Linda McMahon testifies at House hearing

WOSB certifications coming “very soon,” McMahon says

      Linda McMahon, the new chief of the Small Business Administration, made her first appearance before the House Small Business Committee at a hearing last week.

      The event offered one of the first glimpses of McMahon’s views on small business federal contracting.

      She talked about the pending SBA certification program for women-owned small firms, but also about preventing abuses in set-aside programs and HUBZone problems.

      In her prepared remarks, she touched on a few topics--her own experiences, 7a loans and entrepreneurship, to name a few--but did not mention small business federal contractors.

      From there, McMahon went on to respond to several questions.

WOSB certification program

      Asked by Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-NY, about the WOSB certification program that Congress ordered in the fiscal 2015 national defense law, McMahon said it is coming “very soon.”

      “It is a focus. We look to have it very soon,” McMahon said.

Small business contracting

      Responding to a question from Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-FL, on how agencies can increase small business contracting, McMahon possibly misheard what was asked. She offered a somewhat off-topic response.

      “We absolutely have to be vigilant,” McMahon said. “I think it is a privilege, quite frankly, to get a government contract. To get a contract from the greatest customer in the world is really quite a coup. And if it is not being valued and serviced and really looking for what we need to do, then I think we need to look elsewhere, and maybe that contractor does not deserve the contract.”

HUBZones

      McMahon was asked how she would reduce HUBZone fraud.

      “I’ll be frank. The HUBZone program is not one of our stellar programs,” she said. “We need to look at it closer.”

      McMahon went on to say that she is thinking of visiting some of the urban HUBZones with Housing Secretary Ben Carson.

      She also said she is thinking of visiting HUBZones in Puerto Rico.

SBA Management

      McMahon gave some insight into her first 50 days on the job.

      “I have spent a lot of time getting to know our team, and letting our team get to know me. I want them to feel engaged and empowered and to know that their expertise is valued,” she said in her prepared remarks.

      McMahon reported that SBA’s Twitter account has gained 100,000 followers since mid-February and an SBA chat became a trending topic on Twitter. “I am thrilled there is a buzz around SBA as it draws attention to the services the agency offers,” she said in her prepared remarks.

      Regarding SBA management and IT system concerns, McMahon said she has been, and will continue to be, responsive to the management concerns.

      “I want this to be the best SBA it has ever been. I think it is a little stodgy. I want us to update it,” she said.

      She said she intends to keep the current CIO Maria Roat, an appointee of the previous administration. McMahon praised Roat’s background and expertise.

     McMahon added the agency is updating cybersecurity policies and evaluating legacy IT systems.

More Information:
Hearing video: http://goo.gl/zxBFgv
Prepared testimony: http://goo.gl/VpGnp5

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