On June 3, WIPP President and CEO Angela Dingle testified before the House Small Business Committee on the importance of preserving the Rule of Two and the crucial role the WOSB program—and all SBA socioeconomic programs—play in keeping the federal marketplace competitive for women and small firms alike. In her testimony, Dingle made clear that these set-asides are not acts of charity: every business that has won a contract through these programs is highly qualified and had to compete on the merits, just as any other firm does.

“1 contract in the WOSB Program can be a game changer” - Angela Dingle, President and CEO, Women Impacting Public Policy, during her testimony before the House Small Business Committee on June 3, 2026

During the hearing, which focused on the decline of small businesses within the industrial base, members from both parties asked questions to help get to the root of the challenge, including Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (D-MI), who asked what steps need to be taken to create sufficient opportunities for small businesses. In her response, Dingle shared that consolidation has been one of the leading causes of this decline, and that it increasingly disincentivizes smaller firms from competing, especially if they know there’s a risk that work will be moved to a consolidated vehicle. She emphasized the importance of set-aside programs, including the WOSB program, and stressed that the Rule of Two must be codified into law to ensure that small businesses can compete on more equal footing.

WIPP has strongly advocated for the Rule of Two to be codified, through letters, meetings with lawmakers, and through testimony on the Hill by both Dingle and WIPP’s Board Chair, Sue Tellier, who appeared before the committee last fall.

The discussion also turned to bringing more firms into the contracting space, where there is a dual challenge: both contracting officers and small businesses struggle to understand the contracting programs, and it’s difficult to keep up with the pace at which the federal government is changing contracting policies, including the FAR rewrite, executive orders, and DOGE changes. There must be efforts to ensure that contracting officers have the resources they need to fully understand and articulate the value of these programs to business owners, as well as to ensure that contracting offices, including the Offices of Disadvantaged Small Business Utilization (OSDBUs) are funded and staffed.

In addition to the conversations around small business participation, members of the committee also asked questions about Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and the barriers this certification poses to smaller firms. The consensus among members and witnesses was that the CMMC is necessary, and its value is clear. The challenge is that the compliance costs are astronomical and often unrealistic for small firms. The requirements are also viewed as overly burdensome and hard to understand. Witnesses, including Dingle, suggested that  Congress take steps to address the costs associated with compliance, and to reduce regulatory burden where possible.

Advocacy like this is exactly how WIPP ensures that the voices of women business owners are heard where it matters most—and we were proud to have several WIPP members join us on the Hill to witness the hearing firsthand.

You can watch the testimony here. Angela's testimony starts at 51:07.

May 21, 2026, by Angela Dingle, President & CEO, Women Impacting Public Policy

As policymakers debate the future of artificial intelligence, much of the conversation has focused on hypothetical risks and worst-case scenarios. But for millions of small business owners across the country, the stakes are far more immediate and practical.

Small businesses make up 99.9% of all U.S. firms and account for more than 43% of GDP, according to the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, anchoring local economies and driving national growth. Yet too often the conversation about emerging technologies like AI is happening without them.

During National Small Business Month, that disconnect should give us pause. Not because innovation is moving too fast, but because we risk leaving behind the very businesses that power our economy.

A new economic era is taking shape, driven by rapid advances in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. While much of the public debate has focused on potential risks, small businesses are already demonstrating what responsible, real-world adoption looks like.

According to a recent national survey of small businesses by Reimagine Main Street, over 75% are already using or actively exploring AI tools, and most expect the benefits to outweigh the risks. For many, AI is not theoretical — it is helping them save time, improve productivity, and compete more effectively in crowded markets.

Among businesses already using AI, the vast majority report tangible value from marketing and customer engagement to operational efficiency and innovation. These are not abstract gains, but the kinds of incremental improvements that allow small businesses to grow, hire and reinvest in their communities.

This is why narratives that focus exclusively on slowing or restricting innovation miss the mark.

For small businesses, the greater risk is not that innovation is moving too quickly, but rather that that they will be locked out of it. When new technologies become harder to access, more expensive to implement, or shaped without input from smaller firms, the result is not safety. It is consolidation.

We have seen this pattern before. When markets evolve without thoughtful inclusion, advantages concentrate among the largest players, and the competitive landscape narrows.

AI does not have to follow that path, but it will if small businesses are treated as an afterthought rather than a central stakeholder.

A more balanced approach would start with three practical shifts.

First, policymakers must prioritize access. Many small businesses are eager to adopt AI but face barriers like cost, complexity and limited time to implement new tools. Expanding technical assistance, supporting training and encouraging affordable solutions can help turn interest into adoption.

Second, transparency must be built into the system. As AI increasingly shapes decisions about pricing, hiring and access to capital, small businesses need clarity to participate with confidence.

Third, competition policy must keep pace with innovation. Ensuring that emerging markets remain open is not about slowing progress, but about preserving the conditions that allow entrepreneurship to thrive.

National Small Business Month is a reminder that America’s economic strength has never come from a handful of dominant players. It comes from the millions of entrepreneurs who create opportunity in every corner of the country and who have historically driven the majority of net new job creation in the United States.

As we navigate the next phase of technological change, the goal should not simply be to lead in innovation. It should be to ensure that innovation strengthens the full breadth of the American economy.

That starts by making sure small businesses are not just adapting to the future, but helping define it.

Angela Dingle is president and CEO of Women Impacting Public Policy, a national bipartisan organization advocating for women entrepreneurs and small businesses. She works closely with policymakers and business leaders to advance policies that support economic growth and opportunity. She can be found on LinkedIn.