34 lawmakers aim to preserve VA’s AbilityOne procurements

Court said vet-owned firms have priority over AbilityOne

     Nearly two dozen lawmakers in Congress are urging the Veterans Affairs Dept. to uphold mandatory purchases from AbilityOne non-profits with severely disabled workers. The non-competitive procurements had been in effect for many decades until a recent court ruling.

Who are the lawmakers backing AbilityOne?

      The 34 lawmakers wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie on July 11 asking that the VA continue to honor AbilityOne requirements.

      Their efforts are being opposed by advocates for veteran small business owners, who are rallying support for maintaining the VA’s “Vets First” top-priority preferences for contracts with small firms owned by veterans, and especially service-disabled veterans...more....