I 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6923 

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 3, 2022 

Mr. GOMEZ (for himself, Mr. AGUILAR, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, and Ms. BASS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Small 

Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

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, 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 6923 IH

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

3 Business Growth Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. ACCELERATING BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAM. 

5 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

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

7 the Secretary of Transportation. 

8 (2) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The term 

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

10 term in section 11101(e)(2) of the Infrastructure In11 vestment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58). 

12 (3) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN13 TAGED INDIVIDUALS.—The term ‘‘socially and eco14 nomically disadvantaged individuals’’ has the mean15 ing given the term in section 11101(e)(2) of the In16 frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 

17 117–58). 

18 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 

19 a competitive grant program to provide financial assist20 ance to eligible entities to establish and carry out innova21 tive programs so that small business concerns owned and 

22 controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged indi23 viduals may achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal 

24 basis, for contracts and subcontracts in projects carried 

25 out with financial assistance from the Secretary. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 6923 IH

1 (c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to re2 ceive financial assistance under this section is— 

3 (1) a State or territory; 

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

5 government; 

6 (3) a Tribal government; 

7 (4) a special purpose district or public authority 

8 with a transit function; 

9 (5) a port authority; 

10 (6) a metropolitan planning organization; or 

11 (7) a group of entities described in paragraphs 

12 (1) through (6). 

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

14 the program under this section, an eligible entity shall 

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

16 such manner, and containing such information as the Sec17 retary may require. 

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

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

20 with— 

21 (1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations; and 

22 (2) 1 or more institutions of higher education. 

23 (f) REQUIRED REPORT.— 

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

25 an eligible entity is awarded a grant under this secVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:51 Mar 08, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6923.IH H6923

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 6923 IH

1 tion, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 

2 a report that includes— 

3 (A) a description of the activities carried 

4 out with the grant; and 

5 (B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of 

6 those activities in meeting the objectives de7 scribed in subsection (b). 

8 (2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each report sub9 mitted under paragraph (1) shall be made available 

10 on a public internet website managed by the Sec11 retary. 

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

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

14 submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra15 structure of the House of Representatives and the Com16 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

17 Senate a report that evaluates the program under this sec18 tion, including— 

19 (1) a description of the number of grants 

20 awarded; 

21 (2) the amount of each grant; 

22 (3) the activities carried out with grants under 

23 this section; and 

24 (4) the effectiveness of those activities in meet25 ing the objectives described in subsection (b). 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 6923 IH

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 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS