HISTORY
The National Women’s Business Council (“NWBC” or “the Council”) was created under Title IV of the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R.) 5050: The Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (United States Code § 7105, et seq.), which Congressman John LaFalce (D-NY) authored and President Ronald Reagan signed into law. NWBC operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972.
In addition to the creation of NWBC, The Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988:
- Eliminated the remaining individual state laws that required women to have a male relative or husband to co-sign a business loan.
- Established the Women’s Business Center (WBC) program to provide female entrepreneurs with business education and entrepreneurial support.
- Required the U.S. Census Bureau to include woman-owned corporations in their data collection.
MISSION
NWBC is an independent, nonpartisan federal advisory committee housed within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The Council's core mission is to provide advice and policy recommendations annually to the President, Congress, and the SBA Administrator on issues of importance to women business owners.
NWBC's statutory duties include:
- Monitoring, reviewing, and analyzing policy recommendations and programs developed in the public and private sectors that can impact women business owners’ ability to establish credit and obtain capital.
- Promoting and assisting in the development of a women’s business census and other relevant women-owned business surveys.
- Monitoring and promoting the plans, programs, and operations of federal departments and agencies that may contribute to the establishment and growth of women’s business enterprises.
- Developing and promoting new initiatives, signature programs, and strategies to foster women’s business enterprise.
STRUCTURE
FIFTEEN Council Members serve three-year terms:
