[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25727]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             CELEBRATING THE ROLE OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 18, 1999

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call my colleague's 
attention to the role of women-owned businesses in our economy, 
particularly in my home State of California. It is with great pride 
that I recognize California as No. 1--both in the number of women 
entrepreneurs and as the fastest growing state for women minority 
entrepreneurs.
  Representing these women in the Business Women's Network (BWN), a 
giant network of 2,300 women's associations representing 32 million 
women. I have joined in the BWN's newly formed congressional committee, 
spearheaded by Chris Warnke and Robin Read, to support businesswomen 
throughout the United States, and I want to recognize the BWN for its 
outstanding record in uniting businesswomen.
  The entire nation will be watching the International Summit of the 
Business Women's Network on October 18 and 19, 1999, where women from 
over 90 countries and from 48 states will come together in celebration 
of the more than 9 million women entrepreneurs today, of which 1.1 
million are minorities.
  The female labor force is making great strides. The Bureau of Labor 
Statistics has projected that 72 million women will be working by the 
year 2005, representing 63 percent of women 16 and older. As the decade 
draws to an end and a new millennium approaches, I want to recognize 
women entrepreneurs as the fastest growing segment in our economy.
  Congratulations to the Business Women's Network on the occasion of 
their International Summit.

                          ____________________