Jim Hagedorn

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, had I been present for Roll Call No. 231, On Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted YEA; for Roll Call No. 232, on the Motion to Table the Motion to Reconsider, l would have voted NAY; for Roll Call No. 233, on the Motion to Adjourn, I would have voted YEA; for Roll Call No. 234, on the Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 567, I would have voted NAY; for Roll Call No. 235, on H. Res. 567, I would have vote NAY; for Roll Call No. 236, on Ryan Amendment En Bloc No. 1 to H.R. 4346, I would have voted NAY; for Roll Call No. 237, on Ryan Amendment En Bloc No. 3 to H.R. 4346, I would have voted YEA; for Roll Call No. 238, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 4346 with Instructions, I would have voted YEA; for Roll Call no. 239, on Passage of H.R. 4346, l would have voted NAY; for Roll Call No. 240, on Lee Amendment En Bloc No. 2 to H.R. 4373, I would have voted NAY; for Roll Call No. 241, on Lee Amendment En Bloc No. 3 to H.R. 4373, I would have voted NAY; for Roll Call No. 242, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 4373 with Instructions, I would have voted YEA; and for Roll Call No. 243, on Passage of H.R. 4373, I would have voted NAY.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the vote on the Motion to Table H. Res. 554, I would have voted nay on Roll Call No. 219. Had I been present for the vote on final passage of H.R. 1664, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 220. Had I been present for the vote on final passage of H.R. 2365, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 221.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to the Lamb Amendment En Bloc No. 1, I would have voted nay; had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to the Defazio Amendment En Bloc No. 3, I would have voted nay; had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to the Defazio Amendment En Bloc No. 4, I would have voted nay; and had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to the Van Duyne Amendment No. 108, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to the Davids Amendment En Bloc No. 5, I would have voted Nay; had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to the Lee Amendment No. 132, I would have voted Nay; had I been present for the vote on Agreeing to the Motion to Recommit H.R. 3684 With Instructions, I would have voted Yea; and had I been present for the vote on Final Passage of H.R. 3684, as amended, I would have voted Nay

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for holding this Special Order. It is really a very important issue all across the country. And it really doesn't matter which district a Member of Congress represents; you are going to have these same problems. Mr. Speaker, I spent the better part of last 2 weeks, during our district work period, traveling southern Minnesota, meeting with all sorts of businesses, meeting with labor, talking to the chambers of commerce. I can tell you that, under normal circumstances, it is tough enough to run a business and it is tough enough to be productive and successful in small business. But when you have bad government policies--and that is what we have here--it makes it extra tough. In many cases it is limiting production. We are seeing companies, like United Commercial Upholstery in New Ulm, having to turn away work. They actually could do three times more work right now if they could find another 50 employees. But it is impossible. It really doesn't matter if it is skilled work or unskilled work; it is just across the board. I was up in Lonsdale, Minnesota, in Rice County, and talked to their chamber of commerce, talked to the packaging company, which is the biggest employer in town. They have production disruptions across the board. They just can't find the employees. Recently, in Rochester, I was at Crenlo Industries, where they make these high-end cabs for heavy production equipment--Caterpillar, John Deere, those types of things. They have line employees, and they want to get those cabs worked through the line. Guess what happens? Employees don't show up. They can't fill the jobs. They have lots of disruption. We are seeing these supply chain disruptions all across the country, skyrocketing costs for materials and others. A lot of this is tied to these bad policies. What I do appreciate is some of the Governors across the country who have taken it upon themselves to say: You know what we are going to do? If you don't look for qualified work, if you don't accept work, you are going to lose your unemployment compensation benefits. Unfortunately, in Minnesota and some other States, you have Governors that want to hang onto emergency powers and still not make those requirements. I think at the Federal level, in my Small Business Committee and other committees represented here, we should look at how we can tie those benefits to make sure that there are those strings attached and we do everything possible to get folks back in the workforce. It is time. And I know that that is always best for folks to have good, high- paying jobs, and be upwardly mobile and self-sufficient.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, workforce development is key to sustaining jobs and economic growth. Manufacturers, small businesses, trade unions, and industry groups are concerned about the increasing skilled labor shortage. Unfortunately, current law limits the use of eligible savings accounts to help reduce the costs of obtaining advanced technical certifications. My legislation, the American Workforce Empowerment Act, would allow 529 savings accounts to be used for non-degree technical training certificate programs, tools, and any tests that are required to maintain certifications. As the American workforce rebounds, we will see increased need for skilled workers to meet rising manufacturing, shipping, and construction demand. These skilled labor positions are good-paying jobs that help provide economic stability for hardworking Americans and are essential to the expansion of our Nation's economy.