III 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 304 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 25, 2017 Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Ms. Hirono ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that entrepreneurship on the part of minority women-owned businesses should be fully supported and encouraged.

Whereas the number of women-owned small businesses increased by 3,500,000 from 2007 to 2016; Whereas, for every 10 women-owned businesses launched since 2007, 8 were started by women of color; Whereas women are now majority owners of 38 percent of all businesses in the United States; Whereas there are currently almost 5,000,000 minority women-owned small businesses; Whereas minority women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States; Whereas African-American women own fully 49 percent of all African-American-owned businesses; Whereas Latina-owned firms employ 550,400 workers; Whereas there are currently 922,700 Asian-American women-owned small businesses; Whereas Native American and Alaska Native women-owned small businesses generated $10,500,000,000 in revenues; and Whereas the number of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women-owned small businesses more than doubled between 2007 and 2016: Now, therefore, be it