WASHINGTON - United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu, D-La., today made the following comment on the Obama Administration's efforts to increase contracting opportunities to small businesses:

"The announcement today that the Obama Administration will follow through with commitments to increase federal contracting opportunities to small businesses, including minority-owned and veteran-owned businesses, is a step in the right direction. The Federal Government is the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world. Small businesses are due at least 23 percent of all contracts awarded, and this Administration's effort to ensure they are not left out of the process demonstrates their commitment to small business growth throughout the country. As Chair of the Small Business Committee, I intend to move forward from this announcement with vigorous oversight to demand that all small businesses - including minority, women and veteran-owned firms - are on equal footing to receive their fair share of these contracts. We have held, and will continue to hold, hearings in our Committee to monitor the progress of small business contracting opportunities."