Congresswoman Adams leads Bipartisan Effort to Honor Women Entrepreneurs

Washington D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Vice Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee, and Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (AS-At Large), Chairman of the Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Health and Technology, announced the introduction of a bipartisan resolution honoring women entrepreneurs and the incredible progress women have made the past 30 years since the passage of H.R. 5050 (Public Law 100-533), the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988.

Adams and Aumua Amata introduced this resolution in recognition of National Women's Small Business Month. There are more than 10 million women-owned small businesses that employ more than 8.4 million people in the United States. Women-owned businesses contribute $1.5 trillion in annual revenue and represent the fastest growing category of small businesses. The resolution is endorsed by the National Women's Business Council (NWBC), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

"Women entrepreneurs are the backbones of North Carolina's economy. Here at home and across the nation, women and their enterprises create millions of jobs and contribute more than a trillion dollars to our national economy", said Congresswoman Adams. It is the responsibility of every legislator to ensure that women entrepreneurs have the tools and resources they need to continue growing. That is why I introduced this bipartisan effort that gives a voice to women-owned businesses in Congress.

"Small business growth is the life blood of remote and rural communities, such as in my home of American Samoa" said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. "I'm proud to cosponsor this resolution to recognize the hard work that women entrepreneurs do in strengthening the United States economy. As Chairman of the Health and Technology Subcommittee, I'll continue to work for America's small businesses so that we are always at the forefront of innovation. I want to thank Congresswoman Adams for her leadership on this shared priority."

"The National Women's Business Council and its member organizations, The National Association of Women Business Owners and The Women's Business Enterprise National Council, are thrilled to hear of the introduction of H. Res. 1134 to recognize October as National Women's Small Business Month and commemorate the 30th Anniversary of H.R. 5050, the Women's Business Ownership Act," said The National Women's Business Council and its member organizations. "This crucial legislation established the Council and ensured that women across the country could independently obtain business loans. Thirty years following its inception, the Council remains committed, and invigorated, to continuing to serve as the federal government's only independent voice for our nation's 10 million women business owners."

Co-Sponsors: Ranking Member Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Al Lawson, Jr. (D-FL), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Stephanie N. Murphy (D-FL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), David Scott (D-GA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY).

Find the Resolution here.