[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1530 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1530

  Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the National Minority Supplier 
                          Development Council.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 22, 2022

Mr. Cleaver (for himself, Ms. Plaskett, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Clarke of 
 New York, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. San Nicolas, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of 
New York, and Mr. Mfume) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the National Minority Supplier 
                          Development Council.

Whereas the National Minority Supplier Development Council (hereinafter referred 
        to as ``NMSDC'') was founded in the year 1972;
Whereas NMSDC is the longest-operating business growth engine for the broadest 
        group of systematically excluded communities of color, including Asian-
        Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities;
Whereas NMSDC champions upward mobility for the emerging majority of Americans, 
        creating an equal shot at participating in the American experiment of 
        free-market capitalism and entrepreneurship, and correcting the unequal 
        access to wealth-building opportunities;
Whereas, in 1969, President Richard M. Nixon established the Office of Minority 
        Business Enterprise, which would later become the Minority Business 
        Development Agency, recognizing the impact of minority businesses on the 
        Nation's economy;
Whereas, in 1971, the White House issued Executive Order 11625, expanding the 
        scope of the agency to authorize grants to public and private 
        organizations;
Whereas, in 1972, a group of Chicago companies led by Robert Stuart of the 
        National Can Corporation, founded the National Minority Purchasing 
        Council in 1972, later becoming NMSDC;
Whereas, over the last 50 years, NMSDC has connected over 15,000 minority 
        business enterprises (as defined in section 100002(9) of the Minority 
        Business Development Act of 2021 (15 U.S.C. 9501(9)); hereinafter 
        referred to as ``MBEs'') to more than 1,500 corporations, resulting in 
        nearly $400 billion in economic output annually, generating $130 billion 
        in tax revenue, and sustaining 1.75 million jobs and $122 billion in 
        wages;
Whereas NMSDC is challenging Congress and the country to move the needle toward 
        economic parity for all at a time when--

    (1) Black businesses received only 1.67 percent, Hispanic businesses 
received only 1.78 percent, and Asian-Pacific businesses received only 1.23 
percent of more than $559 billion in Federal contracting dollars eligible 
for small businesses in 2020;

    (2) White households are eight times wealthier than Black households 
and five times wealthier than Hispanic households;

    (3) 40 percent of Black business owners do not apply for financing 
because they expect to be rejected;

    (4) systematically excluded communities of color are up to twice as 
likely to have a mortgage application denied; and

    (5) workers from communities of color are two to five times less likely 
to be promoted to managerial positions;

Whereas, as part of NMSDC's 50th Anniversary, it has set a bold goal to reach $1 
        trillion in MBE annual revenue, almost four times the direct annual 
        revenue;
Whereas, if the United States continues to grow MBEs and help them reach their 
        full potential, an estimated $8 trillion can be added to the gross 
        domestic product;
Whereas the United States can close the wealth gap by leveling the playing 
        field, creating a society where everyone has an equal opportunity to 
        succeed, and by taking the American dream and turning it into an 
        American reality;
Whereas growth for MBEs means growth for all Americans;
Whereas division K of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 
        117-58) (commonly known as the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 
        (15 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.)) paved the way to permanently authorize the 
        Minority Business Development Agency;
Whereas the largest investment of Federal funding in a generation is a key 
        opportunity to shrink the wealth gap;
Whereas historic infrastructure investments provide a once-in-a-lifetime 
        opportunity to increase the Government's spending with MBEs while 
        building the infrastructure that will help the United States thrive in 
        the coming decades;
Whereas, whether it is building the transportation infrastructure of the future, 
        expanding broadband access, or ensuring our water infrastructure is 
        ready for the challenges presented by climate change, MBEs can and 
        should play a central role;
Whereas the Federal Government should ensure that the Federal procurement 
        process encourages robust MBE participation; and
Whereas, in 2021, President Biden announced the White House's plan to increase 
        racial equity and support underserved communities by promoting the 
        equitable delivery of Government benefits and contract opportunities for 
        Federal Government projects: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that the National Minority Supplier 
        Development Council plays a key role in ensuring minority 
        business enterprises are ready to help the United States build 
        the future infrastructure and the resilient, diverse economy 
        needed to compete in the 21st century and beyond;
            (2) celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National 
        Minority Supplier Development Council; and
            (3) acknowledges the impact and contribution the National 
        Minority Supplier Development Council has on the economy of the 
        United States and, more importantly, in the lives of our 
        citizens of color across this Nation.
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