S.Amdt. 323

SA 323. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 98 proposed by Mr. Inouye (for himself and Mr. Baucus)
to the bill H.R. 1, making supplemental appropriations for job
preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency
and science, assistance to the unemployed, and State and local fiscal
stabilization, for fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 431, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following:

SEC. 1607. MINORITY OWNED ENTERPRISES.

(a) In General.--In awarding contracts or subcontracts for
construction projects funded using amounts made available
under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act), additional
consideration shall be given to entities that voluntarily
include in their bids for such contracts or subcontracts
minority business enterprise participation that exceeds the
minimum participation required under the Federal guidelines
utilized for purposes of section 8(a) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).
(b) Monitoring by DOL.--The Secretary of Labor shall
monitor the construction projects carried out with amounts
made available under this Act (or an amendment made by this
Act) to ensure that the contracting practices with respect to
such projects are carried out without entry barriers, and
that minority business enterprise and disadvantaged business
enterprise participation targets are achieved with integrity
and accountability.
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