IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 15

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Government

procurement access for women-owned businesses.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 6, 1999

Mrs. KELLY (for herself, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mrs. MALONEY of

New York, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SHAYS,

Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, and Mr. NEAL of

Massachusetts) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to

the Committee on Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Government procurement access for women-owned

businesses.

Whereas women-owned businesses are a powerful force in the

economy;

Whereas between 1987 and 1996—

(1) the number of women-owned businesses increased by 78 percent, almost twice the rate of increase

of all firms in the United States;

(2) the number of women-owned businesses increased in every State;
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(3) total sales by women-owned businesses increased

by 236 percent;

(4) employment provided by women-owned businesses increased by 183 percent; and

(5) the rates of growth for women-owned businesses

for the fastest growing industries were as follows:

(A) 171 percent in construction;

(B) 157 percent in wholesale trade;

(C) 140 percent in transportation and communications;

(D) 130 percent in agriculture; and

(E) 112 percent in manufacturing;

Whereas approximately 8,000,000 women-owned businesses

provide jobs for 15,500,000 people and generate almost

$1,400,000,000,000 in sales;

Whereas women-owned businesses experience limited access

to the Federal Government procurement market;

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

$225,000,000,000 each year;

Whereas the majority of Federal Government purchases are

for items that cost $5,000 or less;

Whereas Congress set a 5-percent procurement goal for

women-owned businesses in the Federal Acquisition

Streamlining Act of 1994; and

Whereas the rate of procurement for women-owned businesses is 1.8 percent: Now, therefore, be it
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1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that all Federal agencies would benefit from

3 reviewing the following recommendations for the purpose

4 of improving equitable access for women-owned businesses

5 to the Federal procurement market:

6 (1) Agencies should offer and make readily

7 available to women-owned businesses information re8 garding access to contracting practices and opportu9 nities.

10 (2) Agencies should identify women-owned busi11 ness advocates within their respective agency to

12 guarantee that women-owned businesses are ade13 quately represented in competitive bid solicitations.

14 (3) Agencies should review the various women15 owned business certifications that currently exist in

16 an attempt to develop a common certification stand17 ard.

18 (4) Agencies should, if possible, announce elec19 tronically any available procurement opportunities.

20 (5) Agencies should consider internal mentor

21 programs as a means of teaching new business con22 tracting practices.

23 (6) Agencies should consider adopting a ‘‘Rule

24 of One’’ approach for women-owned businesses
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1 whereby at least one women-owned business is solic2 ited on all competitive acquisitions.

3 (7) Agencies should explore alternative ways to

4 allow women-owned businesses to compete, including

5 the concepts of teaming and partnering.

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