END OF WOMEN HISTORY MONTH 

HISTORICAL LAND BREAKING

DISMISSAL OF LAWSUIT

 CHECK TO SEE NAICS CODES THAT ARE UNDERREPRESENTED

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s3399is.txt.pdf

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce Applauds U.S. Small Business Administration on Publication of Regulations for Women's Procurement Program

SBA takes step to bring an end to the decade of delay in implementing important women-owned small business federal contracting set-aside program

WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire- US Newswire/ -- The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) applauds President Obama, Administrator Mills and the U.S. Small Business Administration on their efforts to end the decade of delay in the implementation of the Women's Federal Procurement Program through publishing in the Federal Registry today a strong new set of regulations to bring this important set-aside program to fruition.  While there remain several important steps before the process is complete, the regulations published today show a strong grasp of the issue and a viable process to implement and sustain a strong women-owned small business federal contracting set-aside program.

History

In 2000, after years of underrepresented in federal contracting, Congress passed the "Equity in Contracting for Women Act of 2000" to allow contracts, in industries historically underrepresented, to be reserved for competition by women-owned small businesses.  The bipartisan bill was signed into law on December 21, 2000.  The act established a procurement program which allows federal contracting officers to restrict competition for certain contracts to small businesses owned and controlled by women.  The act required the SBA Administrator to conduct a study to identify the industries in which women owned firms are underrepresented and prepare appropriate regulations to implement the program.

After the Bush Administration stalled the implementation, and then SBA Administrator Hector Barreto told USWCC leaders, "This Administration has no intention of implementing that program," the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce brought suit against the SBA for failure to implement the laws of the United States.  The Court found in favor of the USWCC even stating that the SBA, "...had sabotaged, whether intentional or not, the implementation of the procurement program..." and concluded that "a deadline is in order."   The SBA continued delay tactics throughout the remaining years of the Bush Administration.  

"Federal contracting officers will finally have the tool they need to bring fair access to federal contracts for women-owned small businesses," said Margot Dorfman, CEO of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce.  "Opening the doors to opportunity will enable women-owned firms to grow their revenues, sustain their employees, create new job growth, and support our U.S. economy.  I thank Administrator Mills for her strong leadership on this matter."

The SBA has provided a sixty-day comment period on the new proposed regulations.  Sometime after the comment period, the SBA should publish a final set of rules bringing an end to a decade of delay.  The USWCC has provided a report detailing the industry codes included with the program at www.uswcc.org/wfpp .

"This comes at an important time in Women's History Month as the USWCC is celebrating with the first annual National Women Contractors' Week, March 16 – 18, 2010 (www.uswcc.org/nwcw ) including detailed agency spotlights of Health and Human Services and U.S. Army, awards and one-on-one meetings with dozens of federal agency representatives," continued Dorfman.  "We will include a detailed session on the Women's Federal Procurement Program, certification and positioning to secure increased federal contracts."

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce(TM) is the leading advocate for women on economic and leadership issues. The USWCC creates opportunities and change for women by building a strong community voice, advocating for members, and providing programs and benefits to support the economic growth of women across America. The USWCC is a not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization founded in 2001; its headquarters offices are located in Washington, D.C.  Contact the USWCC at 888-418-7922.

SOURCE U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

 

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce Releases Transformative Report on The Women-Led Economy™

Focused leadership leverages women’s powerful purchasing power to consummate women’s long path to economic leadership

USWCC Report: The Women-Led EconomyThe U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce released an groundbreaking report laying the foundation for a transformative new future for women as market leaders through The Women-Led Economy™. This report challenges the conventional view of women primarily as employees and breadwinners within our families and calls upon women to take the lead by focusing our tremendous purchase power with women-owned firms, building our own economic resources and institutions, and working together as market leaders to advance our objectives.

The U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce takes issue with two recent, influential reports – “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation,” which presents women as employees and family breadwinners and the Harvard Business Review report, “The Female Economy,” which views women as consumers. The U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce argues that neither report grasps the transformative opportunity women now have to focus and leverage our clout as consumers and business owners to consolidate and leverage the gains women have made over the last one hundred and sixty years to shape the business and employer marketplace to reflect our values and objectives.  
 

>>Learn more.  Read the report.  Read the press release.  Read the introduction.   Register your interest in the monthly e-magazine.

>>We are providing a number of regional meetings on The Women-Led Economy™ -- go here to view details, and to setup a meeting in your region.

We're moving forward!

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce is bringing The Women-Led Economy to communities all across the United States.

I want to personally thank all of our supporters in the first regions to introduce The Women-Led Economy™ to local participants. The learning, dialogue and "buzz" has been tremendous. We're pressing forward to next steps in each region, and taking steps to continue the outreach to educate the community and begin getting bottom line education and connections progressing.

GEORGIA

We had a tremendous turn out and response to The Women-Led Economy™ at our Atlanta meeting. Many of our attendees talked about challenges in accessing the capital needed to grow their businesses. Consequently, we have scheduled "Show Me the Money: Making an Effective Presentation to a Business Loan Officer" in Atlanta on September 23rd. And, we already have a special "Contacts & Contracts" scheduled in Atlanta for October 27th where we will bring small business owners together with government and prime contractors for education and quality one-on-one sessions.

                   NCWCC BUILD A YOUTH 2010  AMBASSADORS  

"We have a number of leaders who have stepped forward in this region including the National Coalition of Women of Color in Construction and the Youth Build team. I send my strong thanks to you for stepping up as we dig in to get The Women-Led Economy movement rolling in Georgia."