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Women business owners comprise the fastest growing segment of the U.S. business community totaling an estimated 7.7 million firms contributing more than $1.1 trillion to the economy. The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees the Women's Business Center program run by the Small Business Administration and serves as an advocate for leveling the playing field for women entrepreneurs in the federal contracting arena. The Committee continues to push the Bush Administration to enact the Women's Procurement Program. Enacted into law in 2000, this program creates a set-aside program to help women fairly compete for federal contracts. Women receive only 3.4 percent of federal contract dollars - far short of the five percent goal. Despite repeated bipartisan calls for action, the Bush Administration has failed to implement this program over the last seven years, costing women-owned businesses an estimated $6 billion in lost potential revenue.

The Committee has worked on bipartisan legislation to strengthen the more than 100 Women's Business Centers across the country, streamline paperwork and oversight of the grant process for the Centers, and promote greater consultation with the National Women's Business Council and the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise.

In 2007, the Committee successfully passed legislation to ensure successful Women's Business Centers receive a steady stream of funding and are working with the Small Business Administration to successfully implement the program.

Press Releases
03/14/08	Democrats Secure $100 Million Increase for Small Business Assistance in Budget
02/27/08	Bush Budget Doesn't Reflect Economic Realities for Small Firms
02/04/08	Democrats Decry Bush Administration's Policy For Women Entrepreneurs
02/04/08	Bush Budget a Bust for Small Business
01/30/08	Bush Administration Failing Women Entrepreneurs

Statements
03/19/08	Statement of Senator Kerry for "Women in Business: Leveling the Playing Field" Roundtable
01/30/08	Kerry Opening Statement on Holding the Small Business Administration Accountable: Women’s Contracting and Lender Oversight
09/20/07	Kerry Opening Statement on Expanding Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs.
06/20/07	Kerry Statement on Entrepreneurial Development Act of 2007

Articles
04/14/08	SBA Loans for Women: Women's Procurement Program
04/14/08	Women squeezed by SBA's cash crunch
04/12/08	Women's Business Center Gets SBA Check
04/01/08	Lending Plan Won Prize, but Will It Work Here?
03/20/08	Level playing field? Session aims to boost women entrepreneurs