Lawmakers Push for Recognition of Military Spouse-Owned Businesses in Federal Contracting
May 12, 2023 — A bipartisan group of 15 lawmakers has formally requested that federal officials begin tracking military spouse-owned businesses within the government’s contracting database. This change would ensure that military spouse entrepreneurs are accurately represented, counted, and supported in federal contracting opportunities.
Leading this initiative is Representative Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), who has long championed efforts to promote economic stability and opportunity for military families. Strickland and her colleagues sent a letter urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) to create a formal designation for businesses owned by military spouses—similar to those already established for veteran-owned, woman-owned, and minority-owned small businesses.
In 2022 our team at the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce worked with Rep. Strickland on HR 6347 the Military Spouse Entrepreneurs Act. We are proud to support the continued efforts to recognize military spouses in federal government procurement.
By adding a “military spouse-owned” identifier, lawmakers hope to close a critical data gap that currently prevents policymakers from understanding how many military spouse businesses are engaging in federal contracting—or what barriers they face.
Military spouses often face unique employment challenges due to frequent relocations, deployments, and inconsistent access to professional networks. Owning a business can offer flexibility and financial stability, yet without official recognition in federal systems, their contributions often go undocumented.
“This designation is more than symbolic,” said one congressional aide involved in the effort. “It’s about ensuring that military spouses—who serve in their own way every day—are visible and supported within the federal marketplace.”
The push from lawmakers follows years of advocacy by military spouse entrepreneurs and organizations calling for policy changes that acknowledge and empower this growing community.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is advocating for policy changes to allow military spouse-owned businesses to self-identify in federal procurement databases. This move aims to provide visibility, inform policy decisions, and open doors for these resilient entrepreneurs.
It’s time we recognize and support the unique challenges and contributions of military spouse entrepreneurs.
As of May 2023, there remains no formal mechanism for tracking these businesses at the federal level, but this bipartisan initiative marks a promising step toward meaningful change.
You can read more about this effort:
https://thesubtimes.com/2023/05/17/strickland-leads-bipartisan-push-for-feds-to-recognize-military-spouse-owned-small-businesses/
https://www.facebook.com/milspousechamber/posts/pfbid0uH8zVCywgc54GSYg1d82WNvLsWsjjxxSnRma42SvcBncSY2w5FJzuiNvhrmfUypkl?rdid=3t9YEOYZLSPSVZYQ#
Recent Comments