September 16, 2011

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Applauds Decision to Improve Outreach to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses for CA High Speed Rail Projects

Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882

Oakland, CA– Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement in response to the order from the U.S. Department of Transportation requiring that the California High Speed Rail Authority make greater efforts to ensure minority-owned businesses have an opportunity to take part in California’s largest infrastructure project in over 50 years:

“As an advocate for our small and disadvantaged businesses and their full participation in this major project, I was pleased with the Department of Transportation’s decision yesterday, recognizing the pressing need for reform in how California builds our high speed rail infrastructure.

“It’s vitally important that all California businesses have an opportunity to take part in this important project.  

“I will continue to work on behalf of our local small and minority owned businesses whose participation is not only important in the interest of fairness, but is also vital to California’s economic recovery.”

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