[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1530 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1530
Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the National Minority Supplier
Development Council.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 22, 2022
Mr. Cleaver (for himself, Ms. Plaskett, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Clarke of
New York, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. San Nicolas, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of
New York, and Mr. Mfume) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the National Minority Supplier
Development Council.
Whereas the National Minority Supplier Development Council (hereinafter referred
to as ``NMSDC'') was founded in the year 1972;
Whereas NMSDC is the longest-operating business growth engine for the broadest
group of systematically excluded communities of color, including Asian-
Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities;
Whereas NMSDC champions upward mobility for the emerging majority of Americans,
creating an equal shot at participating in the American experiment of
free-market capitalism and entrepreneurship, and correcting the unequal
access to wealth-building opportunities;
Whereas, in 1969, President Richard M. Nixon established the Office of Minority
Business Enterprise, which would later become the Minority Business
Development Agency, recognizing the impact of minority businesses on the
Nation's economy;
Whereas, in 1971, the White House issued Executive Order 11625, expanding the
scope of the agency to authorize grants to public and private
organizations;
Whereas, in 1972, a group of Chicago companies led by Robert Stuart of the
National Can Corporation, founded the National Minority Purchasing
Council in 1972, later becoming NMSDC;
Whereas, over the last 50 years, NMSDC has connected over 15,000 minority
business enterprises (as defined in section 100002(9) of the Minority
Business Development Act of 2021 (15 U.S.C. 9501(9)); hereinafter
referred to as ``MBEs'') to more than 1,500 corporations, resulting in
nearly $400 billion in economic output annually, generating $130 billion
in tax revenue, and sustaining 1.75 million jobs and $122 billion in
wages;
Whereas NMSDC is challenging Congress and the country to move the needle toward
economic parity for all at a time when--
(1) Black businesses received only 1.67 percent, Hispanic businesses
received only 1.78 percent, and Asian-Pacific businesses received only 1.23
percent of more than $559 billion in Federal contracting dollars eligible
for small businesses in 2020;
(2) White households are eight times wealthier than Black households
and five times wealthier than Hispanic households;
(3) 40 percent of Black business owners do not apply for financing
because they expect to be rejected;
(4) systematically excluded communities of color are up to twice as
likely to have a mortgage application denied; and
(5) workers from communities of color are two to five times less likely
to be promoted to managerial positions;
Whereas, as part of NMSDC's 50th Anniversary, it has set a bold goal to reach $1
trillion in MBE annual revenue, almost four times the direct annual
revenue;
Whereas, if the United States continues to grow MBEs and help them reach their
full potential, an estimated $8 trillion can be added to the gross
domestic product;
Whereas the United States can close the wealth gap by leveling the playing
field, creating a society where everyone has an equal opportunity to
succeed, and by taking the American dream and turning it into an
American reality;
Whereas growth for MBEs means growth for all Americans;
Whereas division K of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law
117-58) (commonly known as the Minority Business Development Act of 2021
(15 U.S.C. 9501 et seq.)) paved the way to permanently authorize the
Minority Business Development Agency;
Whereas the largest investment of Federal funding in a generation is a key
opportunity to shrink the wealth gap;
Whereas historic infrastructure investments provide a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to increase the Government's spending with MBEs while
building the infrastructure that will help the United States thrive in
the coming decades;
Whereas, whether it is building the transportation infrastructure of the future,
expanding broadband access, or ensuring our water infrastructure is
ready for the challenges presented by climate change, MBEs can and
should play a central role;
Whereas the Federal Government should ensure that the Federal procurement
process encourages robust MBE participation; and
Whereas, in 2021, President Biden announced the White House's plan to increase
racial equity and support underserved communities by promoting the
equitable delivery of Government benefits and contract opportunities for
Federal Government projects: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes that the National Minority Supplier
Development Council plays a key role in ensuring minority
business enterprises are ready to help the United States build
the future infrastructure and the resilient, diverse economy
needed to compete in the 21st century and beyond;
(2) celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the National
Minority Supplier Development Council; and
(3) acknowledges the impact and contribution the National
Minority Supplier Development Council has on the economy of the
United States and, more importantly, in the lives of our
citizens of color across this Nation.
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