Nick Lampson: “I adamantly oppose the Roukema amendment to strike provisions of BESTEA that continue the Transportation Department's…”

“I adamantly oppose the Roukema amendment to strike provisions of BESTEA that continue the Transportation Department's Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Program. I represent the part of Houston which is currently embroiled in a lawsuit regarding this exact program. In fact, the citizens of Houston overwhelmingly supported a referendum to continue the DBE program as recently as this spring. Houston is not in a vacuum. This is an issue that has captured the attention of cities nationwide. The DBE program is fair and it is constitutional. It does not include any set-asides or any quotas. Rather, it is a goal-setting economic development program. It uses a competitive bidding process, which includes qualified minority and women-owned businesses vying for transportation dollars. There is a need for the DBE program. Minority and women owned businesses are still underrepresented in the construction industry. The Senate recognized the validity of the program when it defeated Senator McConnell's efforts to eliminate the program. The Roukema amendment will have a devastating effect on the opportunities for DBEs to participate in federally funded highway and transit projects. I urge my colleagues to oppose the Roukema amendment to eliminate the DBE included in BESTEA.”