IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1134 

Expressing support for the recognition of October as National Women’s 

Small Business Month as a time to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of women entrepreneurs and small business owners, and to support 

efforts to increase awareness of the value of women-owned small businesses. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 26, 2018 

Ms. ADAMS (for herself, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. HASTINGS, 

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mr. EVANS, Mrs. MURPHY

of Florida, Mr. COHEN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. 

CLARKE of New York, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. SCHNEIDER, and Mr. 

ESPAILLAT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Small Business 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the recognition of October as National Women’s Small Business Month as a time to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of women entrepreneurs and small business owners, and to support efforts to increase awareness of the value of women-owned 

small businesses. 

Whereas there are nearly 10,000,000 women-owned small 

businesses in the United States; 


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Whereas women-owned small businesses employ more than 

8,400,000 people, representing 8 percent of the employees in the private sector of the United States; 

Whereas the number of women-owned businesses grew by 45 

percent between 2007 and 2016; 

Whereas 4 out of 10 businesses in the United States are now 

owned by women; 

Whereas 1 in 5 firms with revenue of $1,000,000 or more is 

woman-owned; 

Whereas women-owned small businesses in the United States 

make up 12.1 percent of firms exporting goods internationally; 

Whereas women-owned small businesses in the United States 

generate $1,500,000,000,000 in sales annually; 

Whereas women of color account for 47 percent of all womenowned businesses, employ 2,200,000 people, and generate 

$387,000,000,000 in revenues in the United States; 

Whereas businesses owned by women of color grew by 163 

percent over the last 10 years; 

Whereas, in 2015, women-owned businesses achieved a milestone of receiving 5 percent of Federal contracts, which 

was a goal set more than 20 years prior; 

Whereas 30 years ago on October 25, 1988, the Women’s 

Business Ownership Act of 1988 (Public Law 100–533; 

102 Stat. 2689) was signed into law; 

Whereas the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 

(Public Law 100–533; 102 Stat. 2689)— 

(1) empowered women entrepreneurs by allowing 

them to independently pursue capital; 


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(2) provided Federal assistance to women-owned 

small businesses through demonstration projects under 

the Small Business Administration, a precursor to the 

women’s business center program established in 1997; 

(3) established the National Women’s Business 

Council; and 

(4) required the Census Bureau to report on womenowned C corporations; and 

Whereas women’s entrepreneurship has steadily risen in the 

United States for the last three decades, and womenowned businesses are one of the economic engines of the 

United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the recognition of and 

3 encourages the observance of National Women’s 

4 Small Business Month; 

5 (2) commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 

6 passage of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 

7 1988 (Public Law 100–533; Stat. 2689); 

8 (3) supports efforts to increase awareness of 

9 the value of women-owned small businesses and the 

10 impact on the national economy as well as the 

11 world’s global economy; 

12 (4) celebrates the contributions of women13 owned small businesses and entrepreneurs in every 

14 community; and 

15 (5) recognizes that creating policies which pro16 mote an environment in which women-owned small 


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1 businesses may succeed is key to a stronger and 

2 healthier economy overall, job creation in local com3 munities, and upward economic mobility. 

Æ 


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