Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/3466

 PUBLIC LAW 109–461—DEC. 22, 2006

120 STAT. 3435

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 8126 the following new item: ‘‘8127. Small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans: contracting goals and preferences.’’.

(b) TRANSITION RULE.—A small business concern that is listed in any small business database maintained by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be presumed to be eligible for inclusion in the database under subsection (f) of section 8127 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), during the period beginning on the effective date of that section and ending one year after such effective date. Such a small business concern may be removed from the database during that period if it is found not to be a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans (as defined in subsection (k) of such section). (c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT.— (1) STUDY REQUIRED.—During the first three fiscal years for which this section is in effect, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the efforts made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to meet the contracting goals established pursuant to section 8127 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a). (2) INFORMATION TO CONGRESS ON STUDY.—On or before January 31 of each year during which the Comptroller General conducts the study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall brief Congress on such study, placing special emphasis on any structural or organizational issues within the Department of Veterans Affairs that might act as an impediment to reaching such contracting goals. (3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the end of the three-year period during which the Comptroller General conducts the study under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of such study. (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

38 USC 8127 note.

38 USC 8127 note.

SEC. 503. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACTING PRIORITY FOR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES.

(a) PRIORITY FOR VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 81, as amended by section 502 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: ‘‘§ 8128. Small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans: contracting priority ‘‘(a) CONTRACTING PRIORITY.—In procuring goods and services pursuant to a contracting preference under this title or any other provision of law, the Secretary shall give priority to a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans, if such business concern also meets the requirements of that contracting preference. ‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term ‘small business concern owned and controlled by veterans’ means a small

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