[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       GLOBAL BUSINESSWOMEN'S DAY

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                           HON. JENNIFER DUNN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 19, 1999

  Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, since I was first elected in 1992, I have had 
great pleasure in witnessing the tremendous growth of women in 
business. Women now are starting businesses at twice the rate of men 
and employing more than all of the Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
  In my home State of Washington, there are 188,400 women-owned 
businesses, including part-time firms, employing 509,800 people and 
generating $61.6 billion in sales.
  As Co-Chair with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez for the Congressional 
Circle for the Foundation for Women Legislators, I am pleased to 
designate Tuesday, October 19th as Global Businesswomen's Day. We are 
proud to make this proclamation on the historic occasion of the 
Business Women's Network Global Summit in Washington, DC. It is an 
honor to salute the 1,500 delegates who have come from 97 countries 
around the globe and 47 states spanning the United States. Thanks to 
the Business Women's Network for focusing on diversity; the theme of 
the summit on October 19th is One America, One World.
  Recognizing the importance of businesswomen and the BWN Global 
Summit, we are honored to show congressional recognition of the Global 
Business Women's Summit. How fitting it is that it is also National 
Business Women's Week. This proclamation salutes these women from 
across the globe who are symbols of hard work, dedication, and success 
in the new millennium.
  In partnership, the Businesswomen's Network and the National 
Foundation for Women Legislators have created a strategic alliance: 
2000 by 2000. The goal is to connect 2,000 elected women to work in 
partnership with 2,000 business leaders by the year 2000. Such a 
partnership between women legislators and women business owners has 
never been established. Yet businesswomen are the engines that empower 
women legislators. Think of the synergy--businesswomen and women 
legislators working hand-in-hand toward the common goal of empowering 
women everywhere.
  Another major thrust of the summit is using cutting-edge technology 
to create more business for more women across more borders. By 
connecting globally, women can grow their businesses in new markets 
regardless of the size of their company. Fostering free and fair 
trading practices worldwide is particularly important in my home State 
of Washington, where nearly one in three jobs are trade dependent.

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