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106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 184

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Federal

Government procurement access for minority-owned businesses.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 20, 1999

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. THOMPSON of

Mississippi, Mr. PAYNE, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. FROST, Mr.

CUMMINGS, Mr. WYNN, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr.

SANDERS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas,

and Mr. HINOJOSA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Federal Government procurement access for minority-owned businesses.

Whereas minority-owned businesses are a powerful force in

the economy;

Whereas between 1987 and 1992 in the United States;

(1) the number of minority-owned businesses grew

by 61.9 percent;

(2) the number of Black-owned businesses grew by

46.4 percent;
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(3) the number of Hispanic-owned businesses grew

by 82.7 percent;

(4) the number of businesses owned by Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaska Natives

grew by 61 percent;

(5) minority-owned businesses with paid employees

accounted for 16 percent of the total number of businesses and 79 percent of gross receipts;

(6) minority ownership of businesses included—

(A) 41 percent Black ownership, 40 percent

Hispanic ownership, and 19 percent Asian, Pacific

Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the transportation and communications industries;

(B) 36 percent Black ownership, 37 percent

Hispanic ownership, and 29 percent Asian, Pacific

Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the services industry;

(C) 26 percent Black ownership, 59 percent

Hispanic ownership, and 15 percent Asian, Pacific

Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the construction industry;

(D) 27 percent Black ownership, 32 percent

Hispanic ownership, and 45 percent Asian, Pacific

Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native own-
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ership in the finance, insurance, and real estate industries; and

(E) 22 percent Black ownership, 39 percent

Hispanic ownership, and 40 percent Asian, Pacific

Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native ownership in the manufacturing industry;

Whereas in 1992, approximately 1,965,565 minority-owned

businesses provided jobs for 1,872,870 people and generated $158,806,430 in sales;

Whereas minority-owned businesses experience limited access

to the Federal Government procurement market;

Whereas in fiscal year 1987, contract awards were made to

a total of 8,335 minority-owned and women-owned businesses, representing only 0.17 percent of the 4,900,000

minority and women-owned firms identified by the Bureau of the Census in 1987. In fiscal year 1990, the

number of firms increased to just 9,543;

Whereas the Federal Government is America’s largest purchaser of goods and services, spending more than

$225,000,000,000 each year; and

Whereas the majority of Federal Government purchases are

for items that cost $5,000 or less: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved,

2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

3 This resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Empowering Mi4 norities with Procurement Opportunities Which Expand

5 and Revive Businesses Resolution’’ (the ‘‘EMPOWER

6 Businesses Resolution’’).
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1 SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

2 It is the sense of the House of Representatives that

3 all Federal agencies would benefit from implementing the

4 following recommendations for the purpose of improving

5 equitable access for minority-owned businesses to Federal

6 procurement opportunities:

7 (1) Federal agencies should offer and make

8 readily available to minority-owned businesses infor9 mation regarding access to contracting practices and

10 opportunities.

11 (2) Federal agencies should identify minority12 owned business advocates within the agency to guar13 antee that minority-owned businesses are adequately

14 represented in competitive bid solicitations.

15 (3) Federal agencies should consider collecting

16 bids from minority-owned businesses as a priority in

17 awarding contracts.

18 (4) Federal agencies should, if possible, an19 nounce electronically and with reasonable advance

20 notice any available procurement opportunities.

21 (5) Federal agencies should implement internal

22 mentor programs for minority-owned and women23 owned businesses as a means of teaching new busi24 ness contracting practices.

25 (6) Federal agencies should consider adopting a

26 ‘‘Rule of One’’ approach for both minority-owned
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1 and women-owned businesses whereby at least one

2 minority-owned business and one women-owned busi3 ness are solicited on all competitive acquisitions.

4 (7) Federal agencies should explore alternative

5 ways to allow minority-owned businesses to compete,

6 including the concepts of teaming and partnering.

7 (8) Federal agencies should expand outreach

8 and incentive programs in order to help minority9 owned businesses be prepared to competitively bid

10 for procurement opportunities.

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