[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6441, the 
Women's Business Centers Improvement Act, to amend the Small Business 
Act and improve the Women's Business Centers program.
  The Women's Business Centers Improvement Act reauthorizes the WBC 
program for four years, increases the authorization level from $18 
million annually to $31.5 million, and increases the cap on individual 
center grants for the first time since the program began.
  The bill also establishes an accreditation program run by the 
Association of Small Business Development Centers to ensure all WBCs 
provide excellent service and counseling and will increase access to 
resources and opportunities for female entrepreneurs across the 
country.
  WBCs help women succeed in business by providing training, mentoring, 
business development, and financing opportunities.
  Compared to men, women comprise a smaller percentage of entrepreneurs 
and start fewer businesses in the United States. Currently, only 24.5 
percent of startups in their first two years are owned by women, 
according to the American Survey of Entrepreneurs.
  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the changing face of employment has 
seen a lot of people go into business for themselves. Women are part of 
the entrepreneurial trend in Houston. Nationally, Houston ranks fourth 
in the number of women-owned businesses.
  In the metro area, more than half (252,000) of businesses are 
minority-owned and 40 percent (172,000) are women-owned.
  Houston is a place where community members take pride in their homes 
and businesses, and when faced with challenges, like Hurricane Harvey 
in 2017, they come together in their determination to move forward.
  Despite these strengths, disparities prevent minorities and women 
from fully participating in wealth-building through small business 
ownership.
  These challenges are not unique to Houston: nationally, women and 
minorities face disproportional barriers to starting and sustaining 
businesses.
  Women and minority business owners are not reaching the size of their 
male and non-minority peers.
  The expansion of funding outlined in H.R. 6441 will be pivotal to the 
success of women-owned businesses as they continue to grow, giving 
women the resources to reach their full potential.
   Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill because we 
must support the women entrepreneurs of our great Nation.

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