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Special Report: History in the Making for Women Business Owners
Congressional leaders step up to support the fair access to federal contracts by women business owners.
Leaders of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce and BPW/USA joined Rep. Nydia Velazquez, ranking democrat on the House Small Business Committee, in a push to urge the SBA to implement the Women's Federal Procurement Program.
Members of Congress who are supportive of small business - frustrated because women business owners are not getting their fair share of federal contracts - will file an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce against the Small Business Administration (SBA), which would force the administration to implement the women's procurement program. (See FAQ's)
Below are links to the statements made at the press conference held on May 26, 2005 in Washington, DC:
Background
The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce filed the suit on behalf of women business owners across the country six months ago; however SBA still refuses to take any action to implement the program. The women's procurement program, which was signed into law in 2000, would expand opportunities in the federal marketplace for women business owners in industries that have historically been closed to them.
Federal agencies have failed to meet the mandated five percent women-owned business contracting goal for the past four years. The administration's failure to implement the program has cost women business owners $25 billion in lost contracting opportunity. Female entrepreneurs rely heavily on programs such as the women's procurement program to help them receive their fair share of the federal marketplace.
Recent Developments
SBA: As a result of the scheduling of this press conference, the SBA released to the press a document indicating they are "implementing" the program. However, they have not set one date, written one regulation and not one woman business owner has been assisted. A few of the news media have picked up this flimsy last minute story to fill space on their pages. But, those media outlets that do more than fill space with press releases are beginning to ask the right questions.
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"It has been one thousand six hundred and seventeen days since the women's federal procurement program was passed into law under the Equity in Contracting for Women Act of 2000 and still the U.S. Small Business Administration has not found the time to implement this important legislation which increases the ability of women-owned businesses to gain contracts with the government." - Margot Dorfman, CEO - U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce (read the complete statement here)
Above (from left) - Congresswoman Velazquez (NY), Congressman Jim Cooper (TN), Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (Guam), Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ), Margot Dorfman (USWCC), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV)
Above (from left) - Deborah Frett (CEO - Business Professional Women USA) and Congresswoman Velazquez
Above (from left) - Margot Dorfman (CEO - USWCC), Bree Onhaizer (Bree's Corporate Imaging), Colleen and Twyla Edwards (MPE Business Forms), Elizabeth Novak (Environmental Waste Specialists)
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Act Now to Help Us Help You
Contact Congress
Tell your congressional leaders that you want them to support women business owners by signing on to the amicus brief. (Has your representative signed on to support women business owners? Go here to see.)
Contact Local Media
Tell your local media that you want the SBA to implement the Women's Federal Procurement Program.
Join the Team
We Need Your Support!
Help us outreach on this important issue. Join our "Instant Influence" team to outreach to the media and to other women business owners.
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The U.S. Women's Chamber of CommerceTM is the leading advocate for women on economic and leadership issues, the USWCC is creating economic and leadership opportunities for women by building a strong community voice, lobbying for you, and providing programs and benefits to support the growth of our women across America.
If you are not a member, we hope you will consider joining to support our efforts to support you.
U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce - http://www.uswomenschamber.com
1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
 888-41-USWCC
You may also contact us here.
Copyright © 2005 U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce
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