PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 4439: To ensure that minority-owned and women-owned businesses have a full and fair opportunity to compete in covered rail projects and contracts, and that the Federal Government does not subsidize discrimination in covered rail projects.

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 4439: To ensure that minority-owned and women-owned businesses have a full and fair opportunity to compete in covered rail projects and contracts, and that the Federal Government does not subsidize discrimination in covered rail projects.

113th Congress · introduced 2014-04-09 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2014-04-09 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Brown, Corrine [D-FL-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To ensure that minority-owned and women-owned businesses have a full and fair opportunity to compete in covered rail projects and contracts, and that the Federal Government does not subsidize discrimination in covered rail projects.

Plain summary

Establishes for the Federal Railroad Administration a program for disadvantaged business enterprises, that is, small business concerns owned or controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (including women). Requires that at least 10% of federal funds for covered rail projects be expended on disadvantaged business enterprises. Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish: (1) a unified certification program that lists disadvantaged business enterprises; (2) minimum uniform criteria for certifying small business concerns; and (3) minimum requirements for covered rail project federal funding recipients to report to the Secretary information on minority-owned and women-owned business awards, commitments, and achievements.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To ensure that minority-owned and women-owned businesses have a full and fair opportunity to compete in covered rail projects and contracts, and that the Federal Government does not subsidize discrimination in covered rail projects.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Corrine [D-FL-5] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong113-hr4439 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113