[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S8628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I would like to engage the 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations 
in a brief colloquy concerning funding for the National Education 
Center for Women in Business at Seton Hill College.
  Mr. President, in the decade between 1982 and 1992, women-owned 
businesses grew substantially, increasing by over 55 percent between 
1987 and 1992 alone. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's women business 
owners helped make this happen, as my state ranks sixth in the nation 
in the number of firms owned by women. These firms contributed over 
290,000 jobs to my state's economy. The Center conducts collaborative 
research, provides educational programs and curriculum development, and 
serves as a information clearinghouse for women entrepreneurs. I have 
heard only good things about the Center's work in the promotion of 
women business ownership, both in the Commonwealth and across the 
nation.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I must echo the comments of my colleague 
from Pennsylvania with respect to the National Education Center for 
Women in Business, which provides invaluable services to women from all 
over this country to encourage the establishment and growth of 
businesses. The Center's programs are truly in the national interest 
and as a member of the Appropriations Committee I have been pleased to 
work with my colleague, Senator Santorum, and Congressman Mascara in 
support of the Center and its funding needs. The federal funds we have 
sought are necessary to bring the Center to a position of self-
sufficiency where it can operate solely with private funds in the 
future.
  Mr. SANTORUM. The Center has received funds in five previous 
Commerce-State-Justice appropriations bills through the Small Business 
Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership and, as 
originally envisioned, it was to receive $5 million in federal funds 
over five years. The fiscal year 1997 appropriations bill for the SBA 
included $500,000 for the Center, which leaves $500,000 in federal 
funds that are needed to complete the total $5 million federal 
contribution to the establishment of the Center. I understand that the 
Small Business Administration would generally continue the program 
through the next cycle, even though it is not specifically listed in 
the bill, as the Center has been successful in its mission on behalf of 
women in business. Would the distinguished Chairman of the Subcommittee 
be willing to work with Senator Specter and me to examine options for 
allocating funds for the National Education Center for Women in 
Business?
  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I thank the Senators from Pennsylvania for 
highlighting the work of this program and its funding history. Since 
the Small Business Administration funded the program in fiscal year 
1997, I assume they will wish to continue funding in fiscal year 1998 
for the Center. The absence of report language should not prevent the 
agency from providing funding in the next fiscal year.

                          ____________________