Padilla, Aguilar Provisions to Boost Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses Included in FAA Reauthorization

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Key provisions from U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) bill, which he co-led with Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), to support minority- and women-owned businesses were signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The provisions from the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Supportive Services Expansion Act, which were incorporated into the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, will create a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise or DBE program in the FAA. The DBE program will address ongoing and past discrimination in the transportation industry and aims to level the playing field for minority- and women-owned businesses who are competing for federal contracts in airport-related businesses.

“Minority- and women-owned small businesses hold enormous potential to bolster our economy, but they have historically faced increased barriers to success,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bill will provide critical resources to help women and minority entrepreneurs effectively compete for federal contracts. This legislation, along with the unprecedented investment in American infrastructure from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help build prosperity in communities that have too often been left behind.”

This new law will help accomplish President Biden’s goal of increasing the share of federal contracts going to small, disadvantaged businesses by 50% by 2025.