Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that on March 8, 2005 Congresswoman Bordallo (D-GU), Congresswoman Christensen (D-VI) and he introduced H.R. 1148, a bill to amend the Small Business Act to designate Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands as historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones).

“H.R. 1148 is known as the Insular Areas Small Business Development Act and it is an important bill for small business owners in American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Marianas,” the Congressman said.  “If passed, H.R. 1148 would provide certain beneficial treatment in the federal contracting process for businesses operating in our districts.”

“At this time, we are working with Chairman Don Manzullo(R-IL) and Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) of the Small Business Committee to schedule a hearing for this bill and I am now asking for our small business owners to contact my office if they may be interested in testifying when H.R. 1148 comes before the Committee.  The Committee on Small Business does not pay the costs associated with the witness testimony and any individual invited to testify will be responsible for his/her hotel and flight arrangements.”

“I will continue to keep our small business owners informed if and when a hearing date is set and I look forward to working with our business community on this very important initiative,” the Congressman concluded.