[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATING ALLISON BECKWITH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JENNIFER DUNN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 13, 1998

  Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
congratulate Allison Beckwith for her winning entry in the National 
Business Plan Competition. Ms. Beckwith, who hails from Redmond, 
Washington, is one of five young women whose business plan was selected 
by women business owners to receive this distinguished award. She will 
be recognized at the Women's Economic Summit during the Young 
Entrepreneur Awards luncheon on Thursday, October 15.
  Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud of Ms. Beckwith and her 
achievement. In her business plan, Ms. Beckwith envisions an online 
``catazine'' (catalog and magazine combined) venture through which 
teenagers can buy merchandise and read articles written by other 
teenagers. This entrepreneurial spirit is one of the reasons why women 
are starting businesses at twice the rate of men and are a powerful and 
growing economic force in the global marketplace.
  I also applaud Independent Means, Inc., sponsor of the National 
Business Plan Competition, for giving young teenage women the 
opportunity to turn their dreams of starting a business into reality. 
By engaging girls in entrepreneurship with female role models and 
placing an emphasis on the importance of economic self-sufficiency, 
Independent Means helps thousands of young girls become independent 
women.
  When girls are given the tools and information they need to make 
informed decisions, they will act responsibly. I believe that we must 
continue to invest in teaching and inspiring young women in America--
for they are our future.
  On behalf of the Eighth Congressional District in Washington State, I 
again congratulate Ms. Beckwith for her outstanding accomplishment and 
wish her much success in her future pursuits.

                          ____________________