Document ymkkyrdmVM0eNQG3rxkpQ5Lm6

PETE SESSIONS 17TH DISTRICT, TEXAS COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY CHAIRMAN SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, THE BORDER, AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE ON CAPITAL MARKETS SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS (tongre55 of the itiniteb gptate5 jtiouot of tepregentatibo agbington, 713e 20515-4317 April 17, 2025 O 2204 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515-4317 202) 225-6105 0 AUSTIN AVENUE, SUITE 302 Waco, TX 76701-2139 (254) 633-4500 O 901 NORMAL PARK DRIVE, SUITE 208 HUNTSVILLE, TX 77320-3770 (936) 755-7770 ID 300 EAST SHEPHERD AVENUE, SUITE 210 LUFKIN. TX 75902-3252 (936) 219-6450 O 3034 RAGUET STREET NACOGDOCHES, TX 75965-2852 (936) 585-7959 Hannah Matesic Deputy Assistant Secretary Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Hannah. I am writing on behalf of a contractor within my district to inquire about the Department's position and actions regarding the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program as it applies to FHWA-funded contracts. I have been made aware that DBE - goals" included in TxDOT-administered projects function in practice as requirements-effectively forcing subcontract awards based on race or gender rather than merit or value. This approach distorts the federal procurement process, raises project costs, and discriminates against qualified firms solely because they do not meet DBE classifications. Given the Administration's directive to roll back DEI mandates, I would like to know what steps the DOT has taken to reassess or rescind DBE employment consideration enforcement. A recent federal injunction (Byrum v. USDOT, 2024) raises serious constitutional questions about the program's legality, and I believe this moment provides an opportunity to restore a merit-based contracting framework. Please contact Albert Mercer on my legislative staff via email at albert.mercer@mail.house.gov or (b)(6) Additionally, I can be reached at eagleapetesessions.com or (b)(6) S- ons mber of Congress OST-2025-1200 Page 01939 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Sierra Club v. Dept. of Transp. - 3:25-cv-06221 SC_EVERSPLIT0027820