I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7087 
To amend the Small Business Act to establish a mentorship program designed 
to help minority and women-owned small businesses build their capacities 
and access to contracting opportunities in the construction industry. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 
Ms. CLARKE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Small Business 
A BILL 
To amend the Small Business Act to establish a mentorship 
program designed to help minority and women-owned 
small businesses build their capacities and access to con-
tracting opportunities in the construction industry. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR MINORITY AND 
WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES WITH 
RESPECT TO CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES 
IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 
The Small Business Act is amended by redesignating 
section 44 as section 45 and by inserting after section 43 
the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 44. MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR MINORITY AND 
WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES WITH 
RESPECT TO CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES 
IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall estab-
lish a program for the purpose of assisting eligible small 
business concerns build their capacities and access to con-
tracting opportunities in the construction industry. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS
TO
STATE
AND
LOCAL
GOVERN-
MENTS.—The Administrator may make grants to State 
and local government entities to assist such entities— 
‘‘(1) to establish or expand mentorship pro-
grams designed to carry out the purposes of this sec-
tion, 
‘‘(2) to identify problems and solutions regard-
ing eligible small business concerns in the construc-
tion industry, and 
‘‘(3) to establish performance goals with respect 
to the mentoring program. 
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‘‘(c) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall 
provide support and resources to entities receiving assist-
ance under this section, including training and marketing 
materials and assistance in joint marketing and outreach 
campaigns. 
‘‘(d) FREE COURSES.—At a minimum, mentoring 
programs receiving assistance under this section shall pro-
vide free courses to learn about managing the full project 
life-cycle, bidding opportunities on the Federal, State, and 
local levels, and guidance in bidding on construction 
projects and meeting the requirements of awarded con-
tracts. 
‘‘(e) ELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—For 
purposes of this section, the term ‘eligible small business 
concern’ means— 
‘‘(1) any small business concern owned and con-
trolled by women (as defined in section 8(m)), and 
‘‘(2) any small business concern owned and con-
trolled by socially and economically disadvantaged 
individuals (as defined in section 8(a)(4)). 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Entities receiving assist-
ance under this section shall report annually to the Ad-
ministrator on their activities under this section.’’. 
Æ 
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