June 1, 2012

The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe

Ranking Member

U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

428A Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Snowe:

On behalf of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), I want to express our support for S.2172, the Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012. Eliminating the current $5 million cap on contracts awarded to women entrepreneurs and allowing these same businesses to receive sole-source contracts will help level the playing field through better access to the federal contracts markets.

Women-owned businesses represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy – growing at a rate twice as fast as men-owned companies – yet they have been limited in their access to growth opportunities such as tapping into the billions of dollars’ worth of federal contracts this bill will allow.

NWBC is uniquely positioned to offer assistance and insights. Our recent research on the expansion and contraction of women-owned businesses during the economic downturn and our study on women with patents and trademarks are just two examples of our work’s focus. We are offering any assistance we can provide on this legislation or on any other matters in support of the economic growth of women-owned small businesses.

As you know, NWBC is a bipartisan advisory federal council that serves to provide independent research and counsel to Congress, the White House and the SBA on matters critical to the economic growth of women entrepreneurs. Our council is a diverse mix of women business owners and representatives of several women’s business organizations.

Please do not hesitate to let us know if we can be of assistance in this or any other matters affecting the growth of women-owned small businesses.

Sincerely,

Donna James

Chair, National Women’s Business Council