,,iv  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #ah  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se   
,,( ,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #bd1     
#bjba,ms4 ,velzquez 7= h]self & ,mr4    
,mfume7 submitt$ ! foll[+ concurr5t     
resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee
 on ,f9ancial ,s]vices  ,,concurr5t     
,,resolution  ,express+ ! s5se (        
,congress reg>d+ ! importance ( includ+ 
small bus9ess conc]ns1 especially       
m9ority-own$ small bus9ess conc]ns1 9   
any ef=ts to lev]age ! ,def5se          
,production ,act 9 response to !        
,,covid-#ai p&emic4  ,:]eas1 on ,janu>y 
#ba1 #bjba1 ! ,presid5t ann\nc$ a       
national /rategy & sign$ an ,executive  
ord] to combat ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic2    
,:]eas a corn]/one ( ! ,presid5t's      
national /rategy & ,executive ord]      
includes ex]cis+ 8 au?ority "u ! ,def5se
 ,production ,act ( #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4
 #deja et seq47 to increase production (
 critical m$ical supplies1 includ+ te/+ 
supplies1 vacc9ation supplies1 & p]sonal
 protective equipm5t 7,,ppe72 ,:]eas    

small bus9esses are be>+ ! brunt ( !    
,,covid-#ai p&emic1 z %[n by ! fact t f 
,janu>y #bjbj ?r\gh ,decemb] #ca1 #bjbj1
 ! numb] ( op5 small bus9esses decreas$ 
by #bi4g p]c5t2 ,:]eas m9ority-own$     
small bus9esses1 9 p>ticul>1 h be5      
disproportionately affect$ by !         
,,covid-#ai p&emic2 ,:]eas a ,national  
,bureau ( ,economic ,rese>* /udy f\nd t 
dur+ ! fir/ two mon?s ( ! p&emic1 #da   
p]c5t ( small bus9esses own$ by ,african
 ,am]icans & #cb p]c5t ( small bus9esses
 own$ by ,hispanics 7 =c$ to close _!   
doors1 comp>$ to #bb p]c5t ( small      
bus9esses ov]all2 ,:]eas small bus9esses
 are resili5t & prov5 innovators1 &     
sev]al h pivot$ to manufactur+ m$ical   
supplies1 includ+ ,,ppe1 9 ord] to fill 
! gaps & reta9 _! work=ce2 & ,:]eas     
sections #ajh & #gja ( ! ,def5se        
,production ,act ( #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 
#deah2 #deea7 e/abli% a pref]5ce = small
 bus9ess conc]ns1 & 9 p>ticul>1 section 
#gja /ates t ,small bus9ess conc]ns %all
 be giv5 ! maximum practicable          

opportunity to p>ticipate z contractors1
 & subcontractors at v>i\s ti]s1 9 all  
programs to ma9ta9 & /r5g!n ! ,nation's 
indu/rial base & te*nology base und]tak5
 pursuant to ?is ,act43 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x
 ,t x is ! s5se ( ,congress t !         
,presid5t %\ld ensure small bus9ess     
conc]ns1 especially m9ority-own$ small  
bus9ess conc]ns1 are includ$ 9 any ef=ts
 to lev]age ! ,def5se ,production ,act (
 #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #deja et seq47 9  
response to ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic by     
accord+ pref]5ces to small bus9ess      
conc]ns z direct$ "u sections #ajh &    
#gja ( ! ,def5se ,production ,act (     
#aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #deah2 #deea74