USAVETBIZ to Urge Congress for Government-Wide Preference Contracting & Set-Aside Programs for all Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

National Poll of Vets in Federal Business Provides Clear Marching Orders - VOSB
(Veteran-Owned Small Business Our Number #1 Priority)
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
The United States Association of Veterans in Business (USAVETBIZ) has announced
that it will take the lead in championing a historic Federal initiative and
seeks the support of all Veteran Service Organizations and the general public to
the campaign.

"New law is needed that clearly finds and declares that military Veterans have
earned and deserve preference and priority consideration in the award of
government small business contracts and subcontracts," says Richard D. Ramirez,
President of USAVETBIZ. "No group of American citizens is more deserving of
preference opportunity to do business with the United States of America than the
men and women who have defended her -nobody. More and more military Veterans
mirror the great melting pot of America and they must be afforded enhanced
opportunity based on their service and sacrifice to our country.

"It`s time to broaden the program, and solidify once and for all mandatory first
consideration of all qualified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB`s). The
government`s current policies regarding preference and set-aside contracting
only for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) is
insufficient and not inclusive. Veterans need to be the Nation`s first choice
for federal contracts and other federally funded small business contracting
opportunity. Above all other federal socio-economic groups and programs, doing
business with military Veterans small business owners must take top priority."

National Survey: USAVETBIZcompleted a national survey of VOSB and SDVOSB engaged
in the federal marketplace. Ninety-six percent (96%) of all responders supported
this inclusive initiative. "It`s time to end the opportunity divide between
Veteran small business owners who are service-disabled and those that are not.
Congress created the divide arbitrarily excluding preference and set-aside
opportunity for the vast majority of Veterans seeking federal work," says
Ramirez, himself a two tour service-disabled Vietnam Veteran.

"Our country is losing military Veterans at a rate three times greater than the
rate of current and projected discharges of men and women from active duty
military service. The population of military Veterans and Vets in business is in
steep decline. We must be sure that the landscape of federal preference
opportunity for all military Veteran small business owners is secured for the
future, now. It`s all about Commerce for the Defenders - business opportunity
for the great men and women who put their lives on the line to preserve our
cultural and economic way of life."

USAVETBIZ (US Association for Veterans in Business) is a non-profit membership
trade Association dedicated to enhancing awareness of and opportunity for
veterans in business in all channels of commerce, public and private. More
information about USAVETBIZ is available at www.USAVETBIZ.org.

US Association of Veterans in Business (USA VET BIZ)
Megan Pollard, 800-505-1083
CommerceForTheDefender@USAVETBIZ.org
or
HighViz//ABPA
Abbe Buck, Media Relations, 1-800-380-2825
abbe@highviz.net

Copyright Business Wire 2009