Comment on FR Doc # 2026-11765
Anonymous AnonymousOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter, a retired veteran and small business owner, opposes the proposed rule to eliminate the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for individually owned firms. They argue that this provision is a critical pathway for minority-owned businesses to overcome barriers to capital and federal contracting opportunities.
As the owner of a Black, woman-owned, veteran-owned small business, I respectfully oppose the proposed rule to eliminate the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for individually owned firms in the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program. After retiring as a Registered Nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs, serving as a U.S. Army officer and healthcare community educator, I became an entrepreneur to continue serving my community. Like many new business owners, I have faced barriers to accessing capital, networks, and federal contracting opportunities. The 8(a) Program provides a critical pathway for businesses like mine to compete, grow, and create jobs. While small businesses make up 99.9% of U.S. businesses, minority-owned firms remain underrepresented in federal contracting. Removing the rebuttable presumption creates another unnecessary barrier for qualified entrepreneurs. I respectfully urge the SBA to preserve this important provision so that hardworking small business owners have a fair opportunity to compete, grow, and contribute to our nation's economy.