IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 184
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Federal
Government procurement access for minority-owned businesses.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 20, 1999
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. THOMPSON of
Mississippi, Mr. PAYNE, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. FROST, Mr.
CUMMINGS, Mr. WYNN, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr.
SANDERS, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas,
and Mr. HINOJOSA) submitted the following resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Government Reform
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regard-
ing Federal Government procurement access for minor-
ity-owned businesses.
Whereas minority-owned businesses are a powerful force in
the economy;
Whereas between 1987 and 1992 in the United States;
(1) the number of minority-owned businesses grew
by 61.9 percent;
(2) the number of Black-owned businesses grew by
46.4 percent;
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(3) the number of Hispanic-owned businesses grew
by 82.7 percent;
(4) the number of businesses owned by Asians, Pa-
cific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaska Natives
grew by 61 percent;
(5) minority-owned businesses with paid employees
accounted for 16 percent of the total number of busi-
nesses and 79 percent of gross receipts;
(6) minority ownership of businesses included—
(A) 41 percent Black ownership, 40 percent
Hispanic ownership, and 19 percent Asian, Pacific
Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native own-
ership in the transportation and communications in-
dustries;
(B) 36 percent Black ownership, 37 percent
Hispanic ownership, and 29 percent Asian, Pacific
Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native own-
ership in the services industry;
(C) 26 percent Black ownership, 59 percent
Hispanic ownership, and 15 percent Asian, Pacific
Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native own-
ership in the construction industry;
(D) 27 percent Black ownership, 32 percent
Hispanic ownership, and 45 percent Asian, Pacific
Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native own-
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ership in the finance, insurance, and real estate in-
dustries; and
(E) 22 percent Black ownership, 39 percent
Hispanic ownership, and 40 percent Asian, Pacific
Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native own-
ership in the manufacturing industry;
Whereas in 1992, approximately 1,965,565 minority-owned
businesses provided jobs for 1,872,870 people and gen-
erated $158,806,430 in sales;
Whereas minority-owned businesses experience limited access
to the Federal Government procurement market;
Whereas in fiscal year 1987, contract awards were made to
a total of 8,335 minority-owned and women-owned busi-
nesses, representing only 0.17 percent of the 4,900,000
minority and women-owned firms identified by the Bu-
reau of the Census in 1987. In fiscal year 1990, the
number of firms increased to just 9,543;
Whereas the Federal Government is America’s largest pur-
chaser of goods and services, spending more than
$225,000,000,000 each year; and
Whereas the majority of Federal Government purchases are
for items that cost $5,000 or less: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Empowering Mi-
norities with Procurement Opportunities Which Expand
and Revive Businesses Resolution’’ (the ‘‘EMPOWER
Businesses Resolution’’).
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SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
It is the sense of the House of Representatives that
all Federal agencies would benefit from implementing the
following recommendations for the purpose of improving
equitable access for minority-owned businesses to Federal
procurement opportunities:
(1) Federal agencies should offer and make
readily available to minority-owned businesses infor-
mation regarding access to contracting practices and
opportunities.
(2) Federal agencies should identify minority-
owned business advocates within the agency to guar-
antee that minority-owned businesses are adequately
represented in competitive bid solicitations.
(3) Federal agencies should consider collecting
bids from minority-owned businesses as a priority in
awarding contracts.
(4) Federal agencies should, if possible, an-
nounce electronically and with reasonable advance
notice any available procurement opportunities.
(5) Federal agencies should implement internal
mentor programs for minority-owned and women-
owned businesses as a means of teaching new busi-
ness contracting practices.
(6) Federal agencies should consider adopting a
‘‘Rule of One’’ approach for both minority-owned
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and women-owned businesses whereby at least one
minority-owned business and one women-owned busi-
ness are solicited on all competitive acquisitions.
(7) Federal agencies should explore alternative
ways to allow minority-owned businesses to compete,
including the concepts of teaming and partnering.
(8) Federal agencies should expand outreach
and incentive programs in order to help minority-
owned businesses be prepared to competitively bid
for procurement opportunities.
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