[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[October 6, 2000]
[Pages 2064-2065]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Increasing Opportunities and Access for Disadvantaged 
Businesses
October 6, 2000

    I am pleased today to sign an Executive order strengthening our 
efforts to increase contracting opportunities between the Federal 
Government and disadvantaged businesses--in particular, small 
disadvantaged businesses, 8(a) businesses, and minority business 
enterprises. These businesses play a vital role in our Nation's economy 
but historically have been underutilized and at times shut out of 
Federal procurement opportunities. Accordingly, this Executive order 
directs Federal departments and agencies with procurement authority to 
take aggressive and specific affirmative actions to ensure inclusion of 
disadvantaged businesses in Federal contracting.
    I want to thank Representatives Kilpatrick, Menendez, 
Velazquez, and Wynn, and the many others who have worked with us to ensure 
that the private sector recognizes the importance and utility of 
contracting with disadvantaged businesses. I particularly commend those 
members of the advertising community who are working to increase the 
representation of minorities within advertising--both on the creative 
end and in transmission to the public. It is critical that the private 
sector help lead this effort and take advantage of the diverse and 
creative views that underrepresented groups will bring to the 
advertising process. I want to commend the American Advertising 
Federation (AAF) for responding to the Vice President's challenge and working with interested parties to develop 
the principles for effective advertising in the American multicultural 
marketplace, a strategic plan for boosting minority representation in 
the advertising industry.
    Certainly, the Federal Government must play a leading role as well. 
Advertising and the broader information technology industries play an 
increasingly expansive role in our society. Therefore, in this Executive 
order, I am directing each Federal department and agency to ensure that 
all creation, placement, and transmission of Federal advertising is 
fully reflective of the Nation's diversity. Further, this Executive 
order directs each Federal department and agency to take clearly defined 
and aggressive steps to ensure small and disadvantaged business 
participation in procurement of information technology and 
telecommunications contracts.
    This Executive order will ensure that Federal departments and 
agencies are held accountable on these issues. It does so by clearly 
listing the responsibilities and obligations of each agency to expand 
opportunities for disadvantaged businesses and requires the agencies to 
report to me within 90 days of the issuance of this order the steps they 
plan to take to increase

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contracting with disadvantaged businesses. Subsequently, the agencies 
will be required to submit annual reports on their ongoing efforts in 
this area to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to 
ensure at the highest levels the executive branch will sustain on 
unflagging and aggressive efforts to achieve this important goal.

Note: The Executive order is listed in Appendix D at the end of this 
volume.