[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 184 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 184

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 1999

   Ms. Millender-McDonald (for herself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Thompson of 
Mississippi, Mr. Payne, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Frost, Mr. Cummings, Mr. 
Wynn, Mrs. Clayton, Mrs. Meek of Florida, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Schakowsky, 
  Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, and Mr. Hinojosa) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government 
                                 Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

Whereas minority-owned businesses are a powerful force in the economy;
Whereas between 1987 and 1992 in the United States;
            (1) the number of minority-owned businesses grew by 61.9 percent;
            (2) the number of Black-owned businesses grew by 46.4 percent;
            (3) the number of Hispanic-owned businesses grew by 82.7 percent;
            (4) the number of businesses owned by Asians, Pacific Islanders, 
        American Indians, and Alaska Natives grew by 61 percent;
            (5) minority-owned businesses with paid employees accounted for 16 
        percent of the total number of businesses and 79 percent of gross 
        receipts;
            (6) minority ownership of businesses included--
                    (A) 41 percent Black ownership, 40 percent Hispanic 
                ownership, and 19 percent Asian, Pacific Islander, American 
                Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the transportation and 
                communications industries;
                    (B) 36 percent Black ownership, 37 percent Hispanic 
                ownership, and 29 percent Asian, Pacific Islander, American 
                Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the services industry;
                    (C) 26 percent Black ownership, 59 percent Hispanic 
                ownership, and 15 percent Asian, Pacific Islander, American 
                Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the construction 
                industry;
                    (D) 27 percent Black ownership, 32 percent Hispanic 
                ownership, and 45 percent Asian, Pacific Islander, American 
                Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the finance, insurance, 
                and real estate industries; and
                    (E) 22 percent Black ownership, 39 percent Hispanic 
                ownership, and 40 percent Asian, Pacific Islander, American 
                Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the manufacturing 
                industry;
Whereas in 1992, approximately 1,965,565 minority-owned businesses provided jobs 
        for 1,872,870 people and generated $158,806,430 in sales;
Whereas minority-owned businesses experience limited access to the Federal 
        Government procurement market;
Whereas in fiscal year 1987, contract awards were made to a total of 8,335 
        minority-owned and women-owned businesses, representing only 0.17 
        percent of the 4,900,000 minority and women-owned firms identified by 
        the Bureau of the Census in 1987. In fiscal year 1990, the number of 
        firms increased to just 9,543;
Whereas the Federal Government is America's largest purchaser of goods and 
        services, spending more than $225,000,000,000 each year; and
Whereas the majority of Federal Government purchases are for items that cost 
        $5,000 or less: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This resolution may be cited as the ``Empowering Minorities with 
Procurement Opportunities Which Expand and Revive Businesses 
Resolution'' (the ``EMPOWER Businesses Resolution'').

SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that all Federal 
agencies would benefit from implementing the following recommendations 
for the purpose of improving equitable access for minority-owned 
businesses to Federal procurement opportunities:
            (1) Federal agencies should offer and make readily 
        available to minority-owned businesses information regarding 
        access to contracting practices and opportunities.
            (2) Federal agencies should identify minority-owned 
        business advocates within the agency to guarantee that 
        minority-owned businesses are adequately represented in 
        competitive bid solicitations.
            (3) Federal agencies should consider collecting bids from 
        minority-owned businesses as a priority in awarding contracts.
            (4) Federal agencies should, if possible, announce 
        electronically and with reasonable advance notice any available 
        procurement opportunities.
            (5) Federal agencies should implement internal mentor 
        programs for minority-owned and women-owned businesses as a 
        means of teaching new business contracting practices.
            (6) Federal agencies should consider adopting a ``Rule of 
        One'' approach for both minority-owned and women-owned 
        businesses whereby at least one minority-owned business and one 
        women-owned business are solicited on all competitive 
        acquisitions.
            (7) Federal agencies should explore alternative ways to 
        allow minority-owned businesses to compete, including the 
        concepts of teaming and partnering.
            (8) Federal agencies should expand outreach and incentive 
        programs in order to help minority-owned businesses be prepared 
        to competitively bid for procurement opportunities.
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