III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 57 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of February 13 through 

February 20, 2021, as ‘‘National Entrepreneurship Week’’ to recognize 

the importance and contributions of entrepreneurs and startups to the 

economic prosperity of the United States and the well-being of every 

community across the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of February 13 through February 20, 2021, as ‘‘National Entrepreneurship Week’’ to recognize the importance and 

contributions of entrepreneurs and startups to the economic prosperity of the United States and the wellbeing of every community across the United States. 

Whereas the experiment of self-governance is a profoundly 

entrepreneurial undertaking, grounded in the spirit of 

freedom, adventure, and enterprise; 

Whereas the entrepreneurial spirit, which is the ability, freedom, and courage to strike out on one’s own and build 

something new, is central to the identity of the United 

States and woven into the national consciousness; 


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•SRES 57 IS 

Whereas the United States is a nation of entrepreneurs, with 

small businesses— 

(1) comprising 99 percent of all businesses in the 

United States; and 

(2) employing nearly half of all workers in the 

United States; 

Whereas the Partnership for 21st Century Skills identified financial, economic, business literacy, and entrepreneurship 

skills as the types of skills students need in order to enhance workplace productivity and career opportunities; 

Whereas students who participate in entrepreneurship education programs have better attendance records, perform 

better on core subjects, and have lower drop-out rates 

than those who do not participate in those programs; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has— 

(1) closed hundreds of thousands of new businesses, 

also known as ‘‘startups’’, and small businesses, which 

has disproportionally affected women and people of color; 

and 

(2) destroyed millions of jobs, heightening the urgency of accelerating the post-COVID–19 recovery; 

Whereas research has demonstrated that startups— 

(1) are disproportionately responsible for the innovations that drive gains in productivity, which, in turn, propel economic growth; and 

(2) account for an outsized portion of net new job 

creation in the United States; 

Whereas research has demonstrated that rates of entrepreneurship in the United States have been in decline in recent decades, and that this decline is occurring in all 50 

States and across a broad range of industry sectors; 


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•SRES 57 IS 

Whereas, in the wake of the COVID–19 pandemic, the 

United States has seen an increase in startup applications as individuals in the United States embody the entrepreneurial spirit to respond to the crisis; 

Whereas, given the importance of a thriving entrepreneurial 

spirit to innovation, economic growth, job creation, rising 

wages, and expanding opportunity in the United States, 

the circumstances surrounding the COVID–19 amount to 

an emergency; 

Whereas reversing the decline in entrepreneurship in the 

United States requires changes in public policy; and 

Whereas National Entrepreneurship Week will focus on innovative ways in which innovation, entrepreneurship communities, and policymakers in the United States can 

work together to improve the environment for entrepreneurs in the United States with the aim of— 

(1) reversing the multi-decade decline in entrepreneurship; and 

(2) expanding the rate of participation among 

women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of February 13 through 

3 February 20, 2021, as ‘‘National Entrepreneurship 

4 Week’’; 

5 (2) celebrates the importance of entrepreneurs 

6 and startups to the United States economy; 

7 (3) recognizes the contributions entrepreneurs 

8 make to expand opportunity, provide more inclusive 


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•SRES 57 IS 

1 prosperity, and increase the well-being of every com2 munity across the United States; 

3 (4) affirms the importance and urgency of en4 acting policies that promote, nurture, and support 

5 entrepreneurs and startups; and 

6 (5) encourages Federal, State, and local govern7 ments, schools, nonprofit organizations, and other 

8 civic organizations to observe National Entrepre9 neurship Week annually with special events and ac10 tivities— 

11 (A) to recognize the contributions of entre12 preneurs in the United States; 

13 (B) to teach the importance of entrepre14 neurship to a strong and inclusive economy; and 

15 (C) to take steps to encourage, support, 

16 and celebrate future entrepreneurs. 

Æ 


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