The Senate’s 14 female senators are not happy with the Small Business Administration over a proposed rule regarding government contracts for women-owned businesses. Earlier this week they sent a letter to the SBA’s acting administrator, asking that the SBA either broaden its proposed rule or withdraw the rule completely.

As it stands, the rule gives preferential treatment for female business owners, but only identifies four industries where women are underrepresented. The four industries are household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing; motor vehicle dealers; national security and international affairs; and coating, engraving, heat treating and allied activities.

“I find it inexcusable that after wasting well over seven years before issuing any proposal whatsoever, the SBA is now apparently seeking to finalize a defective rule with few, if any, improvements,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

The senators believe that the SBA should either propose drastic changes that accurately reflect what Congress intended (propping up underrepresented women-owned businesses) or step aside and wait for the next administration to tend to this issue properly.

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