A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of February 13 through February 20, 2021, as "National Entrepreneurship Week" to recognize the importance and contributions of entrepreneurs and startups to the economic prosperity of the United States and the well-being of every community across the United States.

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 57 Expressing support for the designation of the week of February 13 through February 20, 2021, as ‘‘National Entrepreneurship Week’’ to recognize the importance and contributions of entrepreneurs and startups to the economic prosperity of the United States and the well-being of every community across the United States. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 12, 2021 Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of the week of Feb- ruary 13 through February 20, 2021, as ‘‘National En- trepreneurship Week’’ to recognize the importance and contributions of entrepreneurs and startups to the eco- nomic prosperity of the United States and the well- being of every community across the United States. Whereas the experiment of self-governance is a profoundly entrepreneurial undertaking, grounded in the spirit of freedom, adventure, and enterprise; Whereas the entrepreneurial spirit, which is the ability, free- dom, and courage to strike out on one’s own and build something new, is central to the identity of the United States and woven into the national consciousness; VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:08 Feb 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR57.IS SR57 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 57 IS Whereas the United States is a nation of entrepreneurs, with small businesses— (1) comprising 99 percent of all businesses in the United States; and (2) employing nearly half of all workers in the United States; Whereas the Partnership for 21st Century Skills identified fi- nancial, economic, business literacy, and entrepreneurship skills as the types of skills students need in order to en- hance workplace productivity and career opportunities; Whereas students who participate in entrepreneurship edu- cation programs have better attendance records, perform better on core subjects, and have lower drop-out rates than those who do not participate in those programs; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has— (1) closed hundreds of thousands of new businesses, also known as ‘‘startups’’, and small businesses, which has disproportionally affected women and people of color; and (2) destroyed millions of jobs, heightening the ur- gency of accelerating the post-COVID–19 recovery; Whereas research has demonstrated that startups— (1) are disproportionately responsible for the innova- tions that drive gains in productivity, which, in turn, pro- pel economic growth; and (2) account for an outsized portion of net new job creation in the United States; Whereas research has demonstrated that rates of entrepre- neurship in the United States have been in decline in re- cent decades, and that this decline is occurring in all 50 States and across a broad range of industry sectors; VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:08 Feb 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR57.IS SR57 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 57 IS Whereas, in the wake of the COVID–19 pandemic, the United States has seen an increase in startup applica- tions as individuals in the United States embody the en- trepreneurial spirit to respond to the crisis; Whereas, given the importance of a thriving entrepreneurial spirit to innovation, economic growth, job creation, rising wages, and expanding opportunity in the United States, the circumstances surrounding the COVID–19 amount to an emergency; Whereas reversing the decline in entrepreneurship in the United States requires changes in public policy; and Whereas National Entrepreneurship Week will focus on inno- vative ways in which innovation, entrepreneurship com- munities, and policymakers in the United States can work together to improve the environment for entre- preneurs in the United States with the aim of— (1) reversing the multi-decade decline in entrepre- neurship; and (2) expanding the rate of participation among women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates the week of February 13 through 2 February 20, 2021, as ‘‘National Entrepreneurship 3 Week’’; 4 (2) celebrates the importance of entrepreneurs 5 and startups to the United States economy; 6 (3) recognizes the contributions entrepreneurs 7 make to expand opportunity, provide more inclusive 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:08 Feb 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR57.IS SR57 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 57 IS prosperity, and increase the well-being of every com- 1 munity across the United States; 2 (4) affirms the importance and urgency of en- 3 acting policies that promote, nurture, and support 4 entrepreneurs and startups; and 5 (5) encourages Federal, State, and local govern- 6 ments, schools, nonprofit organizations, and other 7 civic organizations to observe National Entrepre- 8 neurship Week annually with special events and ac- 9 tivities— 10 (A) to recognize the contributions of entre- 11 preneurs in the United States; 12 (B) to teach the importance of entrepre- 13 neurship to a strong and inclusive economy; and 14 (C) to take steps to encourage, support, 15 and celebrate future entrepreneurs. 16 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:08 Feb 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR57.IS SR57 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS