{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2023/9/wicker-promotes-competition-in-va-acquisition-process", "Wicker Promotes Competition in VA Acquisition Process", "2023-09-13", "2023", "2023-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Roger F. Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", "wicker", "https://www.wicker.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today introduced the Vetting for Equal Treatment of Small (VETS) Business Act, which would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report to Congress about competition among suppliers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation would encourage the VA to ensure small businesses can compete fairly for federal contracts.\n\n\u201cPromoting competition and access to federal opportunities for small businesses is critical, especially at the Department of Veterans Affairs,\u201d Wicker said. \u201cStrong supply chains depend on a diverse group of suppliers to keep costs low. The VETS Business Act is focused on promoting competition, supporting small businesses, and ensuring cost savings for the American taxpayer.\"\n\nThis legislation is in response to issues regarding the VA\u2019s acquisition process. In May, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) admitted that the VA is struggling to manage that process effectively, placing a burden on U.S. taxpayers. Small business VA suppliers have also expressed concerns about their capability to compete for VA medical supply contracts.\n\nThe VETS Business Act would require a report modeled after the 2022 report of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment entitled \u201cState of Competition within the Defense Industrial Base.\u201d The report would determine problems and provide recommendations for reform.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"]], "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://www.wicker.senate.gov/2023/9/wicker-promotes-competition-in-va-acquisition-process"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8454266935586929, "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"}