23 USC § 304 - Participation by small business enterprises

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t23/s304"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "23 USC § 304 - Participation by small business enterprises"
title_number: 23
title_name: "HIGHWAYS"
section_number: "304"
section_name: "Participation by small business enterprises"
chapter_number: 3
chapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 913; Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1104(c)(5), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 427.)"
---


# § 304. Participation by small business enterprises

It is declared to be in the national interest to encourage and develop the actual and potential capacity of small business and to utilize this important segment of our economy to the fullest practicable extent in construction of Federal-aid highways, including the Interstate System. In order to carry out that intent and encourage full and free competition, the Secretary should assist, insofar as feasible, small business enterprises in obtaining contracts in connection with the prosecution of the highway program.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 913; Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1104(c)(5), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 427.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2012— substituted “Federal-aid highways” for “the Federal-aid highway systems”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under .