Expanding Opportunities for Diverse Entrepreneurs Act

Bill: 118-hr-2485
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Introduced: 2023-04-06
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Latest action: action_date: 2023-04-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-04-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Expanding Opportunities for Diverse Entrepreneurs Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and recipients of assistance from the program to analyze and report on the program. The DBE program seeks to offer small disadvantaged businesses (i.e., certified as owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals) a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts.</p> <p>The bill requires</p> <ul> <li>the DBE liaison officers to track and provide an analysis of all efforts to expand knowledge of services and opportunities available (e.g., minimum outreach, training, and online development support) to non-certified and certified DBEs to increase an enterprise's ability to compete for, and perform on, federally funded transportation contracts;</li> <li>DOT to publicly post online a searchable and exportable version of the Uniform Report of DBE Awards/ Commitments and Payments for each state; and</li> <li>DOT to submit an annual report to Congress on the DBE program.</li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2485 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 6, 2023 Mr. Castro of Texas (for himself, Ms. Lee of California , Ms. Barragán , Mr. Evans , Mr. García of Illinois , Ms. Moore of Wisconsin , and Ms. Norton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require certain recipients of funds for disadvantaged business enterprises to provide an analysis of efforts to expand opportunities available to disadvantaged business enterprises to participate in the DBE program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanding Opportunities for Diverse Entrepreneurs Act . 2. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise outreach efforts (a) Establishment Each recipient of financial assistance provided by the Department of Transportation that is required to implement a DBE program that conforms to the requirements of part 23 and 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, shall direct the disadvantaged business enterprise liaison officer, or the individual responsible for implementing the requirements of the DBE program, to carry out the duties described in subsection (b). (b) Duties The duties of a disadvantaged business enterprise liaison officer, or the individual responsible for implementing the requirements of the DBE program, shall include tracking and providing an analysis of all efforts to expand knowledge of services and opportunities available to non-certified disadvantaged business enterprises and disadvantaged business enterprises certified in the DBE program to facilitate the capacity of the enterprise to compete for, and perform on, federally assisted transportation contracts and procurement activities, including— (1) minimum outreach, training, workshops, and education efforts, including business development programs, courses, conferences, networking events, marketing to publicize a DBE program; and online development support, informative workshops; and (2) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate. 3. Collection of information; report (a) Collection of information The Secretary of Transportation shall require disadvantaged business enterprise liaison officers, or the individual responsible for implementing the requirements of a DBE program, to— (1) collect the information required under section 2(b)(2) and submit such information to the appropriate operating administration; and (2) submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the efforts to carry out the duties described in section 2(b). (b) Report on progress of DBE program (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to Congress a report on the disadvantaged business enterprises program carried out by the Department of Transportation pursuant to section 11101(e) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 23 U.S.C. 101 note). (2) Contents (A) In general The report required under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the percentage and dollar amount of Federal funds paid to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in the prior fiscal year for each State and territory of the United States, disaggregated by race, sex, and any other federally recognized category. (B) Public availability The Secretary of Transportation shall publicly disclose on the website of each operating administration, in a searchable, exportable, and easy to find manner in the uniform report of DBE awards—commitments and payments specified in part 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, for each State. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) DBE program The term DBE program means the disadvantaged business enterprise program that is carried out by— (A) with respect to the Federal Highway Administration, any recipient or subrecipient of DOT funds that awards prime contracts exceeding a total of $250,000 in a fiscal year; (B) with respect to the Federal Transit Administration, any recipient of DOT funds that awards prime contracts exceeding a total of $250,000 in a fiscal year; and (C) with respect to the Federal Aviation Administration, any recipient of DOT funds subject to part 23 and 26 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, that awards prime contracts exceeding a total of $250,000 in a fiscal year. (2) Small business concern; socially and economically disadvantaged individuals The terms small business concern and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals have the meanings given such terms in section 11101(e) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 23 U.S.C. 101 note).