[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    VERMONT WOMAN WINS NATIONAL HONOR FOR HELPING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2006

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, for almost two decades Janet Bullard has 
been the program manager and office manager for the Vermont Commission 
on Women. Her tireless and inspired work for the Commission, work done 
for the betterment of the conditions in which women in the State of 
Vermont live and for the expansion of opportunities available to women, 
has recently been recognized by a signal honor.
  On April 12 in Washington, DC, Janet Bullard was recognized by the 
Small Business Administration as the National Women in Business 
Champion of the Year. The competition for this award was nationwide. 
Janet first won the Vermont State award, then the New England Regional 
Award, and finally prevailed over a group of remarkably qualified women 
nationally. The SBA's award is bestowed on a person who has been an 
advocate for the women-owned business community, who has expanded the 
business and financial opportunities for women, and who has helped 
strengthen the role played by business owners in the community.
  Janet, a resident of Chelsea, Vermont, has worked for the Vermont 
Commission of Women for 19 years, almost half of its existence. 
Established in 1964 by Governor Phil Hoff, the Commission has been an 
advocate for women and their rights and opportunities for 42 years. It 
consistently, and with great success, has been the primary advocate in 
the State of Vermont for the economic, social and political equality of 
women.
  Janet Bullard has championed the rights of women, opened new doors 
for women, helped bring women together so that they can learn and 
strategize and about how to succeed in an economic world formerly 
dominated almost exclusively by men. And her involvement is concrete 
and financial as well: she has helped women get loans so they can 
establish businesses. In addition, for the last 10 years she has also 
worked to get funding for Vermont domestic violence and sexual assault 
programs.
  Society changes more through dedicated work than through speeches, 
more by enduring commitments than by public appearances. For 19 years, 
Janet Bullard has worked tirelessly--a labor of love--to improve the 
status and business opportunities of women in the State of Vermont. Her 
dedication, and her remarkable ability to get things done, has left its 
mark on generations of women in our State.

  I want to call particular attention to her work with Vermont's 
community action agencies, her unceasing effort to develop ways to help 
women start businesses with the aid of micro-loans. She has helped, 
time and again, leverage State and independent organization funds, and 
Federal funds, to help women--and especially low-income women--get a 
start in business.
  Here is how Wendy Love, Executive Director of the Vermont Commission 
on Women described Janet's work the other day: ``Janet has an 
outstanding history with the Commission for almost 20 years, and has 
shown great dedication to the Commission and to helping women. She has 
really been a major voice for women's economic opportunity in Vermont. 
Every time we talk about doing something, she is five steps ahead. 
Janet has been a glue, helping bind together the folks who work at the 
community action agencies in micro-business development, and the people 
who work for the Federal Government at the Small Business Development 
Center.''
  We in Vermont are delighted with the honor bestowed upon Janet 
Bullard: It is richly deserved.

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