Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Reauthorization Provision

SEC. 1101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(b) DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.— 
 

(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 

(A) while significant progress has occurred due to the establishment of the disadvantaged business enterprise program, discrimination and related barriers continue to pose significant obstacles for minority- and women-owned businesses seeking to do business in federally-assisted surface transportation markets across the United States; 

(B) the continuing barriers described in subparagraph (A) merit the continuation of the disadvantaged business enterprise program; 

(C) Congress has received and reviewed testimony and documentation of race and gender discrimination from numerous sources, including congressional hearings and roundtables, scientific reports, reports issued by public and private agencies, news stories, reports of discrimination by organizations and individuals, and discrimination lawsuits, which show that race- and gender-neutral efforts alone are insufficient to address the problem; 

(D) the testimony and documentation described in subparagraph (C) demonstrate that discrimination across the United States poses a barrier to full and fair participation in surface transportation-related businesses of women business owners and minority business owners and has impacted firm development and many aspects of surface transportation-related business in the public and private markets; and 

(E) the testimony and documentation described in subparagraph (C) provide a strong basis that there is a compelling need for the continuation of the disadvantaged business enterprise program to address race and gender discrimination in surface transportation-related business.

(2) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the following definitions apply: 
 

(A) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ''small business concern'' means a small business concern (as the term is used in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)). 

(ii) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ''small business concern'' does not include any concern or group of concerns controlled by the same socially and economically disadvantaged individual or individuals that have average annual gross receipts during the preceding 3 fiscal years in excess of $22,410,000, as adjusted annually by the Secretary for inflation.

(B) SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS.—The term ''socially and economically disadvantaged individuals'' has the meaning given the term in section 8(d) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(d)) and relevant subcontracting regulations issued pursuant to that Act, except that women shall be presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged individuals for purposes of this subsection. 
 

(3) AMOUNTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—Except to the extent that the Secretary determines otherwise, not less than 10 percent of the amounts made available for any program under divisions A and B of this Act and section 403 of title 23, United States Code, shall be expended through small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. 

(4) ANNUAL LISTING OF DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.— Each State shall annually—

(A) survey and compile a list of the small business concerns referred to in paragraph (2) in the State, including the location of the small business concerns in the State; and 

(B) notify the Secretary, in writing, of the percentage of the small business concerns that are controlled by—

(i) women;
(ii) socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (other than women); and 
(iii) individuals who are women and are otherwise socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

(5) UNIFORM CERTIFICATION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish minimum uniform criteria for use by State governments in certifying whether a concern qualifies as a small business concern for the purpose of this subsection. 

(B) INCLUSIONS.—The minimum uniform criteria established under subparagraph (A) shall include, with respect to a potential small business concern—

(i) on-site visits;
(ii) personal interviews with personnel;
(iii) issuance or inspection of licenses;
(iv) analyses of stock ownership;
(v) listings of equipment;
(vi) analyses of bonding capacity;
(vii) listings of work completed;
(viii) examination of the resumes of principal owners;
(ix) analyses of financial capacity; and
(x) analyses of the type of work preferred.

(6) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall establish minimum requirements for use by State governments in reporting to the Secretary— 

(A) information concerning disadvantaged business enterprise awards, commitments, and achievements; and
(B) such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate for the proper monitoring of the disadvantaged business enterprise program.

(7) COMPLIANCE WITH COURT ORDERS.—Nothing in this subsection limits the eligibility of an individual or entity to receive funds made available under divisions A and B of this Act and section 403 of title 23, United States Code, if the entity or person is prevented, in whole or in part, from complying with paragraph (2) because a Federal court issues a final order in which the court finds that a requirement or the implementation of paragraph (2) is unconstitutional.