Congressman Al Green Works to Increase Hurricane Contracting Opportunities for Houston Area Small, Minority-Owned Businesses

(Houston, TX)--Today, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) held a breakfast to provide Houston area small and minority-owned businesses with information on contracting and procurement opportunities to rebuild areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

"I believe that the diminished participation of capable, competent and qualified minority-owned businesses could adversely impact the ability of the affected communities to rebuild their economies," Congressman Al Green said.

The breakfast that was held in conjunction with the Houston Minority Business Council kicked off the National Minority Enterprise Development Week, which is aimed at connecting area businesses with prime contractors.

"The challenge before us today is to work to ensure fair access to all available economic opportunities. This is why were utilizing this week to provide our local businesses with adequate information regarding the competitive bid process and to link them with prime contractors who can provide additional opportunities," Congressman Al Green said.

After mounting complaints that capable, competent and qualified small and minority-owned businesses were being excluded from the competitive bid process, on October 11, the Administration committed to boosting the number of contracts awarded to small and minority-owned businesses for Hurricane Katrina clean-up work.

The lack of minority participation led Congressman Al Green to send a letter the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA, to request information on the steps they're taking to ensure that capable, competent and qualified small and minority-owned are given opportunities to take advantage of procurement and contracting opportunities.

Following the breakfast, Congressman Al Green and the Houston Minority Business Council held a press conference to detail the weeks events and reiterate the importance of building a bridge between small and minority-owned contractors and big businesses.

"In many cases the great divide is manifested in the lack of sufficient information. By connecting those larger prime contractors with our citys small and minority-owned businesses, were closing that divide and helping to increase their infrastructure and capacity which will in turn benefit our city," Congressman Al Green said.