Meng bill would revive committee promoting women-owned businesses

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U.S. Rep. Grace Meng wants to revive a federal agency that would provide support to women-owned businesses. Photo via Twitter.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng wants to revive a federal agency that would provide support to women-owned businesses. Photo via Twitter.

By Jonathan Sperling

A defunct federal agency aimed at supporting women-owned business may be revived thanks to a bipartisan bill introduced by a Queens congressmember.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, whose district includes a large swath of Central and Eastern Queens, wants to bring back the Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise, a U.S. government entity that coordinates federal resources to help women-owned businesses prosper.

The ICWBE was first established in 1979 and led several federal agencies in the development of policies to help women entrepreneurs flourish, but it became inactive in 2000. No other federal agency has had the authority to help coordinate federal resources for women-owned businesses since then.

“Getting the ICWBE back to functioning status would help increase the ability of the federal government to provide targeted assistance to women entrepreneurs so they can achieve their business goals,” Meng said. “Helping women business owners is vital to ensuring a strong economy and creating jobs, and my bill would make sure they have access to critical government tools that help them start, grow, and sustain their business enterprises. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.”

Meng’s bill to revive the agency, H. R. 4569, is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Rep. Aumua Amata (R-AS) and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).

The Queens Economic Development Corporation, which promotes business development throughout the borough, has also expressed its support for Meng’s bill.

“Small business is the economic engine of Queens County, with over 45,000 businesses that have fewer than 5 employees,” said Andrea Ormeño, director of the Women’s Business Center at the QEDC. “These companies need support and education in order to succeed. By passing Congresswoman Meng’s bill, women-owned businesses will be the beneficiary of targeted assistance that can only result in business growth, added employment and economic development in our community.”

Meng’s bill has been referred to the House’s Committee on Small Business.