Raleigh — Rep. Michael H. Wray (D-Northampton) has been appointed by House Speaker Joe Hackney to serve on the Joint Legislative Commission on the Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Businesses Program.
The commission oversees a Department of Transportation program established to encourage and promote participation by disadvantaged minority-owned and women-owned businesses in highway contracts. The program is a part of a coordinated effort to eliminate barriers that prevent equal employment opportunities, especially among historically underused businesses. The commission monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of the Department of Transportation’s program. It also reviews the program’s strategies and makes recommendations to improve the program. This past Session, the General Assembly appropriated $1.8 billion for transportation.
“I am pleased to be appointed to the Joint Legislative Commission on the Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Businesses Program,” Rep. Wray said. “It is critical that barriers that prevent equal employment opportunities are eliminated.”
At least every five years, the department conducts a study on the use of disadvantaged minority and women-owned businesses in state highway contracts. These contracts include, but are not limited to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of state highways, roads and bridges. If the department finds any evidence of discrimination, it implements a program to reverse and prevent such discrimination. The department reports quarterly to the commission on the progress and achievements of the program.
Rep. William Wainwright and Sen. Charlie Dannelly will co-chair the 10-member committee, which includes 5 members of the Senate. Other House members are Reps. Pete Cunningham, Lucy T. Allen, and Earline Parmon.