Norton, Lee, Johnson Announce 11 House Appropriations Bill Reports Direct Federal Agencies to Detail Advertising Contracts with Minorities and Women

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) announced that 11 reports accompanying the House’s fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills include their language directing federal agencies to report on advertising contracts with small disadvantaged businesses and businesses owned by minorities and women in their budget justifications. The members recently joined colleagues in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office on the topic.

“As the largest advertiser in the United States, the federal government has an obligation to ensure fair access for minority and women-owned media companies,” Norton said. “Securing this language in 11 reports will help ensure that federal agencies are striving to reach minorities, who often get their news from outlets that serve more specific communities.”

“As the nation’s largest advertiser, the U.S. government has an obligation to ensure parity among recipients of advertising contracts,” said Lee. “Between 2013 and 2017, just 13% of these federal contracts went to small disadvantaged businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities. I am pleased to announce that 11 our of 12 FY23 House Appropriations Committee bills direct federal agencies to report on advertising contracts with minorities and women, creating greater accountability for the federal government as an employer and promoting equity in federal contracting.”

“Study after study shows the federal government has historically failed to spend federal advertising dollars with Black-owned media and advertising firms, which has led to messaging not being effectively disseminated to the Black community,” said Johnson. “Life-and-death consequences arise when, for instance, Black communities are not effectively messaged about COVID-19 relief funding, the availability of the Paycheck Protection Program, the need for frequent testing, and the efficacy of vaccines. Moreover, Black-owned media and advertising agencies being excluded from federal contracting is a missed opportunity because of the relationships Black-owned media has with Black communities. It is important to me to make sure the vestiges of Jim Crow racism are ended, and every Black media company is treated equitably. I thank Congresswoman Norton and Congresswoman Barbara Lee for our combined efforts to have this language included.”

In 2016, Norton led Members of Congress in requesting a GAO report on federal agencies’ advertising contracts. The report, released in July 2018, showed that in fiscal year 2017, only 16 percent of the federal government’s advertising contract obligations went to businesses owned by minorities and women.