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Maloy Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Federal Dollars Go to Verified, Women-Owned Small Businesses

Washington, D.C., January 30, 2024

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), members of the House Committee on Small Business, introduced The WOSB Integrity Act of 2024. This bill would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) and third-party, certifying entities to take reasonable action to verify that women-owned small businesses meet the SBA’s small business size standards for receiving federal contracts.

 

The WOSB federal contracting program has become susceptible to abuse and fraud, and self-certification is driving much of its misuse. Since women-owned small businesses do not have to verify that they are both women-owned and small, large companies are able to self-certify as small businesses to take advantage of the program.

 

Additionally, the federal government has a goal of awarding 5% of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses each year. However, it has yet to reach that goal. 

 

“Many women entrepreneurs call Utah home, and I want to make sure even more are able to enter the marketplace, compete and succeed. However, that requires a level playing field,” said Rep. Maloy. “This bill will help ensure that larger, more established firms aren’t able to exploit federal contracts, grants, or loans at the expense of women-owned small businesses.”

 

“When women small business owners enter the WOSB program, they should have the peace of mind that large firms are not misrepresenting themselves as small businesses to gain access to this vital contracting program,” said Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business. “Congresswoman Maloy's important legislation addresses this issue, and I am looking forward to having her join us in her first markup on Committee.”

 

“I commend Rep. Maloy's efforts and leadership on this commonsense legislation. We must not allow large corporations to masquerade as small businesses, snatching up opportunities intended for Main Street USA. Self-proclaiming an enterprise as a small business does not make it so, and it's only fair to ensure they meet a common definition," said Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business.

 

Full text of the legislation can be found here.