May 20, 2008

Today, the Majority Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, Chaired by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson(D-MS), released a report entitled "Small, Minority, and Disadvantaged Business in the Department of Homeland Security -- Selected Aspects, FY2007."

The report examines DHS spending on small, minority, and disadvantaged business programs and recommends changes to improve these firms access to the procurement process.

The report finds that the use of "double-counting" these businesses to
fulfill more than one classification category is a common practice and
urges the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine whether the use of this practice undermines the Department's ability to accurately portray
the participation rates of small, minority, and disadvantaged businesses.

Chairman Thompson issued the following statement with the release of
the report:

"While the Department has technically met its goals for small,
minority, and disadvantaged business contracting, the means by which
they've met these goals raises serious questions. We cannot allow this
numbers game to continue. Small, minority and disadvantaged businesses
deserve the same opportunities as other businesses. The federal government
cannot attain true transparency in contracting until the numbers game
ceases."

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