[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 19 (Monday, February 6, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S345-S346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I rise to join my fellow 
Coloradans, my colleagues in the U.S. Congress and others across the 
Nation to celebrate Black History Month. I am honored to recognize the 
contributions of the African-American community in the United States 
and especially in my home State of Colorado.
  I am particularly proud to reflect on the legacy of community 
involvement exemplified by Colorado's Black community, from Colorado's 
earliest days as a western territory to the present. There have been 
many community leaders, public officials, and entrepreneurs who have 
contributed immensely over the years to make our great State what it is 
today, from our historic and cultural institutions, to the farms and 
small businesses of our rural communities.
  One gentleman named James Beckwourth, whom I have recognized in 
previous years as a true frontiersmen, exemplifies the entrepreneurial 
spirit that led to the building of the economic foundations that 
supported the formation of our great State. He led expeditions into 
Colorado's Rocky Mountains in the 1820s and returned in the 1830s to 
serve at Fort Vasquez near Denver. In the 1840s, he co-founded a 
trading post and settlement named Fort Pueblo to serve as a trading hub 
for the Native Americans, Mexican settlers and other American 
frontiersmen along the Santa Fe Trail. This settlement eventually 
became the City of Pueblo and still serves as a commercial hub for 
Southeast Colorado.
  Mr. Beckwourth exemplifies the entrepreneurship that continues to 
thrive in all of Colorado's African-American communities. Today, I 
would like to specifically recognize the importance of the continuation 
of the entrepreneurial spirit in Black communities throughout Colorado 
and share how much it has strengthened Colorado's economy and will 
continue to help lead our country on the path to economic recovery.
  The increase in the number of minority-owned businesses has been a 
bright spot in our economy. According to the Minority Business 
Development Agency (MBDA), operated by the Department of Commerce, 
minority-owned businesses contributed $1 trillion to the economy last 
year and created 5.8 million jobs. Specifically, the total number of 
African-American owned businesses grew to 1.9 million firms between 
2002 and 2007, an increase of 61 percent. This figure is particularly 
impressive when compared to the employment growth in the rest of the 
country during that same time period, which was less than 1 percent.
  In Colorado, the total number of minority-owned firms increased by 19 
percent between 1997 and 2002. By 2007, this figure had increased even 
further as there were over 59,000 firms, employing over 74,000 workers, 
and the numbers continue to grow. African-American-owned businesses are 
an important part of this driving force in our State's economy. Along 
with all other minority-owned businesses, the increase in African-
American owned businesses in Colorado has helped sustain our economy 
and stimulate job growth. The most recent data show there are more than 
9,000 African-American-owned businesses in Colorado. These businesses 
are especially valued in Colorado because they not only provide jobs to 
Coloradans, they also provide essential services that meet the needs of 
both African-American and non-African-American communities. And as we 
know, successful businesses have a positive economic ripple effect 
throughout our communities.
  In spite of the rising number of minority-owned businesses in 
Colorado, barriers to success still exist, and in some cases the 
challenges facing minority-owned businesses can be particularly 
difficult. This is why I was proud to welcome the creation of the 
Denver Minority Business Center last summer. The Denver Minority 
Business Center is an extension of the Minority Business Development 
Agency, and will further supplement our State's commitment to 
supporting minority owned businesses by providing the resources to 
develop technical skills and to access capital and contracting 
opportunities. Within the last 3 years alone the MBDA has helped create 
11,000 new jobs nationally and helped save thousands of existing jobs 
at minority-owned firms by helping secure $7 billion in contracts.
  As we celebrate the diverse and profound contributions of African-
Americans to our State, I hope we will remember to appreciate the 
positive and sustaining impact of African-American owned businesses, 
and I hope we will continue to support the creation of new minority 
owned businesses in all corners of our State. I encourage all 
Coloradans to join me in reflecting on the invaluable contributions of 
African Americans to our State and throughout our great Nation--not 
only during Black History Month, but every month of the year.
  Mr. BEGICH. Madam President, I wish to recognize February as Black 
History Month. Each February our Nation focuses on the contributions 
African Americans have made in shaping our Nation. This year, the 
Association

[[Page S346]]

for the Study of African American Life and History has declared the 
theme for 2012: ``Black Women In American Culture and History.''
  Each year since 1976, the President issues an executive proclamation 
naming February as African American History Month. More than a half 
dozen Federal agencies, including the Library of Congress, conduct 
celebrations, programs, and activities relating to this rich history.
  I join them in recognizing the importance of remembering the 
contributions made by such memorable figures as Rosa Parks, Shirley 
Chisholm, Sojourner Truth and Maya Angelou just to name a few, and our 
country's initial African-American First Lady, Michelle Obama.
  Just as importantly, countless unsung African-American women have 
made a mark in their communities by caring for their families, teaching 
our youth, running successful businesses, serving their churches, and 
getting elected to public office.
  Many African Americans spent their entire lives without getting the 
credit they deserved. By focusing on Black history in February, we can 
give overdue acknowledgement and perhaps inspire our young African 
Americans to continue to achieve greatness.
  In Alaska, African Americans have worked to build our communities 
with their many contributions.
  I urge all Alaskans and other Americans to examine and contemplate 
the significance of the contributions that African-American men and 
women have made in determining the course of these United States of 
America.

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