[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4319]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud the Minority 
Business Development Agency on its 45th anniversary.
  The Minority Business Development Agency was established by executive 
order on March 5, 1969, and has worked to promote the growth and global 
competitiveness of a critical segment of the U.S. economy, the minority 
business community. Through their nationwide network of MBDA Business 
Centers, the MBDA has helped minority firms access contracts, capital, 
and enter market opportunities, both domestic and global.
  Over the last 5 years specifically, this assistance has provided 
minority firms access to nearly $20 billion in contracts and capital. I 
thank the MBDA for all it has accomplished over the last 45 years, 
especially the work at the Memphis MBDA Business Center in Tennessee 
Nine, my congressional district in Memphis, Tennessee.
  In the coming years, the growth of America's workforce will come from 
minorities, and we need strong minority businesses to achieve maximum 
economic growth. I am certain the MBDA will lead the Nation to 
achieving our full potential.

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