Linda McMahon backs SBA as stand-alone agency

Linda McMahon, President Trump’s nominee to head the Small Business Administration, testified at her Senate hearing that she does not support merging the SBA into the Commerce Dept., which had been proposed by President Obama.

“I am a firm believer that SBA needs to be a stand-alone agency,” McMahon testified.

McMahon, a former wresting executive, appeared to be set for confirmation after receiving bipartisan support at the hearing.

McMahon also said she wants to beef up SBA’s disaster response, reduce regulations judiciously, increase mentoring for entrepreneurs, and offer help to women, veteran and minority small business owners, among other priorities.

More information: Watch the hearing: http://goo.gl/CEbtfe

Small contractors say unpaid for Trump hotel work

Three DC-area small contractors have filed separate lawsuits against the Trump hotel chain for allegedly not paying their invoices for their work on the Trump International Hotel Washington DC.

Joseph J. Magnolia Inc., of DC, said in its filing it is owed $3 million for plumbing, HVAC and mechanical work, the Washington Post reported.

Magnolia told the Post he was a Trump supporter and voted for Trump, but his final invoice was not paid. The hotel opened in October.

Maryland electrical contractor AES Electrical said the DC hotel did not pay $2 million in invoices due for work in 2016. AES said it agreed to work on an accelerated schedule--10-14 hours a day, seven days a week, for nearly 50 consecutive days--to prepare for the hotel opening, according to an article in Politico.

In addition, A&D Construction of Sterling, VA said it was owed $79,700 for wall base and crown molding work performed between June 24 and Oct. 5 last year.

More information: Washington Post story: http://goo.gl/Iz9R3I
Politico story: http://goo.gl/ErGHk6

New DHS regulations

The Homeland Security Dept. proposed three new regulations to require contractors to complete privacy and IT security training, and to direct handling of personal information and controlled unclassified information (CUI). Comments are due by March 20.

Meritalk, a consulting firm, said the proposals set DHS CUI standards apart from existing governmentwide standards.

More information: Federal Register notices: http://goo.gl/bndhcP
http://goo.gl/bgGiF2
http://goo.gl/n6wRGK
Meritalk comment: http://goo.gl/RCcVME

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