[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H927-H929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to celebrate 
Women's History Month, today we have gotten together, both my colleague 
and friend, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) and I, who are 
cochairs of the Women's Caucus on Women-Owned Businesses, to come 
tonight to speak on women-owned businesses. I am pleased that such a 
strong showing of Members will be coming forth to speak on this issue.
  The gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) and I, in cochairing the 
Women-Owned Businesses Caucus, had, for the first time ever, a women's 
caucus hearing on woman-owned businesses on September 25 of last year. 
In that hearing, a lot of things were revealed. We delved into the 
problems facing women-owned businesses and explored the obstacles that 
these women continue to face in trying to obtain contracts with the 
Federal Government.
  Current procurement rates to women-owned businesses is 1.8 percent. 
The Federal goal is 5 percent. This was a concern of ours, and as we 
began to probe, we wanted to get down to the real issue as to why 
women, who are making up the largest growth of jobs and growth of 
businesses, were unable to get the Federal procurement goal of 5 
percent.
  The hearing further brought up the problems of the lack of access to 
the Federal contracting process, the bundling of contracts, the need 
for more outreach to women business owners, poor and incomplete 
feedback provided to businesses when their bids are not accepted, and 
frustration in the certification process.

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  The certification process was one particular concern of ours. Thus, 
our introduction of House Resolution 313. This resolution was 
introduced so that we can begin to recommend to agencies that they make 
a part of their outreach information on contracting practices and 
opportunities readily available to women-owned businesses and recommend 
the ``Rule of One'' where at least one woman-owned business is 
solicited on all competitive acquisitions.
  We would also like to mention that the Clinton Administration 
supports doubling the funding from $4 million to $9 million for SBA 
women's business centers, and then, in addition to that, funding the 
Census Bureau's Survey of Women-Owned Businesses. We must ensure that 
women-owned businesses get the type of support that they need in order 
for their growth as well as their opportunities to expand.
  I would also like to congratulate the SBA for launching a new 
initiative for women entrepreneurs, the On-Line Women's Business 
Center, which helps women start and expand their businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, the statistics are really exciting. In California, from 
1987 to 1996, the number of women-owned businesses have grown by 78 
percent, employment has increased by 255 percent, and sales have grown 
by 313 percent. California ranks first out of 50 States in the number 
of women-owned businesses, first in employment and first in sales.
  So as my colleagues can imagine, we are excited about women-owned 
businesses and are really eager to ensure that the women get their 
rightful 5 percent Federal contract procurement, procurement contracts, 
so that they can continue to expand and grow as we look at women who 
are coming off of welfare-to-work and are in need for strong support 
from women-owned businesses for entrepreneurship and other ventures 
that they might enjoy.
  There are now approximately 8 million women-owned businesses 
providing jobs for 15.5 million people and generating nearly $1.4 
trillion in sales. We are absolutely ahead of the game in ensuring that 
women-owned businesses are out there to ensure that jobs are created 
for women and to provide the type of leadership that is necessary for 
women to go into business.
  In the 37th District of California, women-owned businesses are 
generating $105 billion in sales in the Los Angeles-Long Beach 
metropolitan area. This area ranks second out of the top 50 
metropolitan areas in the number, employment and sales of women-owned 
businesses.


                           general statistics

  There are now approximately eight million women-owned businesses, 
providing jobs for 15.5 million people and generating nearly $1.4 
trillion in sales. Women-owned businesses now employ 35% more people in 
the U.S. than the Fortune 500 companies employ worldwide.
  Between 1987 and 1996, the number of minority women-owned businesses 
increased by 153%, which is three times the rate of overall business 
growth in the U.S. The rate of employment by minority businesses grew 
by 276% and revenues rose by 318%.
  Between 1987 and 1996, women-owned businesses grew by 171% in 
construction; by 157% in wholesale trade; by 140% in transportation/
communications; by 130% in agriculture; and by 112% in manufacturing.
  Between 1987 and 1996, minority women-owned businesses grew by 319% 
in construction; by 276% in wholesale trade; and by 253% in 
transportation/communications/public utilities.


                    organizations you could commend

  Small Business Administration--Aida Alverez.
  Office of Women's Business Ownership within SBA--Sherrye Henry.
  National Women's Business Council--Amy Millman.
  National Association of Women Business Owners--Susan Peterson.
  Women's Business Enterprise National Council--Susan Bari.


