Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group Introducing Bill to Support Women Entrepreneurs

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing bipartisan legislation to help increase support for female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses. The Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise Act would reauthorize the Interagency Committee for Women’s Business Enterprise (ICWBE) to help coordinate federal resources to encourage the formation, growth, and success of women-owned businesses.

“Small businesses are the foundation of our nation’s economy, creating good-paying jobs in communities across the country. As we emerge from the public health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic, they need our support more than ever,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise, which supports women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs by providing them with the information and resources they need to succeed.”

The ICWBE was established in 1979, and its work was critical to the efforts of several federal agencies and departments to develop policies to assist women business owners. The Interagency Committee was maintained through both Democratic and Republican administrations, but has been inactive since 2000 with no chairperson to operate it. The efforts to better coordinate federal resources ensure that women entrepreneurs receive the assistance they need to help start and grow their business enterprises.

The legislation is supported by the Women Veterans Business Coalition (WVBC), Small Business Majority, Center for American Entrepreneurship, Women Construction Owners and Executives (WCOEUSA), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), GovEvolve, and HUBZone Contractors National Council.

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