[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E153-E154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUCY McBATH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 15, 2024

  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National 
Entrepreneurship Week. During Black History Month, I am proud to 
recognize and celebrate the achievements of Black small business owners 
and champion solutions that will build on the progress that has been 
made.
  Thanks to historic federal investments through the American Rescue 
Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction 
Act, Black business ownership is growing at its fastest pace in 30 
years and Black wealth is up 60% from prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
While we celebrate these historic gains, it is important to recognize 
the challenges that Black small business owners still face when seeking 
access to credit. According to the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity, 
Black-owned businesses are three times more likely to be labeled a 
higher credit risk than non-Black counterparts, and 72 percent of 
businesses use personal savings to overcome difficulties accessing 
credit from other sources.
  Business owners in my district have experienced these barriers. Che 
Houston, the ``Macaron Maven of Atlanta'' and owner of Che Rene 
Macarons & More, has herself experienced difficulty securing financing 
for her growing business. Despite these challenges, Che's business has 
continued to grow at a rapid pace. Last year, she earned recognition as 
OUT Georgia Business Alliance's New Business of the Year, and she 
continues to serve as an Ambassador for OUT Georgia Business Alliance 
where she assists new members in Food and Beverage startups. She is 
also a stakeholder with the Russell Innovation Center for 
Entrepreneurs.
  Here in Congress, I am fighting for solutions that will eliminate 
barriers that business owners like Che face when developing and growing 
their small businesses. And back home, I am committed to sharing 
federal resources that have been made possible through the historic 
investments from the Biden-Harris Administration. I urge my colleagues 
to consider additional solutions to help our entrepreneurs thrive. 
Together, we can champion solutions that invigorate our communities and 
strengthen our economy.

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