[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 27583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS WEEK

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize National 
Women's Business Week, a series of national events held recently to 
recognize and celebrate women entrepreneurship.
  Women now own 38 percent of all businesses in this country, and it 
has been reported that half of all new businesses started today are 
started by women. In my home state of Texas alone, there are now 
627,300 woman-owned businesses employing 1.8 million people and 
generating $222 billion in annual sales, a growth of 157 percent over 
the last seven years.
  As a former small business owner, I know it is no easy feat to 
develop a business plan, generate the necessary start-up and operating 
capital, and make a payroll when you start a business. As if all those 
economic hurdles were not enough, small business owners in this country 
must comply with literally hundreds of local, state, and federal 
licensure, regulatory, and tax laws and requirements.
  That tens of thousands of small businesses do get started in this 
country every year is truly a testament to the vision and hard work of 
so many Americans, especially American women. Women like Patricia 
Pliego Stout, owner of the Alamo Travel Group, headquartered in San 
Antonio. Ms. Pliego Stout has grown a small travel business into the 
fourth largest agency in San Antonio. In recognition of her 
achievements and, as importantly, her encouragement and support of 
other women entrepreneurs in Texas, Ms. Pliego Stout was recently 
appointed to the National Women's Business Council, which promotes the 
goal of woman business ownership.
  There are countless other success stories, as well. Unfortunately, 
there are also far too many stories of lack of access to adequate 
capital, of inability to break into established government and 
contracting networks, and other problems that continue to hamper women 
as they seek to become financially independent and to contribute to 
their greater economy and community.
  As a United States Senator, I have worked hard to break down some of 
these barriers, and to open more opportunities to more people of all 
backgrounds and talents. In particular, I was proud to have been able 
to lead the effort in Congress to establish a 5 percent federal 
government-wide contracting goal for woman-owned small businesses. In 
addition, I have worked to expand such successful federal efforts as 
the Women's Business Centers program, which helps women with those 
critical first steps of starting a business. In addition, of assistance 
to all small businesses, including a disproportionate number of woman-
owned businesses, I have worked to limit the federal government 
procurement practice of ``bundling'' contracts, which can also leave 
newly-formed firms out of the contracting game.
  Mr. President, I again congratulate the women in Texas and across the 
nation who every day continue to overcome obstacles and who create 
success, jobs, and wealth through their sheer determination and energy. 
The events and activities of National Women's Business Week are 
evidence that women business ownership is alive and well, to the 
betterment of us all.

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