[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 144 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S13033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     NATIONAL BUSINESS WOMEN'S WEEK

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to the more 
than 9.1 million women business owners nationwide on the occasion of 
National Business Women's Week. This week marks the celebration of the 
71st annual National Business Women's Week.
  On this occasion, advocates for women business owners may have a 
well-deserved sense of pride. I am pleased to be able to report that 
between 1987 and 1999, the number of women-owned businesses increased 
by 103 percent nationwide, employment increased by 320 percent, and 
sales grew by 436 percent. Today, women business owners across the 
country employ more than 27.5 million people and generate in excess of 
$3.6 trillion in sales. These businesses account for 38 percent of all 
U.S. businesses.
  In my home State of Maine, there are more than 48,200 women-owned 
businesses, employing 91,700 people and generating $10.2 billion in 
sales. For Maine's economy, this represents growth of more than 85.3 
percent between 1987 and 1996.
  Mr. President, this data demonstrates just how vital women and women-
owned businesses are to the health of the U.S. economy. Although women-
owned businesses have grown at an astronomical rate, we must continue 
to ensure that women have access to the knowledge and capital necessary 
to start their own businesses.
  That is why I ask that, as we celebrate the tremendous 
accomplishments of women during National Business Women's Week, my 
fellow colleagues join me in supporting opportunities for women to 
become entrepreneurs.
  As a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, I am proud of the 
role the Committee and the Small Business Administration have played in 
providing access to assistance from women entrepreneurs, because many 
of the businesses in this rapidly growing sector are small businesses. 
Just last month, the Committee reported legislation, the Women's 
Business Centers Sustainability Act, that would significantly increase 
funding for the Women's Business Centers Program, which provides women 
with long-term training and counseling in all aspects of owning and 
managing a business--fostering the growth of women's business ownership 
and providing a foundation of basic support to women business owners.

  This program promotes the growth of women-owned businesses by 
sponsoring business training and technical counseling, access to credit 
and capital, and access to marketing opportunities, including Federal 
contracts and export opportunities. Over the past 10 years, the program 
has served tens of thousands of women entrepreneurs by providing them 
with consulting, training, and financial assistance as they seek to 
start or expand their own business. As a result, women are starting new 
firms at twice the rate of all other business, and employ roughly one 
in every five U.S. workers. Today, the program is comprised of nearly 
70 centers in 40 States.
  In my view, creating new opportunities for historically disadvantaged 
groups, such as women and minorities to help provide tangible 
opportunities for economic independence must remain a top priority, and 
National Business Women's Week is a perfect opportunity to focus 
attention on the importance of such efforts.
  In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to the Business 
and Professional Women/USA organization, which has played a pivotal 
role in making the celebration of National Business Women's Week 
possible.
  Since its creation in 1928, National Business Women's Week has been 
sponsored by Business and Professional Women/USA for the purpose of 
recognizing and honoring the achievements of working women.
  Business and Professional Women/USA local organizations across the 
country, and in my state of Maine, will take this week to honor 
outstanding business women and employers of the year, and I would like 
to congratulate them and thank them for their important 
contributions.

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