April 1, 1998

Richard Roehm
( Address Snipped )
Deaf@activist.com

The Honorable Loretta Sanchez
1529 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Rep. Sanchez:

As an individual committed to equal opportunity and fairness, I urge you to 
oppose any effort to eliminate the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program included in the reauthorization of the transportation bill, currently known as the
Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency Act (ISTEA).  

The DBE program administered by the Federal Highway Administration is a goal-setting
economic development program where qualified women, racial minority, and majority
male-owned firms compete for construction contracts.  

The program has helped counter the effects of past as well as current discrimination
that have raised artificial barriers to the formation, development, and utilization 
of businesses owned by disadvantaged individuals.  

Federal transportation trust funds are distributed by the Department of Transportation
(DOT) through state DOTs and state and local mass transit agencies.  These agencies
are required to establish a 10 percent goal for the trust funds they receive and are
afforded tremendous flexibility in reaching those goals.  If a state agency or prime
contractor is unable to find enough qualified subcontractors to perform the work, 
they are allowed to apply for a waiver to lower the goal.  

The federal government has a compelling interest in expanding contracting
opportunities for minority and women-owned firms who already receive
disproportionately fewer contracts and subcontracts than their qualifications 
and availability warrant.  

Elimination of the DBE program would prevent the government from ensuring the
transportation trust funds, drawn from user fees from all citizens, do not 
inadvertently subsidize discrimination.  Without remedial programs in government 
procurement, the federal government will continue to be an active participant in the
continuing cycle of discrimination.  I urge you to oppose any efforts to eliminate
the DBE program included in the transportation reauthorization bill. 

The disability community has long been one of the beneficiaries of the DBE program
and they are depending on programs like these to be self sufficient and achieving
independence and staying away from welfare programs.  The disability community is
one of the largest and most underrepresented groups in the state as well as the 
nation.


Sincerely,

Richard Roehm