New legislation would help Georgia’s Black-owned transportation small businesses access funding opportunities from bipartisan infrastructure law
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to boost opportunities for Georgia’s women- and minority-owned transportation small businesses.
Today, Sen. Ossoff and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA-04) introduced the Small Business Contracting Fairness Act to level the playing field for minority-owned transportation small businesses to secure competitive funding for projects made possible through the bipartisan infrastructure law.
The bill would strengthen the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program to help more women and minority-owned small businesses compete for contracts and competitive funding opportunities.
“As we upgrade America’s infrastructure, Georgia’s small businesses have a vital role to play. My legislation will help ensure women and minority-owned small businesses in Georgia have the opportunity to secure infrastructure contracts,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“With the recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides USDOT with billions of new dollars, it’s more important than ever to ensure our DBEs are eligible to apply for these wide-ranging construction contracts,” said Rep. Johnson, a senior member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “In order to address past and ongoing discrimination in federal contracting, we must pass this bill. I appreciate Senator Ossoff picking up the mantle in the Senate.”
Several key business groups are backing Sen. Ossoff and Rep. Johnson’s new bill, including theHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), MCP Enterprise BPO Services, Atlanta Black Chambers, Inc, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC), Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, Urban League of Greater Atlanta, Women First National Legislative Committee.
“Hartsfield-Jackson has been able to maintain its status as the world’s busiest and most efficient airport thanks, in part, to the work of minority and women-owned businesses who shape this facility,” said Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport General Manager Balram “B” Bheodari. “We welcome this legislation which will expand those opportunities across the transportation industry.”
Sen. Ossoff continues to advocate for small businesses across Georgia. Last month, Sen. Ossoff pushed Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, to expedite its deployment of funds for Georgia’s small businesses.
Last year, Sen. Ossoff also secured more than $2 million dollars for an Atlanta-based small business recovery program that works to create jobs and strengthen the local economy.
Click here to read the Small Business Contracting Fairness Act.
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