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mary O'Marro, who passed away on Friday, March 19th at the age of 95. Mary was born on February 22, 1926 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. After graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1943, she worked at Wilson Meats before continuing her education at Rochester Junior College. She married her husband, Eugene, in 1951 and they were blessed with a daughter and two sons. In addition to being a wife and mother, Mary worked for Judge Harry Blackmun prior to his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court and later as a self-employed real estate broker for more than 25 years. Mary was dedicated to her family and dearly loved by all who knew her. She is survived by her three children and six grandchildren. My prayers are with her loved ones during this difficult time.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, and frankly, every month is cancer awareness month. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer, and ever since, I have received treatment and great care from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Two months ago, they removed my kidney, and I am very grateful to say that, just this week, my doctor said ``no cancer detected'' at this time. But here is the point about this: My cancer was found through a routine physical. I had no symptoms. In this past year, millions of Americans have, for whatever reason, coronavirus or otherwise, postponed or canceled their doctor's visits and aren't getting the cancer screenings they have in the past. I encourage everyone to make sure you get out there, see your doctor regularly, get looked into, because the earliest possible detection of serious illness can literally save your life. I am someone who can attest to that. To my fellow cancer survivors, hang in there. Keep fighting because cures are coming along every day. And, Mr. Speaker, it is uncanny how family, friends, medical professionals, total strangers, they rally around us and help us fight.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Missouri for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act of 2021. This targeted, bipartisan 60-day Paycheck Protection Program extension is exactly the type of relief that Congress should be focused on providing. This bill contrasts sharply with the nearly $2 trillion partisan monstrosity of progressive wish list policies this body passed just a week ago. With optimism on the vaccine front, Governors around the country finally loosening their arbitrary restrictions on small businesses and schools, and $1 trillion from previous relief measures still unspent, this bill is a responsible and appropriate way to ensure relief reaches our small businesses that are most in need. Our small businesses must have the tools necessary to compete and contribute to our local economies as we move past this pandemic.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act, to get our kids out from behind screens and back into the classroom.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Geraldine Amstutz of Rochester, Minnesota, who will celebrate her 100th birthday on March 15. Geraldine was born on March 15, 1921, in Grabill, Indiana, a small town founded and named after her grandfather. After graduating high school at the top of her class, Geraldine went on to study music in college. In 1943, Geraldine married Tillman Amstutz, with whom she would spend the next 63 years raising four children and eventually settling in Rochester. Geraldine has always loved music, especially playing the piano, but her greatest passions involve people and art. For decades she has made personalized, homemade cards, sending thousands over the years to encourage, lift up, honor, and celebrate others. Approaching her centennial birthday, Geraldine continues making cards to bless others with her kindness and compassion. Here is to 100 terrific years, Geraldine.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, just weeks into this administration, and after endless promises of unity, the President has issued over 40 radical executive orders, ranging from rejoining a failed climate pact to taking steps to dismantle the Nation's border security. Governing via executive order, the administration has unilaterally launched a coordinated assault on American energy and a war on agriculture. By revoking the Keystone XL pipeline project, the administration sent more than 10,000 skilled workers to the unemployment line, disrupted our safest and most efficient form of energy transportation, and increased the cost of transporting grain for farmers and agribusinesses. The President also issued extremist moratoriums on new oil and gas leasing and drilling on Federal lands, which only serves to increase American reliance on foreign energy, eliminate good-paying jobs, further stifle economic growth, and drive up the cost of fuel and electricity for every American. This backward agenda is sacrificing the energy independence achievements made by President Trump and Republicans these past 4 years. Sadly, the Biden Democrat Party energy policy is putting America last.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, the CARES Act allowed farmers and ranchers to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program by utilizing only net income in their loan calculations. This has prevented many agricultural partnerships from receiving the maximum loan amount possible. My bipartisan bill that I have introduced today, the PPP Flexibility for Farmers and Ranchers Act, allows the use of gross income to calculate the loan and includes a retroactive provision to enable farm partnerships that initially used net income to recalculate unforgiven PPP loans. Ag producers throughout the Nation have suffered greatly from historic drops in demand during the pandemic. As we push to reopen our economy, we must ensure that our farmers and ranchers have access to the resources needed to maintain operations through the end of the pandemic. I am grateful to my colleagues and an array of national agricultural groups who join me in this commonsense effort to boost our farmers, ranchers, and agricultural economy. I encourage Members to cosponsor my bill.