49 U.S.C. § 332 — Minority Resource Center

(a) Definition In this section, "minority" includes women. (b) The Center The Department of Transportation has a Minority Resource Center. The Center may: (1) run a national clearinghouse that gives minority entrepreneurs and businesses information about business opportunities tied to maintaining, rehabilitating, restructuring, improving, and revitalizing U.S. railroads; (2) do market research, planning, economic and business analysis, and feasibility studies to find those opportunities; (3) help minority entrepreneurs and businesses get investment capital and debt financing; (4) design and run programs to help minority entrepreneurs and businesses win contracts, subcontracts, and projects tied to those opportunities; (5) build support tools — like venture capital, surety and bonding groups, and management and technical services — so minority entrepreneurs and businesses can use those opportunities; (6) join and cooperate with federal government programs and other programs that offer financial, management, and other support to minority entrepreneurs and businesses; and (7) make whatever arrangements are needed to carry out this section. (c) Advisory Committee The Center has a 5-person advisory committee, appointed by the Secretary of Transportation. The Secretary picks members from lists that minority-dominated trade associations in the minority business community recommend. Each trade association can submit a list of up to 3 qualified people. (d) Information Sharing The United States Railway Association, the Consolidated Rail Corporation, and the Secretary must give the Center whatever relevant information it requests to carry out this section — including procurement schedules, bids, and specifications for particular maintenance, rehabilitation, restructuring, improvement, and revitalization projects. (e) Bonding Assistance (1) In general: The Secretary, acting through the Center, must help disadvantaged business enterprises get bid, payment, and performance bonds, as described in subsection (b)(4). (2) Authorization of appropriation: Congress authorized whatever funding is needed for fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to carry out this bonding assistance.