HR8511119th CongressWALLET

Ending Discrimination in Government Contracting Act

Sponsored By: Representative Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

Introduced

Summary

Ends race-, ethnicity-, and sex-based preferences in federal contracting. The bill removes many group-based set-asides and rewrites procurement law so contract eligibility relies mainly on standard Small Business Administration size rules.

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  • Small businesses and entrepreneurs: Women-owned and socially and economically disadvantaged business set-asides and participation goals are removed or narrowed, shifting competition toward SBA size-based eligibility.
  • Veterans and HUBZone communities: Some veteran-oriented and HUBZone provisions are retained but narrowed, tightening who qualifies and limiting prior group-focused benefits.
  • Federal agencies, grants, and reporting: Agency heads must start rulemaking within 60 days and finish within 180 days to remove race, ethnicity, and sex-based preferences. The bill also cuts reporting on disadvantaged ownership and reduces Airport Improvement Program participation goals from 10% to 5%.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Priority for veteran-owned small businesses

This bill would change some American Rescue Plan Act small-business rules to define eligible firms by standard small-business criteria and give priority to veteran-owned small businesses. Language prioritizing women-owned businesses would be removed. The change would take effect upon enactment.

Airport grant goal cut to 5%

This bill would lower the Airport Improvement Program participation goal in law from 10 percent to 5 percent. It would also remove wording tying that goal to socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned business definitions. The change would take effect upon enactment and apply to the cited parts of the AIP law.

End disadvantaged and women-owned preferences

This bill would remove statutory labels and program language that singled out socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses. It would repeal several laws that set up disadvantaged- or women-owned business authorities and strike related reporting and set-aside language across multiple statutes. The changes would take effect upon enactment and could reduce contracting advantages for those firms.

Ban race or sex in federal contracting

This bill would prohibit agency heads from considering a business owner’s race, ethnicity, or sex when awarding civilian or defense contracts. It would also bar agencies from requiring contractors to use those traits when awarding subcontracts or awards. Agency heads would need to propose rule changes within 60 days and finish them within 180 days, and agencies would issue new guidance within 60 days. The prohibitions would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

WI • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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