A Business Woman's Call to Action for Pennsylvania

I am writing to ask you to stop the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Office of Management and Budget from finalizing the SBA proposed rule on the Women’s Procurement Program rule (72 Fed. Reg. 73,295). 

Women business owners have waited seven years for the implementation of the Women’s Procurement Program, as embodied in P.L. 106-554. The federal government had yet to meet its 5% women owned goal set by Congress and the most recent numbers cite women owned businesses were awarded only 3.4% of all federal procurement contracts.  SBA’s proposed rule is not acceptable to the women’s business community because it only covers only four of 140 industries which would be eligible for the program and would require federal agencies to make a finding of past discrimination before being able to implement the program. 

In light of the narrow parameters and  legal requirements of the proposed program, the only responsible action is to withdraw the rule.  I am asking that you assist women business owners stop this program from going forward.

Sincerely,

Tanya Callaway Crews
CEO
First Touch Communications, Inc.