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce a resolution commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Minnesota VFW was founded on January 17, 1921, and, today, has over 200 posts across the State and serves more than 32,000 veterans who fought for America honorably overseas, as well as an additional 21,000 auxiliary members, consisting of veterans' family members. The Minnesota VFW Century of Service has helped strengthen the common bonds of our military heroes by improving the quality of life for veterans and their families. The VFW provides a wide array of services to its members, including youth development and scholarships, national security advocacy, legislative affairs, citizenship education, veterans' fellowship retreats, and financial assistance for disabled veterans. I am incredibly grateful to those at the Minnesota VFW who work tirelessly on behalf of our States' veterans. Here is to another 100 more years. I ask Members to cosponsor my resolution.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the vote on final passage of H.R. 335, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 9051, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for the vote to Override the President's Veto Message on H.R. 6395--Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank ranking Republican Conaway for yielding the time. I appreciate all that he has done for our committee over the years serving as chairman and everything else. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Peterson for his service on behalf of our farmers and agribusinesses. I appreciate him as well. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020. The U.S. Grain Standards Act of 1916 established USDA's Federal Grain Inspection Service and has benefited all of agriculture, right down the chain, for more than a century. This reauthorization today will provide 5 years of certainty, avoid potential disruptions to the grain inspection and weighing system, and make modest but important changes to the program overall. The folks at the Minnesota Grain & Feed Association and many others in agriculture are behind this legislation. And let's not forget that the bill additionally requires USDA to conduct comprehensive, nationwide review of the agency geographic areas to report its findings and recommendations and report back to Congress in 18 months. I will vote ``yes'' today. I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes.''

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of bipartisan legislation, the Farm and Agricultural Worker Safety Education Act, which I am proud to introduce with my friend from Texas (Mr. Cuellar). The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need to ensure that we have a safe and reliable workforce to maintain our food supply. In order to win the battle with COVID-19, we must guarantee that the most up-to-date and science-based information is readily available and accessible for community leaders, educators, and rural businesses. Our legislation will help guarantee that timely, relevant health and safety guidelines are reaching our rural workforce and communities by allowing higher learning institutions to apply for grants to distribute best practices and safety guidance to help farms, ag workers, and others who conduct business during this pandemic. When we think about best practices and safety in the rural areas, we often think about tractor accidents and how to stop the farmers from being hurt in grain bin incidents and things of that nature. We haven't really delved into this idea that we have to look at the health of our employees, the workers who are in the packing plants, the folks driving the trucks, the people at the distribution plants, and the people on the farms. We have learned during this pandemic that when our health workers and when our workers on the farms and everything are in trouble, we are in trouble. We had shortages in our grocery stores of meat products, and that was not due to any problems having a supply of hogs, for instance. We had excess supply. But the folks who did the work at the packing plants were down, and we had disruptions, which led to those types of shortages. So to make sure that we ensure our food supply and that we have everyone in as safe a condition as possible, we want to have these grants and best practices moving forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this important initiative that will help ensure the safety of our farmers in rural communities as we work to keep rebuilding our economy.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill for S. 2163--``To establish the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, to study and make recommendations to address social problems affecting Black men and boys, and for other purposes . . .'', I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, I rise today because America's livestock industry is in crisis. Across southern Minnesota and in many areas of our nation, pork producers are especially in trouble. Packing plant closures and disruptions and other reverberations associated with COVID-19 and the pause in our economy have depressed futures markets and made it impossible to process hogs. Many of our producers are being forced to destroy animals and not even use the meat for our food supply. To mitigate production losses incurred by our pork producers, this week I introduced the ``Livestock Producer Assistance for COVID-19 Damages Act.'' My legislation is designed to augment the United States Department of Agriculture's existing Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm Raised Catfish program to cover income losses for farmers and producers who have been unable to market livestock due to packing plant closures or reduced operations beginning on April 19, 2020. Due to the ongoing pandemic, our livestock farmers in southern Minnesota and throughout the nation have been pushed to the brink of insolvency. This represents a direct threat to our nation's food supply and the vibrancy of the economy and our rural communities. During this pause in our economy, restaurants have been largely shut down, which has caused reduced demand and dramatically lower futures markets for pork, beef and other cuts of meat. On top of that, we have had packing plant disruptions and closures that have created an environment where market ready hogs cannot even be processed and distributed into the food chain. Because the pork industry uses an in-time delivery system, hogs cannot be stored or pastured like other traditional crops and animals. Until meat packing plants return fully online, many pork producers are left with no place to market their hogs, leaving euthanasia, rendering or composting as some of the only options for handling potentially millions of pigs. The outlook is especially challenging for independent farmers who own and raise their own livestock. In the past few months, hog prices plunged 26 percent, further compounding challenges for livestock producers to develop additional options for selling their hogs. In Minnesota, our farmers make huge contributions to the state's economy. According to a study by the University of Minnesota, current disruptions in the pork supply chain, coupled with the current 15 percent unemployment rate, could result in an estimated loss of $660 million in economic activity in our state. The researchers also concluded that a 15 percent drop in hog production would lead to an estimated loss of 2,100 jobs. Because pork and livestock producers are suffering huge losses, financial and otherwise, and through no fault of their own, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this bill. We must stand with our family farmers, and in so doing defend the interests of our economy, rural communities and America's food supply.