Bipartisan legislation recently re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would create a new program for veteran-owned small businesses to win federal-aid highway and public transportation contracts.
The Better Utilizing Infrastructure for Lasting Development of (BUILD) Veterans Businesses Act would ensure that veteran small business owners receive at least 3 percent of federal contracts for federal highway and public transportation projects. This includes construction, manufacturing, professional services like architecture and engineering, transportation, warehousing, and administrative support.
The Federal Highway Administration oversees the distribution to states of more than $40 billion in annual funding for the construction, maintenance and preservation of highways and public transportation systems.
“Veterans have unique skills that are an asset to our economy, and particularly the small business community,” Carson said. “It’s also important that we serve our veterans in the same way they have so bravely served our country. The benefits of this bill are three-fold: serving our veterans, boosting our economy, and expanding new opportunities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
U.S. Reps. André Carson (D-IN), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the bill.
There are more than 1.9 million businesses owned by veterans in the United States.
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.