NCWCC APPLAUDS USWCC FOR WOMEN PROCUREMENT PROGRAM

istory of the Women's Federal Procurement Program Fighting for Fair Access to Federal Contracts for Women-Owned Small Businesses Introduction Margot DorfmanAfter observing the failure of the federal government to provide women-owned businesses with fair access to federal contracts, Congress acted in 2000 to establish the Women's Federal Procurement Program. President Clinton signed this bi-partisan legislation into law in December 2000. During the entire eight years of the Bush Administration, the Small Business Administration failed to implement this important program -- as women business owners lost billions and billions of dollars every year. The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce filed and won a claim against the Bush Administration for failure to implement the laws of the United States. At the end of the Bush Administration, the SBA attempted a "poison pill" - attempting make final horribly flawed regulations to implement the program. Congress acted to stop this action by removing access to funds. Now, after a year in office, the Obama Administration has still not implemented the Women's Procurement Program. During this time of economic challenge and talk of small business job creation, it is time for the SBA and the Obama Administration to act.