      organizations helping women business owners in/near the 37th

  Women's Business Exclusive in Torrance.
  Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.
  Los Angeles County Office of Small Business.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Women's Month, to 
pay tribute to the contribution that women-owned businesses make to our 
economy.
  Carolyn Sanchez Crozier founded CSC Consulting six years ago. An 
Hispanic American, she employs over 25 people--mostly women and people 
of color. She has won recognition from the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) and the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
  Deborah Sawyer, African American founder of a multi-million 
environmental engineering company, employing over a dozen women and 
people of color, was just inducted into the Entrepreneurial Hall of 
Fame. And Ida Hinman, publisher of Minority Entrepreneur, was just 
named the SBA Minority Advocate of 1998.
  What do these businesses have in common?
  They are all women business owners, vitally involved in the fastest 
growing segment of our U.S. economy, AND they are clients and 
supporters of the Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) in 
Chicago, IL.
  Over 2,000 women a year have benefitted from the programs of the 
Women's Business Development Center in Chicago. And tens of thousands 
of women business owners have grown and thrived with the advocacy 
support of the National Women's Business Council and local women's 
business assistance programs like the WBDC.
  Based in Chicago, the WBDC successfully serves women starting and 
expanding their companies with counseling, training, financial 
assistance, certification, procurement and advocacy on women's economic 
empowerment. The programs of the Chicago-based Center are effective, 
and benefit a diverse group of women and their families. The programs 
emphasize micro enterprise development for women transitioning off 
welfare, as well as business development and expansion and job creation 
for growing businesses.
  The U.S. economy is strengthened by the expansion of women's business 
development nationally. In the Chicago metropolitan area, women-owned 
businesses represent 37 percent of all firms and employ 22 percent of 
all workers. During 1996, over 225,000 women-owned firms generated more 
than $96 billion in sales in the Chicago area.
  With funding from the U.S. SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership 
and other public and private sector support, the WBDC and women's 
business assistance centers throughout the United States continue to 
make a vital contribution. These programs serve my constituents by 
offering quality programs that leverage scarce resources into 
successful job creation, new business startups, and business expansion. 
These Centers are dedicated to promoting economic self-sufficiency 
programs.
  Women business owners are making history in the United States. It is 
appropriate that we salute and pay honor to them during Women's History 
Month.
  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay special 
tribute to a woman business owner in my district who is a shining 
example of the dramatic impact that women business owners are having on 
our economy. In the state of Connecticut there are approximately 
104,000 women-owned businesses. This female entrepreneurship accounts 
for 35 percent of all firms in the state of Connecticut, employing 23 
percent of all Connecticut workers.
  In June 1985, Betsy Perkins and her husband Jack opened the doors of 
Perkins Travel. Betsy, a former executive in American Express' travel 
division, had always wanted to be a business owner. She found herself 
ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship when all of her children 
went off to college. One of her sons had unknowingly provided her with 
this golden opportunity when he chose to attend the Naval Academy. His 
decision gave his parents the financial flexibility to strike out on 
their own, and Perkins Travel was born.
  While Betsy maintained close ties to her old company, Perkins Travel 
struggled in its early years. Betsy called on many corporate executives 
who were concerned that her new company could not handle their $3 
million dollar a year travel budgets. But, Betsy saw a need in the 
community and set out to fill it with determination. Perkins Travel 
created a niche serving small- and medium-sized companies that the 
large travel agents were not serving. By offering an unprecedented 
level of service, such as ticket deliveries 7 days a week/24 hours a 
day, she enticed clients and became essential to their business.
  However, Betsy remained committed to working with the community and 
developed a division to work with senior citizens and school groups to 
promote culture and the arts. Most recently, she was contacted by a 
local high school drama club. A teacher wanted to take his students to 
New York to see a Broadway show on a shoestring budget. Once again, 
through Betsy's determination, she was able to make this opportunity a 
reality for the drama club.
  One of the greatest testaments to Betsy's success is the stability 
that her business has brought to her workforce. Perkins Travel now

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has 17 employees, 4 of which were with her when the business opened its 
doors in 1985. Indeed, since that time only 2 employees have left to 
pursue other opportunities. Over the years, Betsy has also lent her 
support to other business owners by counseling and mentoring 
innumerable men and women about starting a business. Some have gone on 
to open successful businesses while some decided entrepreneurship was 
not for them. Unfortunately, Betsy notes that she has watched many of 
the women go on to struggle the way she did in her early years.
  When I asked Betsy what drove her to be an entrepreneur, she replied 
``I didn't want to leave the earth wondering if I could do it.'' I 
applaud her pioneering spirit and that of the 8 million women business 
owners who have taken risks to secure the financial future for 
themselves, their families and the American economy. These women 
deserve our tribute during Women's History Month because they are 
actively shaping the world for our daughters and granddaughters.

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