IV
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 313
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Government
procurement access for women-owned businesses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 8, 1997
Mrs. KELLY (for herself and Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government
Reform and Oversight
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regard-
ing 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 in-
creased by 78 percent, almost twice the rate of increase
of all firms in the United States;
(2) the number of women-owned businesses in-
creased in every State;
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(3) total sales by women-owned businesses increased
by 236 percent;
(4) employment provided by women-owned business
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 commu-
nications;
(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 pur-
chaser 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 busi-
nesses is 1.8 percent: Now, therefore, be it
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Resolved, that it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that all Federal agencies would benefit from
reviewing the following recommendations for the purpose
of improving equitable access for women-owned businesses
to the Federal procurement market:
(1) Agencies should offer and make readily
available to women-owned businesses information re-
garding access to contracting practices and opportu-
nities.
(2) Agencies should identify women-owned busi-
ness advocates within their respective agency to
guarantee that women-owned businesses are ade-
quately represented in competitive bid solicitations.
(3) Agencies should review the various women-
owned business certifications that currently exist in
an attempt to develop a common certification stand-
ard.
(4) Agencies should, if possible, announce elec-
tronically any available procurement opportunities.
(5) Agencies should consider internal mentor
programs as a means of teaching new business con-
tracting practices.
(6) Agencies should consider adopting a ‘‘Rule
of One’’ approach for women-owned businesses
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whereby at least one women-owned business is solic-
ited on all competitive acquisitions.
(7) Agencies should explore alternative ways to
allow women-owned businesses to compete, including
the concepts of teaming and partnering.
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