[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MINORITY BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009 SUMMARY

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                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, this bill breaks down barriers for minority 
and women owned businesses through amending the Small Business Act to 
allow for greater participation in the Disadvantaged Business 
Assistance Program. It also makes permanent increases made by the Obama 
Administration for greater bonding capacity in addition to broadening 
the definition of contract bundling so that small businesses are better 
able to compete for and secure government contracts.
  Modify the Small Business Administration's Disadvantaged Business 
Program to allow for greater minority participation by raising the 
personal net worth (PNW) threshold and allowing firms to complete a 
federal contract before losing the assistance of the program.
  Make permanent the Surety Bonding Guarantee increase made in H.R. 1.
  Broaden the definition of contract bundling to force contracting 
officers to break up large contracts to increase small business 
participation.
  Increase oversight of contract bundling by allowing the SBA 
Administrator to review any contract they feel is bundling and allow 
OMB to mediate any disputes between parties.
  Increase the government wide small business procurement goal to 25%.
  Prohibit contracting officers from coding a minority business in any 
more than one other minority category to make reporting numbers more 
accurate.

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