{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://schmidt.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-passes-rep-derek-schmidt-legislation-help-small-businesses-compete", "U.S. House passes Rep. Derek Schmidt legislation to help small businesses compete for Department of Defense contracts", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Derek Schmidt", "S001228", "schmidt.house.gov", "schmidt", "https://schmidt.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC: Legislation proposed by Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) to make it easier for small companies to become suppliers for the Pentagon passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday as part of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\n\u201cThe security threats facing our country are evolving rapidly, but our processes for acquiring new technologies and materials to meet those threats has lagged behind,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cThat\u2019s why as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I was proud to support efforts to streamline our Defense procurement processes so the Pentagon can more quickly and nimbly acquire what it needs to defend our country and sustain peace through strength.\u201d\n\nAs part of that effort, Schmidt added an amendment to require the Pentagon to establish a single application process that minimizes paperwork and bureaucracy for small businesses interested in competing for Pentagon contracts.\n\n\u201cCreative and innovative small businesses that want to contribute to America\u2019s national security should not need a team of accountants, lawyers, and government relations professionals just to supply the Pentagon with what our military needs,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cThe creative energy and can-do mentality of small businesses are exactly what is required to reinvigorate our military supply chain and maintain our edge over potential adversaries. By clearing away much of the unnecessary bureaucratic burden, my amendment strengthens America\u2019s defense, lowers costs for taxpayers by improving competition, and enables more small businesses\u2014including in Kansas\u2014to compete to supply our country\u2019s defense needs.\u201d\n\nSchmidt\u2019s amendment was included in H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery (SPEED) and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA). The bill passed the House last night on a bipartisan vote of 231-196. It now must be reconciled with a different version under consideration by the Senate.\n\nThe House-passed NDAA also includes other provisions Schmidt sponsored including:\n\nProtection against downsizing of Department of Defense (DoD) medical facilities in Kansas and across the country, including Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley;\n\nPreservation of the National Simulation Center at Fort Leavenworth;\n\nEstablishment of a pilot program to evaluate the efficacy of experimental burn and blast treatments for wounded personnel;\n\nProhibition of bans on fossil fuels and plastic bags at DoD facilities to ensure optimal services are available;\n\nIncreased restroom facility access for DoD-contracted truck and transportation drivers; and\n\nEncouragement to identify and develop expanded training and maneuver space for Army drone programs.\n\nAdditional provisions in the bill supported by Rep. Schmidt include:\n\nInstitution of a 3.8% pay raise for all military personnel;\n\nPreventing deactivation of Army Reserve helicopter units, including the Aviation Support Facility at New Century;\n\nPrevention of the cancellation of the Air Force\u2019s E-7 Wedgetail aircraft acquisition, protecting Kansas jobs;\n\nStreamlined credentialing of military healthcare professionals;\n\nIncreased access to school-transition information for military families prior to relocation; and\n\nImproved retention of quality Army and Air Force National Guard officers by eliminating a penalty for breaks in service.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Second District of Kansas is home to numerous military interests including the U.S. Army\u2019s 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, the U.S. Army\u2019s Combined Arms Center and 35th Infantry Division at Fort Leavenworth, the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas National Guard at Forbes Field in Topeka, and both the Kansas Army National Guard and Kansas Air National Guard Headquarters with authority over nearly 7,000 Kansas soldiers and airmen. Congressman Schmidt sought and obtained a seat on the House Armed Services Committee, the first held by a Kansas representative since 2008.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://schmidt.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-passes-rep-derek-schmidt-legislation-help-small-businesses-compete"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1191262640058994, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}