provided on a competitive basis to entities within the Department of Transportation: Provided further, That the limitation in the preceding proviso on operating expenses shall not apply to entities external to the Department of Transportation or for funds provided in Public Law 117–58 : Provided further, That no funds made available by this Act to an agency of the Department shall be transferred to the Working Capital Fund without majority approval of the Working Capital Fund Steering Committee and approval of the Secretary: Provided further, That no assessments may be levied against any program, budget activity, subactivity, or project funded by this Act unless notice of such assessments and the basis therefor are presented to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and are approved by such Committees. SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION AND OUTREACH For necessary expenses for small and disadvantaged business utilization and outreach activities, $5,330,000, to remain available until September 30, 2025: Provided, That notwithstanding section 332 of title 49, United States Code, such amounts may be used for business opportunities related to any mode of transportation: Provided further, That appropriations made available under this heading shall be available for any purpose consistent with prior year appropriations that were made available under the heading Office of the Secretary—Minority Business Resource Center Program . PAYMENTS TO AIR CARRIERS (AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND) In addition to funds made available from any other source to carry out the essential air service program under sections 41731 through 41742 of title 49, United States Code, $348,554,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to remain available until expended: Provided, That in determining between or among carriers competing to provide service to a community, the Secretary may consider the relative subsidy requirements of the carriers: Provided further, That basic essential air service minimum