Calling for the Committee on State Government of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to hold public hearings and advance the legislative process for House Bill #1563, which amends Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes providing for minority, women, and disadvantaged-owned business enterprises and presents an opportunity to increase and improve their participation in providing goods and services to the Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, House Bill #1563 was authored by State Representative LeAnna Washington, co-sponsored by thirty-nine (39) members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and assigned to the State Government Committee on June 9, 2003, with the legislative intent of granting full public deliberation on the issues contained therein and pursuing timely enactment; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth’s record, to date, has been described as “abysmal” in creating economic opportunity for minority, women, and disadvantaged-owned businesses (“MWDBEs”), and in calendar year 2002, the Commonwealth spent under 2% of its budget with these businesses; and

WHEREAS, This poor performance has been brought to light and amplified by the State Auditor General’s departmental investigations, the Governor’s “Minority and Women-Owned Business Initiative” Advisory Committee, and a statewide MWDBE Task Force organized by, among others, the Auditor General’s Office, the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and additional MWDBE advocacy groups; and

WHEREAS, House Bill #1563 seeks to increase and improve economic opportunity and business participation for MWDBEs in the Commonwealth by creating an independent “Minority and Women-Owned Business Commission”, incorporating a consistent and uniform certification process, establishing monitor, protégé, and partnership programs, requiring aggressive training and development initiatives, and assuring comprehensive resource and technical assistance plans; and

WHEREAS, The Governor’s “Minority and Women-Owned Business Initiative” Advisory Committee has declared it imperative to stop the trend of “abysmal” MWDBE utilization, as quickly as possible, in the beginning stages of the current term, by employing a “top down” commitment to dramatically increase and improve MWDBE participation through identified initiatives similar to and compatible with those enumerated in House Bill #1563; and

WHEREAS, February is the month of the federal, state, and local Black History Month Celebration and serves as the premier time to activate the State Government Committee’s charge, declare the Governor’s commitment, and engage the spirit and good will of all those who stand ready to advance the legislative process and intent of House Bill #1563; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we call for the Committee on State Government of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to hold public hearings and advance the legislative process for House Bill #1563, which amends Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes providing for minority, women, and disadvantaged-owned business enterprises and presents an opportunity to increase and improve their participation in providing goods and services to the Commonwealth; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be sent to the Majority and Minority Chairs of the State Government Committee, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and the Governor as a representation of the true wishes and sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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