This July, a coalition of Women First Trustees and DBEs of America members descended on Washington, D.C., with a unified mission: securing congressional reauthorization of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. This program ensures women-owned businesses have equal footing to compete in America’s transportation infrastructure industry.
The advocates strategically targeted lawmakers on the committees that matter most—the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Their three-day Capitol Hill campaign delivered a compelling case for why the DBE program works: these businesses don’t just win contracts, they create quality jobs, pump investment back into their communities, and fuel local economic growth.
The message resonated loud and clear throughout Congress: the DBE program isn’t just policy—it’s the lifeline that keeps small businesses competitive and communities thriving. When women-owned businesses succeed, America succeeds.
