I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2389
To authorize funding for the National Women’s Business Council, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 3, 1997
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Small Business
A BILL
To authorize funding for the National Women’s Business
Council, 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 ‘‘National Women’s
Business Council Reauthorization Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 409 of the Women’s Business Ownership Act
of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘1995 through 1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘1998 through 2000’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘$350,000’’ and inserting
‘‘$400,000’’.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCIL RE-
SEARCH PROJECTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Women’s Business Owner-
ship Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 410. NATIONAL WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCIL RE-
SEARCH PROJECTS.
‘‘(a) PROCUREMENT PROJECT.—
‘‘(1) FEDERAL PROCUREMENT STUDY.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall con-
duct a study on the award of Federal prime
contracts and subcontracts to women-owned
businesses, which study shall include—
‘‘(i) an analysis of data collected by
Federal agencies on contract awards to
women-owned businesses;
‘‘(ii) a determination of the degree to
which individual Federal agencies are in
compliance with the 5 percent women-
owned business procurement goal estab-
lished by section 15(g)(1) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1));
‘‘(iii) a determination of the types and
amounts of Federal contracts characteris-
tically awarded to women-owned busi-
nesses; and
‘‘(iv) other relevant information relat-
ing to participation of women-owned busi-
nesses in Federal procurement.
‘‘(B) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Not later
than October 1, 1999, the Council shall submit
to the Committees on Small Business of the
House of Representatives and the Senate, and
to the President, the results of the study con-
ducted under subparagraph (A).
‘‘(2) BEST PRACTICES REPORT.—Not later than
March 1, 2000, the Council shall submit to the
Committees on Small Business of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate, and to the President, a
report, which shall include—
‘‘(A) an analysis of the most successful
practices in attracting women-owned businesses
as prime contractors and subcontractors by—
‘‘(i) Federal agencies (as supported by
findings from the study required under
subsection (a)(1)) in Federal procurement
awards; and
‘‘(ii) the private sector; and
‘‘(B) recommendations for policy changes
in Federal procurement practices, including an
increase in the Federal procurement goal for
women-owned businesses, in order to maximize
the number of women-owned businesses per-
forming Federal contracts.
‘‘(b) SURVEY OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS.—
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT.—Not later than 60 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Council shall develop an annual survey to determine
issues of significance to women business owners.
‘‘(2) DISSEMINATION.—For a period of 3 years,
the Council shall disseminate the survey to women
business owners throughout the Nation who are rep-
resentative of the diversity of women business own-
ers.
‘‘(3) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—The Council
shall submit to the Committees on Small Business
of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and
to the President, on an annual basis, the results of
the surveys conducted pursuant to this subsection.
‘‘(c) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—In carrying out
this section, the Council may contract with 1 or more pub-
lic or private entities.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section,
$200,000 for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2000.’’.
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