IV 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 18 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the importance of including 

small business concerns, especially minority-owned small business concerns, in any efforts to leverage the Defense Production Act in response 

to the COVID–19 pandemic. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 24, 2021 

Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ (for herself and Mr. MFUME) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the importance 

of including small business concerns, especially minorityowned small business concerns, in any efforts to leverage 

the Defense Production Act in response to the COVID– 

19 pandemic. 

Whereas, on January 21, 2021, the President announced a 

national strategy and signed an Executive order to combat the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas a cornerstone of the President’s national strategy 

and Executive order includes exercising his authority 

under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 

4501 et seq.) to increase production of critical medical 

2 

•HCON 18 IH 

supplies, including testing supplies, vaccination supplies, 

and personal protective equipment (‘‘PPE’’); 

Whereas small businesses are bearing the brunt of the 

COVID–19 pandemic, as shown by the fact that from 

January 2020 through December 31, 2020, the number 

of open small businesses decreased by 29.7 percent; 

Whereas minority-owned small businesses, in particular, have 

been disproportionately affected by the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas a National Bureau of Economic Research study 

found that during the first two months of the pandemic, 

41 percent of small businesses owned by African Americans and 32 percent of small businesses owned by Hispanics were forced to close their doors, compared to 22 

percent of small businesses overall; 

Whereas small businesses are resilient and proven innovators, 

and several have pivoted to manufacturing medical supplies, including PPE, in order to fill the gaps and retain 

their workforce; and 

Whereas sections 108 and 701 of the Defense Production Act 

of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4518; 4551) establish a preference 

for small business concerns, and in particular, section 

701 states that ‘‘Small business concerns shall be given 

the maximum practicable opportunity to participate as 

contractors, and subcontractors at various tiers, in all 

programs to maintain and strengthen the Nation’s industrial base and technology base undertaken pursuant to 

this Act.’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 

3 President should ensure small business concerns, espeVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:03 Feb 25, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC18.IH HC18
3 

•HCON 18 IH 

1 cially minority-owned small business concerns, are in2 cluded in any efforts to leverage the Defense Production 

3 Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) in response to the 

4 COVID–19 pandemic by according preferences to small 

5 business concerns as directed under sections 108 and 701 

6 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 4518; 

7 4551). 

Æ