Title: 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.
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Expresses support for the recognition of, and encourages the observance of, National Women's Small Business Month.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1134 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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. Velazquez, 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;
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 women-owned 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;

    (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 women-owned C corporations; 
and

Whereas women's entrepreneurship has steadily risen in the United States for the 
        last three decades, and women-owned businesses are one of the economic 
        engines of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the recognition of and encourages 
        the observance of National Women's Small Business Month;
            (2) commemorates the 30th anniversary of the passage of the 
        Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-533; 
        Stat. 2689);
            (3) supports efforts to increase awareness of the value of 
        women-owned small businesses and the impact on the national 
        economy as well as the world's global economy;
            (4) celebrates the contributions of women-owned small 
        businesses and entrepreneurs in every community; and
            (5) recognizes that creating policies which promote an 
        environment in which women-owned small businesses may succeed 
        is key to a stronger and healthier economy overall, job 
        creation in local communities, and upward economic mobility.
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