WOSB Accountability Act
Sponsored By: Representative Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Passed House
Summary
Only SBA‑certified women‑owned small businesses would count toward federal and agency WOSB contracting goals. This bill would remove self‑certified WOSBs from goal calculations unless they secure certification under the Small Business Administration's section 8(m)(2)(E) process, and it creates a transitional path and reporting rules for implementation.
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- Women‑owned small businesses: Only firms certified under SBA section 8(m)(2)(E) would be included in government‑wide and agency WOSB goal calculations, which could exclude many currently self‑certified firms until they obtain certification.
- Self‑certified applicants: Firms that are self‑certified and file a certification application before the effective date and have no final determination would be deemed certified for goal calculations until a decision is made.
- SBA and federal agencies: The Administrator must issue implementing regulations within 1 year and the effective date is the day after the end of the second fiscal year following those regulations.
- Oversight and funding: The SBA must brief the House and Senate small business committees within 60 days and quarterly thereafter on applications, approvals, timelines, costs, outreach, and recommendations. The bill specifies that no additional funds are authorized to carry out these requirements.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Only certified women-owned firms count for goals
If enacted, only women-owned small businesses that are SBA-certified would count toward governmentwide and agency WOSB contracting goals. Firms that only self-certify would not count. SBA would need to issue rules within one year of enactment. The change would take effect the day after the second full fiscal year ends following those rules. If you were self-certified on that effective date, filed a certification application before then, and no decision was made yet, you would be treated as certified for goal counts until a decision.
No new money for women-owned program
This bill would not authorize new funds to carry out these changes. SBA would have to use current money or wait for future appropriations. That could slow application reviews or outreach if extra funds are needed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Cosponsors
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 3/5/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov