After overhaul, feds seek to reauthorize minority, women-owned business program

Federal lawmakers seek to reauthorize the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, which supports women- and minority-owned businesses by providing access to public contracts and economic opportunities. The program, revised last year by the U.S. Department of Transportation to make qualification harder, faces a reauthorization campaign led by advocates and entrepreneurs. A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves aims to continue the program, requiring objective criteria for assessing business disadvantage.