In May, we told you about some legislation passed by the House Small Business Committee, including one bill creating new Women's Business Centers across the country. Now, we have an update from a blog on Washingtonpost.com. Last week, lawmakers scrutinized the SBA for repeatedly failing to comply with laws aiding women-owned businesses. During the hearing, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) grilled the deputy administrator, saying the agency is sending the message "we're not interested in doing business with women." Velazquez also brought up the fact that the agency still hasn't implemented legislation signed into law seven years ago to help aid women with federal procurement issues. Originally, the SBA had testified that the program would be implemented by September 30, but now it's saying it can't meet that deadline.

At one point, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) asked Anoop Prakash, the associate administrator in the SBA's Office of Entrepreneurial Development, "Do deadlines mean anything [to you]?" Under pressure from Kerry, Prakash agreed that the SBA would implement new legislation that provides permanent funding to the Women's Centers within the next 120 days.