Congress Votes to Release Funds for Women's Business Centers Both houses of Congress have passed legislation that would free up $4 million in federal grants to women’s business centers. The provision is part of a bill that temporarily extends authority for a number of SBA programs. H.R. 5008 was awaiting President Bush’s signature. The legislation would allow the release of 2004 sustainability grants to more than 50 women’s business centers. The money had been appropriated, but SBA’s authority to spend it lapsed in June when Congress failed to extend it. “Without this legislation, many of the Centers may be in jeopardy of closing their doors,” said Senate Small Business Committee Chair Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Separately, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation that would continue sustainability grants in fiscal 2005, which begins Oct. 1. The grants go to women’s centers that have been open more than five years; the Bush administration had proposed cutting off federal support for those organizations. They are required to match their federal funding with money from other sources. H.R. 5008 would also extend the SBA’s Preferred Surety Bond Guarantee Program; the private sector co-sponsorship authority that allows the agency to conduct its business matchmaking sessions with partner Office Depot; the Small Disadvantaged Business procurement assistance program; the Small Business Development Center Drug-Free Workplace Assistance Grants program; and the Very Small Business Concerns Program. The bill would extend SBA’s program authority only through Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year. A multi-year extension was approved by the Senate last year, but the House has never acted on the legislation. The chairs of the House and Senate Small Business Committees have introduced a new, stripped-down version of the reauthorization bill in hopes of getting quick action. According to a summary released by the House chairman, Donald Manzullo (R-IL), the bill drops many of the procurement “goodies” that had run into opposition. The new bill would give SBA 90 days after enactment to complete and release its study of woman-owned businesses in the federal marketplace. However, it does not set a deadline for implementing the women’s business set-aside program that was signed into law nearly four years ago. Completion of the study is the first step toward determining who will be eligible for the program. The set-asides will be limited to industries in which woman-owned businesses are under-represented in federal contracting. According to the staff summary, the new bill drops a provision that would have put 8(a) companies first in line for set-aside contracts. Other socioeconomic groups had objected to the language. SBA’s current policy gives 8(a) and HUBZone businesses equal status in set-asides. Also missing from the bill is a proposal to make small businesses the primary source for all contracts up to $1 million, up from the current $100,00. In introducing the bill, Sen. Snowe said, ”I believe we must get a final bill passed and ready for the president to sign immediately. Too much is at stake for small firms, and the economy as a whole, to let this legislation languish.” Congress is pushing toward adjournment around Oct. 8.