PUBLIC POLICY

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POLICY PRIORITIES

The U.S. Black Chambers’ policy priorities are focused on ensuring equitable access and outcomes surrounding entrepreneurship and business opportunities for our communities. We firmly believe that ensuring greater economic opportunity through business development will support our collective efforts in closing the racial wealth divide while providing substantial economic gains for the broader American economy. Looking ahead, we are thrilled to share USBC’s public policy platform for the next two years.

Support Black Business Development

by increasing access to capital, fostering greater Black media ownership, integrating our ByBlack business directory with federal credentialing programs, expanding opportunities for Black firms to engage in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), supporting Black franchisees and owners, and fostering sensible guardrails that work to promote Black leadership and success in cryptocurrency investments.

Increase Equity in Federal Contracting

by reforming the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) program, doubling the Black spend in federal contracts (to atleast 3%), advocating for greater access to disaggregated data in federal contracts by business demographic, ensuring contractors are paid promptly (within 15 days), and ensuring Black firms can benefit from infrastructure dollars through contracts and projects from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

Fund and Support Federal Entrepreneurial Development Program

by fully funding the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) at the Department of Commerce and SBA programs such as 7(j) contract assistance and entrepreneurial development programs, and increase the utilization of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in Black communities.

Expanding Opportunities for Black Businesses Through Trade

by increasing business opportunities for firms owned by members of the African Diaspora in US-Africa trade deals, requiring the Export-Import Bank to provide targeted capital to Black exporter firms, and creating fair trade that benefits Black Americans through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) reauthorization.

ADVOCACY
WINS

Since our founding, the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. has achieved several successes in the realm of public policy in Washington, D.C. From the election of our nation’s first Black President and later Vice President to the codification ofthe Minority Business Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the USBC is at the forefront of creating systemic and inclusive changes to ensure federal policies work for the Black business community. See some of our cornerstone advocacy wins over the years:

USBC ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS 2023

As an influential player in politics, policy, and advocacy, USBC is well positioned to leverage its relationships throughout the remainder of the Biden administration and within the 118th Congress to ensure successful outcomes to its advocacy goals this year.

Administration Level Engagement

  • USBC presented its policy platform in partnership with the White House Office of Public Engagement. President and CEO Ron Busby Sr. spoke to a national audience about the need for equitable procurement reforms for Black-owned firms during Black History Month where he advocated for increased transparency and accountability in procurement systems. USBC is a recognized partner with the White House Office of Public Engagement and will continue to engage the office to ensure resources make it in the hands of Black business owners.
  • USBC is a close confidant of Don Cravins Jr, the Under Secretary for Minority Business Development. USBC is working closely with the MBDA to expand access to resources for Black firms and business development centers serving Black communities.

Congressional Engagement

  • USBC presented its policy platform in partnership with the White House Office of Public Engagement. President and CEO Ron Busby Sr. spoke to a national audience about the need for equitable procurement reforms for Black-owned firms during Black History Month where he advocated for increased transparency and accountability in procurement systems. USBC is a recognized partner with the White House Office of Public Engagement and will continue to engage the office to ensure resources make it in the hands of Black business owners.
  • USBC is a close confidant of Don Cravins Jr, the Under Secretary for Minority Business Development. USBC is working closely with the MBDA to expand access to resources for Black firms and business development centers serving Black communities.
    1. NEW START Act – A bill to provide entrepreneurial development training to returning citizens through the SBA. Introduced by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), USBC remains a champion for expanding access to economic opportunity for formerly incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism and expand economic growth.
    2. USBC sponsored a bill to reduce interest payments for COVID EIDL loans, which will be introduced by Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) this month. The bill would freeze interest payments for businesses impacted by economic hardship on COVID EIDL loan repayments for 12 months.
  • USBC is engaging in the FY24 appropriations process and is advocating for programs that support Black business development and entrepreneurial development. View our asks here.

Regulatory Engagement

  • USBC continues to advocate for increased access to capital for Black firms and is working with SBA to reduce capital market gaps.

Third Party Engagement

  • USBC remains an active member in Small Business Roundtable (SBR). Ron Busby Sr. was featured as a keynote speaker in London for the SBR’s Entrepreneurial Exchange 2023.
  • USBC remains an active an inaugural member of the Modern Economy Project and secured a feature of Ron’s achievements for Black History Month. MEP advocates for increased transparency and accountability amid the labor conversation and debate in Washington and is working to increase access to opportunity through Black business ownership and to advocate for policies conducive for Black business growth.
  • Through the SSBCI Black Working Group, USBC is represented in efforts to ensure SSBCI dollars reaches Black businesses. he SSBCI Black Business Working Group is formulating policyrecommendations and implementation principles to guide an equitable SSBCI rollout to the states. The overarching goal of this group is to ensure that Black business owners are not once again left behind by the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) at a time that intentionality in state-led entrepreneurial investments could not be more critical.

USBC ADVOCACY
HIGHLIGHTS 2022

  • Administration-Level Reforms in Procurement Initiatives: The U.S. Black Chambers has remained a critical partner to the Biden-Harris Administration in their broader efforts to reform procurement opportunities for Black businesses.

RON WITH DON CRAVINS

RON WITH DON CRAVINS

Congressional Champions

  • USBC presented its policy platform in partnership with the White House Office of Public Engagement. President and CEO Ron Busby Sr. spoke to a national audience about the need for equitable procurement reforms for Black-owned firms during Black History Month where he advocated for increased transparency and accountability in procurement systems. USBC is a recognized partner with the White House Office of Public Engagement and will continue to engage the office to ensure resources make it in the hands of Black business owners.
  • USBC is a close confidant of Don Cravins Jr, the Under Secretary for Minority Business Development. USBC is working closely with the MBDA to expand access to resources for Black firms and business development centers serving Black communities.
      1. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
      2. The House Committee on Small Business
      3. The House Committee on Financial Services
      4. The Congressional Black Caucus

Thought Leadership and Collateral Development:

  • The U.S. Black Chambers provided members with a 101-level Advocacy Toolkit to foster grassroots advocates and empower chamber leaders to take action.
  • The U.S. Black Chambers has been an active participant and thought leader in the Modern Economy Project, advocating for workforce development and bipartisan labor efforts that seek to strengthen the workforce for Black individuals through blogs, communications, social media, and more.

Progress Made on Policy Priorities:

  • 8(a) Business Development Program Reforms:
    The U.S. Black Chambers has remained a vocal partner with the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to improve the 8(a) business development program at the SBA to increase equitable access to contract opportunities for Black-owned businesses.
  • USBC has led and responded to coalition efforts across legislative and regulatory proposals at the federal and state level including the following:
    1. Advocating for greater equity in the Treasury State Small Business Credit Initiative.
    2. Advocating for fair labor laws that work to uplift, rather than repress the growth of Black businesses.
    3. Advocating for greater access to capital through the Community Reinvestment Act.
    4. Ensuring that set-aside programs in procurement work to benefit Black firms.
    5. Advocating for the publication and release of disaggregated data across contracting, capital access, and business development programs.
    6. Advocating for minority-led grant programs and funding opportunities.
    7. Advocating across the budgetary process to ensure that small business, capital access, and economic development programs and jurisdictional agencies are fully funded to meet the current demand across the nation.
    8. Endorsing various Biden-Harris appointments across Agencies, the Judiciary, and program offices.

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