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 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 
MARCH 3, 2022 
Mr. GOMEZ (for himself, Mr. AGUILAR, Ms. BARRAGA´N, and Ms. BASS) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Trans-
portation 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 jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a program so that small 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 Department 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, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Accelerating Small 
Business Growth Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ACCELERATING BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(2) SMALL
BUSINESS
CONCERN.—The term 
‘‘small business concern’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 11101(e)(2) of the Infrastructure In-
vestment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58). 
(3) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN-
TAGED INDIVIDUALS.—The term ‘‘socially and eco-
nomically disadvantaged individuals’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 11101(e)(2) of the In-
frastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 
117–58). 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a competitive grant program to provide financial assist-
ance to eligible entities to establish and carry out innova-
tive programs so that small business concerns owned and 
controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged indi-
viduals may achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal 
basis, for contracts and subcontracts in projects carried 
out with financial assistance from the Secretary. 
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(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—An entity eligible to re-
ceive financial assistance under this section is— 
(1) a State or territory; 
(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 function; 
(5) a port authority; 
(6) a metropolitan planning organization; or 
(7) a group of entities described in paragraphs 
(1) through (6). 
(d) 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 
such manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(e) PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out activities with 
a grant under this section, an eligible entity may partner 
with— 
(1) 1 or more nonprofit organizations; and 
(2) 1 or more institutions of higher education. 
(f) REQUIRED REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
an eligible entity is awarded a grant under this sec-
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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. 
(g) 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-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report that evaluates the program under this sec-
tion, including— 
(1) a description of the number of grants 
awarded; 
(2) the amount of each grant; 
(3) the activities carried out with grants under 
this section; and 
(4) the effectiveness of those activities in meet-
ing the objectives described in subsection (b). 
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(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026. 
Æ 
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