
participation in a covered contracting program for which such
certification documentation is contain in a system other than
the platform described in clause (iii), disaggregated by
covered contracting program.
“(C) With respect to applications of small business
concerns for certification as a small business concern owned
and controlled by service-disabled veterans that have
sufficient information for the Administrator to issue a
certification determination—
“(i) the number of applications certified;
“(ii) the number of applications denied; and
“(iii) the number of applications for which a
determination has not been made.
“(D) With respect to each application of a small business
concern for certification as a small business concern owned
and controlled by service-disabled veterans, the timeframe
between the date of submission of a completed application and
the issuance of a certification or recertification
determination, disaggregated by—
“(i) the number, expressed as a percentage, of
certification determinations made within the timeframe
established by the Administration;
“(ii) the average time for a first-time applicant to
receive a certification determination; and
“(iii) the average time for an applicant that is a small
business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled
veterans to receive a recertification determination.
“(E) With respect to applications of small business
concerns for certification as a small business concern owned
and controlled by women that have sufficient information for
the Administrator to issue a certification determination—
“(i) the number of applications certified;
“(ii) of the applications described in clause (i), the
number certified that are eligible for award of a sole source
contract under section 8(m)(7);
“(iii) the number of applications certified that were
processed by a national certifying entity described in
section 8(m)(2)(E);
“(iv) the number of applications denied; and
“(v) the number of applications for which a determination
has not been made.
“(F) Of the applications described in subparagraph
(E)(ii), the number of such applications that initially did
not include sufficient information for the Administrator to
issue a certification determination.
“(G) With respect to each application of a small business
concern for certification as a small business concern owned
and controlled by women, the timeframe between the date of
submission of a completed application and the issuance of a
certification or recertification determination, disaggregated
by—
“(i) the number, expressed as a percentage, of
certification determinations made within
the timeframe established by the Administration;
“(ii) the average time for a first-time applicant to
receive a certification determination;
“(iii) the average time for an applicant that is a small
business concern owned and controlled by women to receive a
recertification determination; and
“(iv) the average time for an applicant certified by a
national certifying entity to receive a determination from
the Administrator, disaggregated by initial certification
applications and recertification applications.
“(H) With respect to applications of small business
concerns for certification as a qualified HUBZone small
business concern that have sufficient information for the
Administrator to issue a certification determination—
“(i) the number of applications certified;
“(ii) the number of applications denied; and
“(iii) the number of applications for which a
determination has not been made.
“(I) With respect to each application of a small business
concern for certification as a qualified HUBZone small
business concern, the timeframe between the date of
submission of a completed application and the issuance of a
certification or recertification determination, disaggregated
by—
“(i) the number, expressed as a percentage, of
certification determinations made within the timeframe
established by the Administration;
“(ii) the average time for a first-time applicant to
receive a certification determination; and
“(iii) the average time for an applicant that is a
qualified HUBZone small business concern to receive a
recertification determination.
“(2) Covered contracting program defined.—In this
subsection, the term `covered contracting program' means
contracting assistance provided by the Administrator under
following:
“(A) Section 8(a).
“(B) Section 8(m).
“(C) Section 31.
“(D) Section 36.”.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
general leave
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8879, the Oversight and Transparency for Small Business Certifications Act of 2026, introduced by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Wied).
efficiency and eliminating fraud within Federal programs, Congress needs the information necessary to determine where these programs are succeeding and where they need improvement.
businesses with Federal contracting opportunities. Programs such as the women-owned small business certification, the HUBZone program, and the service-disabled veteran-owned small business program help ensure that small businesses can compete for Federal contracts and grow their businesses.
reliable data on how the certification process is performing. H.R. 8879 requires the SBA to submit annual reports to Congress on certification activities across the agency's small business contracting programs.
application processing times, participation rates, recertification timelines, and the use of the SBA's certification platform.
operations, strengthen congressional oversight, and help ensure that these programs continue to serve eligible small businesses efficiently and effectively.
information, this legislation will help protect taxpayer resources while supporting small businesses seeking to compete in the Federal marketplace.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 8879, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, Congress' ability to conduct effective oversight depends on regular access to information on the programs and authorities that SBA uses to assist small businesses.
and reporting on the small business procurement programs, including the WOSB certifications, the 8(a) Business Development program, and the Unified Certification Platform.
regular reports and basic data on contracting certifications that have been routinely provided in the past.
and a more complete picture on one of the SBA's core missions, certifying small business Federal contractors. Small business government contractors already face barriers to entering and competing in the Federal market. An SBA certification should not be an additional burden.
for his co-leading on this bill. I urge all Members to support my bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we must pass H.R. 8879 to increase transparency in Federal small business contracting programs by requiring SBA to report on participation in its certification programs so Congress can better evaluate their effectiveness.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are critical partners with the Federal Government. They provide goods and services to support agency mission needs, and they make up critical links throughout the supply chain.
information on the applications, certifications, and platforms that allow small firms to enter and have success in the Federal market. I urge all Members to vote “yes” on my bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 8879 to ensure small business contracting programs are working as they are intended. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8879.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.