[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 41 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Pages 2359-2360]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 2360]]

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 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: This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.