Bill Summary
This legislation, called the "Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Expansion Act," aims to provide support and assistance to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. It would increase the funding cap for the Federal Highway Administration's disadvantaged business enterprise supportive services program from $10,000,000 to $25,000,000, and also create a similar program for the Federal Transit Administration, which would receive funding of up to $5,000,000 per fiscal year. Additionally, the legislation would create a socially and economically disadvantaged business participation supportive services program for the Federal Aviation Administration, which would also receive up to $5,000,000 in funding from the Airport and Airways Trust Fund. This legislation is intended to help these small businesses become more competitive and successful in bidding for contracts and subcontracts, ultimately promoting economic growth and diversity in the transportation industry.
Possible Impacts
1. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Expansion Act could potentially benefit small business owners owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals by providing them with training and assistance programs to help them compete for government contracts and subcontracts.
2. The increase in funding for the Federal Highway Administration Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Program could provide more opportunities for disadvantaged businesses to participate in transportation projects and potentially increase their revenue and growth.
3. The Federal Aviation Administration Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business Participation Supportive Services Program could help promote diversity and inclusivity in the aviation industry by providing assistance and training programs for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to compete for contracts and subcontracts in the aviation field.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4598 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4598
To provide for disadvantaged business enterprise supportive services
programs at modal administrations of the Department of Transportation,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 13, 2023
Mr. Aguilar (for himself, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms.
Titus, and Ms. Barragan) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in
addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for disadvantaged business enterprise supportive services
programs at modal administrations of the Department of Transportation,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
Supportive Services Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE CAP FOR FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION DISADVANTAGED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 140(c) of title 23, United States Code, is
amended, in the second sentence, by striking ``$10,000,000'' and
inserting ``$25,000,000''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 104(a)(1) of title 23, United
States Code, is amended by striking subparagraphs (C) through (E) and
inserting the following:
``(C) $525,799,671 for fiscal year 2024;
``(D) $536,015,664 for fiscal year 2025; and
``(E) $546,435,977 for fiscal year 2026.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1, 2023.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 5332 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services
Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, the
Associate Administrator for Civil Rights of the Federal Transit
Administration, other Federal agencies, State agencies,
authorities, associations, institutions, Tribal governments,
for profit or nonprofit corporations, and any other
organizations or persons, including transit authorities and
transit-specific organizations, may develop, conduct, and
administer training programs and assistance programs in
connection with any program under this chapter so that small
business concerns owned and controlled by socially and
economically disadvantaged individuals may achieve proficiency
to compete, on an equal basis, for contracts and subcontracts.
``(2) Funding.--Of the amounts made available to carry out
section 5314, the Secretary, in coordination with the
Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, the
Associate Administrator for Civil Rights of the Federal Transit
Administration, shall use not more than $5,000,000 for each
fiscal year to carry out this subsection.
``(3) Nonapplicability of certain provisions.--
Notwithstanding section 3106 of title 41, section 6101 of that
title shall not be applicable to contracts and agreements
entered into pursuant to paragraph (1).''.
(b) Funding.--Section 5338(a) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (C), (D),
and (E) and inserting the following:
``(C) $13,995,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
``(D) $14,284,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
``(E) $14,647,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(H), by striking ``$12,404,500 for
fiscal year 2024, $12,660,748 for fiscal year 2025, and
$12,982,608 for fiscal year 2026'' and inserting ``$17,404,500
for fiscal year 2024, $17,660,748 for fiscal year 2025, and
$17,982,608 for fiscal year 2026''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1, 2023.
SEC. 4. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PARTICIPATION SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 47113 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business
Participation Supportive Services Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Assistant Administrator of the Office of Civil Rights of the
Federal Aviation Administration, may make agreements to provide
assistance to an eligible entity described in paragraph (2) to
develop, conduct, and administer training programs and
assistance programs in connection with any project to be
carried out under a grant agreement under this subchapter in
order that small business concerns owned and controlled by
socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may achieve
proficiency to compete, on an equal basis, for contracts and
subcontracts related to such projects, and for Small Business
Innovation Research contracts.
``(2) Eligible entities described.--An eligible entity
described in this paragraph is any of the following:
``(A) A State or territory.
``(B) A political subdivision of a State or local
government.
``(C) A Tribal government.
``(D) A special purpose district or public
authority with an aviation function.
``(E) A port authority.
``(F) A metropolitan planning organization.
``(G) A group of entities described in any of
subparagraphs (A) through (F).
``(H) Any other profit or non-profit organization
or group of organizations deemed appropriate by the
Secretary.
``(3) Funding.--From amounts available in the Airport and
Airways Trust Fund established under section 9502 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Secretary, in cooperation
with the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Civil Rights
of the Federal Aviation Administration, may use such sums as
necessary, not to exceed $5,000,000 per fiscal year, for the
administration of this subsection.''.
(b) Expenditure Authority From Airport and Airway Trust Fund.--
Section 9502(d)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended
by inserting ``or section 47113(f) of title 49, United States Code''
before the semicolon at the end.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1, 2023.
<all>