SENSE OF CONGRESS AND STUDY CONCERNING PARTICIPATION BY SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

SEC. 112. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND STUDY CONCERNING PARTICIPATION BY SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS. (a) Definition of Small Business Concern.—In this section, the term “small business concern” has the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—(1) an Alaska natural gas transportation project would provide significant economic benefits to the United States and Canada; and(2) to maximize those benefits, the sponsors of the Alaska natural gas transportation project should maximize the participation of small business concerns in contracts and subcontracts awarded in carrying out the project. (c) Study.—(1) In general.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to determine the extent to which small business concerns participate in the construction of oil and gas pipelines in the United States.(2) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report that describes results of the study under paragraph (1).(3) Updates.—The Comptroller General shall—118 STAT. 1264(A) update the study at least once every 5 years until construction of an Alaska natural gas transportation project is completed; and (B) on completion of each update, submit to Congress a report containing the results of the update.