Class presentation to discuss the Women's Procurement Program Improvement Act of 2012.

1. SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS
IN AMERICA J.JIMENEZ
WOMEN’S PROCUREMENT PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT ACT OF
2012

2. Why policies for women-owned businesses?
“cultofdomesticity”of19th centurybelievedwomenbelongedinthehomeandnotintheworkforce
(Blaszczyk,2002,p.2)
“In1972womenowned4percentofallAmericanbusinesses;by1991,thatfigurehadclimbedto38
percent.Thisisnotatrivialaccomplishment;thesewomen-ownedenterpriseswereresponsiblefor$4trillion
dollarsinsalesandemploymentof27millionworkers”(CenterforWomen’sBusinessResearch, 2012).
“morethanhalf(55.5%)ofwomen-ownedbusinesseshadtousepersonalorfamilysavingstostartor
acquiretheirbusiness“ (TheWhiteHouseCouncil,p.42).
U.S.Women'sChamberofCommercefiledalawsuit,andlastNovemberafederaljudgeruledthattheSBA
muststartimplementingthelaw.Now,withjust3%offederalcontractsgoingtowoman-ownedbusinesses,
theSBAsaysitwillbereadytoissueguidelinesinMay(Fisher,2006).

3. H.R. 4203, Women’s Procurement Program
ImprovementAct of 2012
Expansion of Federal contract opportunities to
women-owned businesses.
Estimated cost per year $5 million.
No intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.

4. POLICYEFFECT
•Increases women’s participation in
business enterprise.
•Increases women in the workforce.
•Creation of business leads to employment
for both men and women.

5. references
Blaszczyk, R. (2002). Women in Business: A Historical Perspective. Retrieved from
www.americanhistory.si.edu/archives/WIB-tour/historical.pdf
Center for Women’s Business Research. (2012). History. Retrieved from
http://www.womensbusinessresearchcenter.org/aboutus/history/
Fisher, Anne. (April 24, 2006). Which Get It Big? Retrieved from
http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/22/smbusiness/womensb_fsb/Women
The White House Council on Women and Girls. (April, 2012). Keeping
America’s Women Moving Forward: The Key to an Economy Built to Last.
Retrieved from www.whitehouse.gov