II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3928 

To establish a program so that small 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 

MARCH 24, 2022 

Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. MENENDEZ) 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 small 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’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ACCELERATING BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAM. 

2 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

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

4 the Secretary of Transportation. 

5 (2) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The term 

6 ‘‘small business concern’’ has the meaning given the 

7 term in section 11101(e)(2) of the Infrastructure In8 vestment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 101 note; Public 

9 Law 117–58). 

10 (3) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN11 TAGED INDIVIDUALS.—The term ‘‘socially and eco12 nomically disadvantaged individuals’’ has the mean13 ing given the term in section 11101(e)(2) of the In14 frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 

15 101 note; Public Law 117–58). 

16 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

17 a competitive grant program to provide financial assist18 ance to eligible entities to establish and carry out innova19 tive programs so that small business concerns owned and 

20 controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged indi21 viduals may achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal 

22 basis, for contracts and subcontracts in projects carried 

23 out with financial assistance from the Secretary. 

24 (c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to re25 ceive financial assistance under this section is— 

26 (1) a State or territory; 


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

2 government; 

3 (3) a Tribal government; 

4 (4) a special purpose district or public authority 

5 with a transit function; 

6 (5) a port authority; 

7 (6) a metropolitan planning organization; or 

8 (7) a group of entities described in paragraphs 

9 (1) through (6). 

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

11 the program under this section, an eligible entity shall 

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

13 such manner, and containing such information as the Sec14 retary may require. 

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

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

17 with— 

18 (1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations; and 

19 (2) 1 or more institutions of higher education. 

20 (f) REQUIRED REPORT.— 

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

22 an eligible entity is awarded a grant under this sec23 tion, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 

24 a report that includes— 


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1 (A) a description of the activities carried 

2 out with the grant; and 

3 (B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of 

4 those activities in meeting the objectives de5 scribed in subsection (b). 

6 (2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each report sub7 mitted under paragraph (1) shall be made available 

8 on a public internet website managed by the Sec9 retary. 

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

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

12 submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra13 structure of the House of Representatives and the Com14 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

15 Senate a report that evaluates the program under this sec16 tion, including— 

17 (1) a description of the number of grants 

18 awarded; 

19 (2) the amount of each grant; 

20 (3) the activities carried out with grants under 

21 this section; and 

22 (4) the effectiveness of those activities in meet23 ing the objectives described in subsection (b). 


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1 (h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

3 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026. 

Æ 


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