Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, has been traveling around the first district trying to spread interest in the bills his House Small Business Committee has passed. Braley says one of the key bills he introduced himself would give small business a bigger piece of the 400-billion dollar federal contract pie.
Braley says 23% of the dollars are targeted for small businesses and his bill would increase that to 30%. He says it also includes a provision that prevents what’s called "contract bundling," a procedure that Braley says excludes small businesses from government contracts. Braley is encouraging people in his district to talk with Iowa’s two senators to get the bill moving forward in the Senate.
Braley says he continues to make the point that his bill pass with overwhelming support, 409 votes, and he says all of the 18 mills passed by his committee have enough votes to override a presidential veto. Braley says the bills would do a lot to help small businesses and the U.S. economy.