[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 114 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9031-S9032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN'S DAY

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize September 
22 as American Business Women's Day. On this day in 1949, the American 
Business Women's Association (ABWA) was founded as a support 
organization for women either entering or already in the workforce. The 
ABWA was founded by Mr. Hilary A. Bufton, Jr., a Missouri business 
owner who realized the positive economic impact women can have in the 
workplace.
  American Business Women's Day won national attention after passage of 
a congressional resolution in 1983 and 1986, and President Ronald 
Reagan issued a proclamation granting it official recognition. Today, 
American Business Women's Day gives every American an opportunity to 
recognize the vital contributions women are making to this nation.
  Women have long played a vital role in America's workforce. As 
scientists, elected officials, presidents of companies, and small 
business owners, in every job category in every profession upon which 
this nation depends, women take key roles in all facets of business. 
Some 27.5 million women work in the 9.1 million women-owned businesses 
in the United States, representing 38 percent of all businesses and 
generating over $3.6 trillion in annual sales. Consisting of nearly 48 
percent of the overall workforce in the United States, more than 61 
million

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working women continue to prove their excellence with the positive 
influence they have on America's growing economy.
  These women are rightly concerned about the critical issues in 
Congress that affect their ability to work and provide for their 
families, at the same time they are often trying to balance the 
competing demands of business and family. The tax burden, for example, 
imposes a marriage penalty on women who choose to get married, which in 
turn often forces both spouses to take jobs just to meet their annual 
tax obligations. And that, of course, ultimately forces families to 
spend less time together. The estate tax, or ``death tax,'' severely 
limits the ability of a business owner to pass along her business to 
her children, and often results in that business having to be sold upon 
her death. Social Security discriminates against women, especially 
those who are forced to return to the workforce after the death of a 
spouse, or who choose to work part time while raising a family. 
Obsolete federal laws restrict the ability of employers to offer 
flexible working arrangements. For example, a week in which a working 
mother must stay home with a sick child cannot legally be ``balanced'' 
with the hours of the following week, when a lighter home schedule 
means a worker could spend extra hours on the job.
  At the urging of thousands of Minnesota's working women, these are 
concerns I have worked hard to address. We have made progress--the $500 
per-child tax credit I authored is helping ease the family tax burden--
but much work remains.
  The American Business Women's Association has recognized 10 
influential women each year since 1953 for their stellar achievements 
and contributions to the American work force. I am proud to mention 
that Ms. Leslie Hall from Rochester, MN, is one of the 10 finalists for 
the year 2001. Ms. Hall is an associate of clinical microbiology at the 
Mayo Clinic, who was recognized in 1998, for her scientific work in 
mycology as the recipient of the Billy H. Cooper Memorial Award. I 
congratulate her for her many achievements.
  Mr. President, I am honored to be able to stand here today and pay 
tribute to every woman in my home state of Minnesota and across America 
who has contributed to our nation's economic prosperity and innovation. 
They have my sincere thanks.

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