I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4614 
To establish a program so that business concerns owned and controlled 
by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may achieve pro-
ficiency to compete, on an equal basis, for contracts and subcontracts 
in Department of Transportation projects, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2023 
Mr. GOMEZ (for himself, Mr. AGUILAR, Ms. TITUS, and Ms. BARRAGA´N) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To establish a program so that 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 Depart-
ment of Transportation projects, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Accelerating Small 
Business Growth Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ACCELERATING BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish a competitive grant program to pro-
vide financial assistance to eligible entities to establish and 
carry out innovative programs so that business concerns 
owned and controlled by socially and economically dis-
advantaged individuals may achieve proficiency to com-
pete, on an equal basis, for contracts and subcontracts in 
projects carried out with financial assistance from the Sec-
retary. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to re-
ceive financial assistance under this section is— 
(1) a State or territory of the United States; 
(2) a political subdivision of a State or local 
government; 
(3) a Tribal government; 
(4) a special purpose district or public authority 
with a transit or aviation function; 
(5) a port authority; 
(6) a metropolitan planning organization; or 
(7) a group of entities described in paragraphs 
(1) through (6). 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to participate in 
the program under this section, an eligible entity shall 
submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
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such manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(d) PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out activities with 
a grant under this section, an eligible entity may partner 
with— 
(1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations; or 
(2) 1 or more institutions of higher education. 
(e) REQUIRED REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
an eligible entity is awarded a grant under this sec-
tion, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
a report that includes— 
(A) a description of the activities carried 
out with the grant; and 
(B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of 
those activities in meeting the objectives de-
scribed in subsection (b). 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Each report sub-
mitted under paragraph (1) shall be made available 
on a public internet website managed by the Sec-
retary. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the Com-
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mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report that evaluates the program under this sec-
tion. 
(g) DEFINITION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY 
DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS.—The term ‘‘socially and 
economically disadvantaged individuals’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 11101(e)(2) of the Infrastruc-
ture Investment and Jobs Act (23 U.S.C. 101 note; Public 
Law 117–58). 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026. 
Æ 
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