Women's Business Development Act of 1991
Public Law 102-191 · H.R. 2629 · 102nd Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 5, 1991 · Commerce
Sponsor: Rep. John LaFalce (D-NY-32)
Cosponsors (34): Rep. Arthur Ravenel, Rep. Jim Ramstad,
Passage votes
- HouseUnanimous consent
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Women's Business Development Act of 1991 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide financial assistance to private organizations to conduct three-year demonstration projects for small business concerns owned and controlled by women. Conditions such assistance on the recipient organization's agreement to obtain cash contributions from non-Federal sources according to certain guidelines.
Authorizes appropriations to implement the demonstration projects. Requires the SBA to report annually to certain congressional committees on the efficacy of such demonstration projects.
Repeals the fiscal year limitation on specified loans to small business concerns (thus permanently authorizing the small loan program).
Amends the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 to provide that the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the National Women's Business Council shall be a representative of either the public or private sector, and shall serve a maximum two-year term. Prohibits: (1) consecutive terms to the same office; (2) consecutive Chairperson designees from the public sector; and (3) the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from being from the same sector concurrently.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.
- Dec 5, 1991Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-191.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 25, 1991PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Nov 21, 1991Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. LaFalce asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
- Nov 20, 1991FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 1363 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Oct 15, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
- Oct 8, 1991FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. LaFalce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 31, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Small Business Committee
- Jul 25, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Small Business Committee
- Jun 12, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Small Business Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.