Opening up VA laundry services to competition will free up healthcare resources for veterans, including those returning with injuries sustained in Iraq and Afghanistan

Alexandria, VA-The Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) on Thursday affirmed its support for President George W. Bush's nomination of David H. Safavian as administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy in testimony before the U.S. Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

During her opening remarks during the nomination hearing, Senate Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME) expressed her strong desire that Congress, "must continue to look for ways to make federal contracting more accessible to small businesses. It is not merely for the sake of small business that I mention this, the continued growth of a sector that is vital to our nation's future."

Roger Cocivera, TRSA president and CEO, said he believes Safavian will safeguard the fundamental concept of truly competitive opportunities for the private sector-especially small businesses.

Cocivera said federal government officials should never forget they are spending taxpayer dollars. They must work for the most efficient use of these public resources. "TRSA supports the administration's competitive-sourcing initiative across all federal agencies, and specifically within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), where the initiative remains stalled," Cocivera said.

Billions of dollars could be saved through competitive bidding at the VA, Cocivera said, and this money could be used to provide the best quality medical care for veterans returning from active duty in Iraq and other countries. "These are savings that will be invested back into direct patient services at the agency," Cocivera said.

The Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA) is a national trade association representing over 1,100 company locations across the nation.  Since 1913, TRSA members have provided textile maintenance and rental services to commercial, industrial and institutional accounts-over 90 percent of TRSA member companies are small businesses.  TRSA members serve hygienically clean textile and dust control items to millions of customers in commerce, industry, and other professions, from automobile service to manufacturing, restaurants and hospitals.  The textile rental industry generates yearly sales of roughly $11 billion. U.S. linen supply and industrial laundering companies employ more than 110,000 people.