[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3928 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3928

   To establish a program so that small business concerns owned and 
 controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may 
 achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal basis, for contracts and 
 subcontracts in Department of Transportation projects, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 24, 2022

  Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a program so that small business concerns owned and 
 controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may 
 achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal basis, for contracts and 
 subcontracts in Department of Transportation projects, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Accelerating Small Business Growth 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ACCELERATING BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            (2) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
        concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 11101(e)(2) 
        of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 101 
        note; Public Law 117-58).
            (3) Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.--
        The term ``socially and economically disadvantaged 
        individuals'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        11101(e)(2) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 
        U.S.C. 101 note; Public Law 117-58).
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a competitive 
grant program to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to 
establish and carry out innovative programs so that small business 
concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically 
disadvantaged individuals may achieve proficiency to compete, on an 
equal basis, for contracts and subcontracts in projects carried out 
with financial assistance from the Secretary.
    (c) Eligible Entities.--An entity eligible to receive financial 
assistance under this section is--
            (1) a State or territory;
            (2) a political subdivision of a State or local government;
            (3) a Tribal government;
            (4) a special purpose district or public authority with a 
        transit function;
            (5) a port authority;
            (6) a metropolitan planning organization; or
            (7) a group of entities described in paragraphs (1) through 
        (6).
    (d) Applications.--To be eligible to participate in the program 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    (e) Partnerships.--In carrying out activities with a grant under 
this section, an eligible entity may partner with--
            (1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations; and
            (2) 1 or more institutions of higher education.
    (f) Required Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after an eligible 
        entity is awarded a grant under this section, the eligible 
        entity shall submit to the Secretary a report that includes--
                    (A) a description of the activities carried out 
                with the grant; and
                    (B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of those 
                activities in meeting the objectives described in 
                subsection (b).
            (2) Public availability.--Each report submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall be made available on a public internet 
        website managed by the Secretary.
    (g) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report that evaluates the program under this section, including--
            (1) a description of the number of grants awarded;
            (2) the amount of each grant;
            (3) the activities carried out with grants under this 
        section; and
            (4) the effectiveness of those activities in meeting the 
        objectives described in subsection (b).
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2023 through 2026.
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