II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 3375 

To establish a program so that business concerns owned and controlled 

by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal basis, for contracts and subcontracts 

in Department of Transportation projects, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 

Mr. PADILLA introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To establish a program so that business concerns owned 

and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged 

individuals may achieve proficiency to compete, on an 

equal basis, for contracts and subcontracts in Department of Transportation projects, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Accelerating Small 

5 Business Growth Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ACCELERATING BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAM. 

7 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

2 the Secretary of Transportation. 

3 (2) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN4 TAGED INDIVIDUALS.—The term ‘‘socially and eco5 nomically disadvantaged individuals’’ has the mean6 ing given the term in section 11101(e)(2) of the In7 frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 

8 101 note; Public Law 117–58). 

9 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

10 a competitive grant program to provide financial assist11 ance to eligible entities to establish and carry out innova12 tive programs so that business concerns owned and con13 trolled by socially and economically disadvantaged individ14 uals may achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal 

15 basis, for contracts and subcontracts in projects carried 

16 out with financial assistance from the Secretary. 

17 (c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to re18 ceive financial assistance under this section is— 

19 (1) a State or territory; 

20 (2) a political subdivision of a State or local 

21 government; 

22 (3) a Tribal government; 

23 (4) a special purpose district or public authority 

24 with a transportation function; 

25 (5) a port authority; 


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1 (6) a metropolitan planning organization; or 

2 (7) a group of entities described in paragraphs 

3 (1) through (6). 

4 (d) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to participate in 

5 the program under this section, an eligible entity shall 

6 submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 

7 such manner, and containing such information as the Sec8 retary may require. 

9 (e) PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out activities with 

10 a grant under this section, an eligible entity may partner 

11 with— 

12 (1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations; or 

13 (2) 1 or more institutions of higher education. 

14 (f) REQUIRED REPORT.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

16 an eligible entity is awarded a grant under this sec17 tion, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 

18 a report that includes— 

19 (A) a description of the activities carried 

20 out with the grant; and 

21 (B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of 

22 those activities in meeting the objectives de23 scribed in subsection (b). 

24 (2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each report sub25 mitted under paragraph (1) shall be made available 


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1 on a public internet website managed by the Sec2 retary. 

3 (g) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years 

4 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

5 submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra6 structure of the House of Representatives and the Com7 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

8 Senate a report that evaluates the program under this sec9 tion. 

10 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

11 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

12 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026. 

Æ 


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