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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release June 24, 1998

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Today I am pleased to announce policies that continue my commitment to expand economic opportunity for all Americans. These new guidelines for federal procurement are designed to remedy discrimination in a carefully targeted way. These reforms, which continue my promise to mend, not end affirmative action, expand opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses.

These new guidelines allow small disadvantaged businesses to receive a price credit of up to 10 percent in bidding for federal contracts. The credits will be available only in industries that show the ongoing effects of discrimination. The Department of Commerce identified these industries through a process called benchmarking, which compares the actual share of federal procurement by small disadvantaged firms to the share that would be expected in the absence of discrimination. Limiting credits to these industries satisfies constitutional requirements while targeting our efforts in areas where disparities still exist.

This program is based on authority given the Administration by Congress in 1994. These credits will help level the playing field for firms that have suffered from discrimination. However, they do not ensure that any firm will win a contract. Small disadvantaged businesses must compete with all other businesses to win federal contracts.

The steps we are taking today comply with legal requirements and preserve competition, while serving to remedy discrimination.

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