[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 15 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 15

    Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding 
       Government procurement access for women-owned businesses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 1999

 Mrs. Kelly (for herself, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mrs. Maloney of New 
York, Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut, Ms. Norton, Mr. Shays, Mrs. McCarthy 
of New York, Mr. Abercrombie, and Mr. Neal of Massachusetts) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding 
       Government procurement access for women-owned businesses.

Whereas women-owned businesses are a powerful force in the economy;
Whereas between 1987 and 1996--
            (1) the number of women-owned businesses increased by 78 percent, 
        almost twice the rate of increase of all firms in the United States;
            (2) the number of women-owned businesses increased in every State;
            (3) total sales by women-owned businesses increased by 236 percent;
            (4) employment provided by women-owned businesses increased by 183 
        percent; and
            (5) the rates of growth for women-owned businesses for the fastest 
        growing industries were as follows:
                    (A) 171 percent in construction;
                    (B) 157 percent in wholesale trade;
                    (C) 140 percent in transportation and communications;
                    (D) 130 percent in agriculture; and
                    (E) 112 percent in manufacturing;
Whereas approximately 8,000,000 women-owned businesses provide jobs for 
        15,500,000 people and generate almost $1,400,000,000,000 in sales;
Whereas women-owned businesses experience limited access to the Federal 
        Government procurement market;
Whereas the Federal Government is America's largest purchaser of goods and 
        services, spending more than $225,000,000,000 each year;
Whereas the majority of Federal Government purchases are for items that cost 
        $5,000 or less;
Whereas Congress set a 5-percent procurement goal for women-owned businesses in 
        the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994; and
Whereas the rate of procurement for women-owned businesses is 1.8 percent: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
all Federal agencies would benefit from reviewing the following 
recommendations for the purpose of improving equitable access for 
women-owned businesses to the Federal procurement market:
            (1) Agencies should offer and make readily available to 
        women-owned businesses information regarding access to 
        contracting practices and opportunities.
            (2) Agencies should identify women-owned business advocates 
        within their respective agency to guarantee that women-owned 
        businesses are adequately represented in competitive bid 
        solicitations.
            (3) Agencies should review the various women-owned business 
        certifications that currently exist in an attempt to develop a 
        common certification standard.
            (4) Agencies should, if possible, announce electronically 
        any available procurement opportunities.
            (5) Agencies should consider internal mentor programs as a 
        means of teaching new business contracting practices.
            (6) Agencies should consider adopting a ``Rule of One'' 
        approach for women-owned businesses whereby at least one women-
        owned business is solicited on all competitive acquisitions.
            (7) Agencies should explore alternative ways to allow 
        women-owned businesses to compete, including the concepts of 
        teaming and partnering.
                                 <all>