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WCOE 2009 ISSUE & POSITION PAPER

To download a copy of the current position paper: click here

Key 2009 Issues:
	Women Owned Small Business Program
		WCOE looks to the current Administration to expeditiously review and implement contracting programs for women owned businesses. Far too much time has passed since Congress authorized the 8M program in 2000. Women business owners are a viable element of the national economy and deserve a level playing field and opportunities to bid and receive federal contract dollars.
	DBE Personal Net Worth
		The personal net worth standard of Small Disadvantaged Business was established over two decades ago. At $750,000 (which includes retirement accounts) the threshold needs to be reevaluated, increased and indexed to address cost of living increases. - Increase the personal net worth cap to $3 million and index annually going forward. - Remove retirement assets from an individual's personal net worth until the assets are actually withdrawn. - Allow qualifying owners to engage in sound business practices.
	Gross Revenue Cap
		The U.S. DOT gross revenue cap places additional restrictions on women business owners in order for them to compete in the DBE outreach program. Women already face barriers and stereotypes that limit our ability to competitively bid and perform projects. The fact that many federal agencies still seem unable to meet the already low procurement goal for women owned businesses after a decade, is evidence that "business as usual" is not working. The gross revenue cap needs to be abolished. The SBA size standards should set the definition of a small business.
	National Standards for Disparity Studies
		National guidelines and standards need to be created for disparity studies. Too many companies claim the ability to perform disparity studies, yet those studies are routinely disqualified, leaving women and minority owned businesses without any outreach program. These guidelines should be set by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences and provide clear guidance to recipients to ensure that disparity/availability studies are consistent between recipients.

WCOE TESTIMONY

Date	Subject	State or National	View a Copy
7.17.07	Opposition to H.R. 2831, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007	National - Letter to the House of Representatives	click here
5.3.07	Notice Pursuant to Exec. Order 12600 of Receipt of FOIA Requests for Access to CCR Database	Department of Defense	click here
3.21.07	Federal Government Efforts in Contracting with Women Owned businesses	House Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology Committee on Small Business	click here
1.12.07	Comment on Guide for the Submission of State Plans Pursuant to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006	Department of Education	click here

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