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because America's livestock industry is in crisis. In southern Minnesota and across the country, this has particularly hit our hog farmers. They are in big trouble. Packing plant disruptions have led to excess hogs and the actual destruction of animals and not even using the meat for the food supply. The situation is so bad that, this week, I introduced legislation to mitigate losses in this area. I introduced the Livestock Producer Assistance for COVID-19 Damages Act. This bill will expand the USDA's Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Catfish Program to cover income losses for farmers and producers who have been unable to market livestock due to packing plant closures. In Minnesota, our hog operators make a significant contribution to our State's economy. According to a study from the University of Minnesota, current disruptions in the pork supply chain, coupled with the current 15 percent unemployment rate, could result in an estimated loss of $660 million of economic activity in our State. The researchers also concluded that a 15 percent drop in hog production would lead to an estimated loss of 2,100 Minnesota jobs. While these statistics are rightfully alarming, this problem is not unique to Minnesota. States like South Dakota, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, and Iowa have similar issues. Pork and livestock producers are suffering huge losses, financial and otherwise, and all through no fault of their own. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this bill. We must stand with our family farmers and defend the interests of rural communities, the American economy, and our food supply.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I believe this is a bad idea for this institution and a terrible example for the Nation. I recommend a ``no'' vote. You know, it is ironic that as our Nation opens up and people go back to work safely and responsibly into their jobs, the House is making a move to shut down, for all intents and purposes. You know, tens of millions of Americans throughout this outbreak, this pandemic, have been out delivering and producing our energy, our food, helping with people in hospitals, policing our neighborhoods. They have been doing their jobs, and we should be doing our jobs in person moving forward. You know, some might question why a Member of Congress like myself, who is dealing with stage 4 cancer, getting treatment the last year at the Mayo Clinic, why I would be the one passionately wanting everyone to travel and work in this Chamber, work in our committees. And it is because it is a bad idea for this House. It is a bad idea that we don't do our jobs in person. We are setting a terrible example. Personally, though, I can tell you this: This is the job that I signed up for. This is the job that I asked the people of southern Minnesota for. And this is the job that I want to do. It is an honor to serve them. I think we should do it in person, work in committee in person, and do our jobs. And we can do it safely and responsibly. I recommend a ``no'' vote.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act. I think this bill is a great example of how the House can work together, particularly across committee lines. Here, we have Homeland Security Committee and Agriculture Committee folks working together in the House and the Senate. This is a critical piece of legislation in order to make sure we do everything possible to protect our food supply, our farmers, and agribusiness. I have been focused very intently on this whole African swine fever threat for many months. When you look at it in China, it has ravaged their hog supply. Literally, over 50 percent of the hogs in China have had to be slaughtered because of it. That disease has moved to Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It is in Poland, moving toward Germany and the European Union. It is an incredible threat, and it has caused a lot of destruction. In my district in southern Minnesota, I happen to represent some of the finest agricultural producers in all the world, including livestock producers and many in pork production. Our district is number two in the whole country for pork production. When you look at what is going on with African swine fever, it is obviously both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity is that there is going to be a need for our products--our pork supply, poultry, and other things. Our producers are going to have a chance to export around the world, perhaps even enhance and expand their operations. Of course, the challenge is: What happens if the African swine fever gets in the United States? If African swine fever enters the United States, it is not going to hurt just our pork producers. It is going to hurt our corn and soybean growers, and the people who pack the meat, transport the meat, all the people down the line to Main Street. It is going to drive up the prices for our consumers, and we can't let that happen. That is why this bill is so important, to enhance the inspectors at these ports of entry and to make sure that the Beagle Brigades, as they are called, are upgraded. They do a terrific job of sniffing out the pork. I completely support this legislation, and I would ask my colleagues to consider this thought in the future, of perhaps putting together a task force between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security to make sure that they are working in cooperation.

Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I think a task force would be great, in order to make sure that these Departments are coordinating and working together. Then we in the Congress can interact with them in a better fashion. We have to do every last thing we can to protect our food production and our American agricultural producers from this and other infectious diseases. I encourage everyone to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act. Agriculture is key to southern Minnesota's economy, but a shortage of Agricultural inspectors at America's ports of entries puts our production at risk from infectious diseases. African Swine Fever has torn through China's hog population and is currently spreading throughout Europe and Asia--with recent outbreaks reported in the Philippines and Greece. Foreign Ag Diseases like the High Path Avian Influenza outbreak in 2014 cost the poultry industry $1.6 billion. Foreign Ag Diseases affect the whole food supply chain, reducing demand and prices for crops like corn and soybeans, and increasing the price of food at the supermarket. With the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus, it is critical that we protect our American food and agriculture from pests and foreign-born diseases, so that we can continue to supply high quality products around the world. Our farmers are ready to meet this challenge. Minnesota's agriculture exports skyrocketed by 263 percent in the past ten years. And pork products alone account for 10 percent of all Minnesota Ag exports, therefore an outbreak of the ASF would have a significant impact on our economy. This legislation will help CBP acquire the necessary resources to hire, train and assign agricultural specialists and support staff for canine teams that will detect and prevent the spread of ASF and other foreign-born diseases at our ports of entry. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill in the name of protecting our food supply.

Mr. HAGEDORN

Mr. HAGEDORN. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman for his words, and I would first like to commend Chair Velazquez and Ranking Member Chabot for their leadership and their bipartisanship, demonstrating that a committee like ours can do very good work. I think our committee is an example for many others here in the House, so I thank them for that. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5146, the Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses Act, which is very important legislation. It was found through hearings and discussions with small businesses who wanted to be prime contractors with the government, the committee found that small businesses were having difficulties. Because of the criteria and so forth, the government wouldn't take into consideration, for instance, as Mr. Chabot and the chair said, their experience as subcontractors. So we wanted to do something about that. And I want to thank my friend, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, who helped me, and also coauthored the bill and collaborated with us on this bill, along with my friend from Pennsylvania, the good Dr. Joyce. I thank the gentlemen for all of their work. It is like the title of the bill says, we are going to unlock opportunities for small business contractors seeking prime contracting with the Federal Government. Unfortunately, small contractors are stuck in a catch-22. In order to receive a prime contract, Federal agencies require evidence showing that the contractor is capable of doing the work, but they will generally only accept past performance conducted as a Federal prime contractor as proof of this experience. Therefore, companies can't obtain prime contracts if they lack a record of performance, but companies can't get the prior performance experienced without winning prime contracts. So it goes around in a circle. For many small businesses throughout southern Minnesota and our Nation, winning prime contracts is the key to sustained growth. Making the leap from subcontracting or teaming with other companies to prime contracting, as we discussed, can be exceedingly challenging due to this dilemma. This assessment of a contractor's capabilities, based only on their prior experience as a prime contractor, does a great disservice to many qualified companies who have performed vital work for the government. The work small contractors have performed in those roles may have great relevance to the contract as it is bid, however, they are unable to showcase their capabilities due to the agencies' narrow focus on prime contracting experience. These limitations not only prevent growth for small businesses but have a larger impact on the Federal Government's industrial base. More and more, small businesses are taking their considerable talents to the private sector rather than working with the Federal Government. Past performance rules, such as this one, are way out of step with today's economy, and they undermine the Federal Government's ability to efficiently seek qualified and capable businesses willing and able to work with the Federal Government. By removing this barrier to entry for small businesses, our bill gives them incentive to rejoin the Federal contracting community and even persuades new businesses to enter the Federal marketplace. The more small businesses we can attract, the more competition will increase and we will obtain better results and outcomes for the American taxpayer. This bill opens up a world of prime contracting opportunities for small contractors, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting H.R. 5146.