WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tim Scott (R-SC), co-chairs of the Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus, introduced a resolution to commemorate National Entrepreneurship Week, an annual congressionally chartered event taking place the week of February 12 through 19 this year.

“Entrepreneurs move our country forward, transforming today’s new ideas and side-projects into tomorrow’s booming businesses,” said Senator Klobuchar. “As co-chair of the Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus, it’s an honor to work with entrepreneurs across the country as they innovate and fuel our economy. I’m glad to celebrate our entrepreneurs this week and will continue pushing for policies to make sure America remains the best place in the world to start a business.”

“As people across the country struggle to combat inflation and recover from pandemic closures, it is important that we empower entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed,” said Senator Scott. “As a former small business owner, I have a personal understanding of the impact these business owners can have in their communities through helping others provide for their families and build a future. By unleashing the spirit of American innovation, I know our entrepreneurs will help lead our country to new heights.”

National Entrepreneurship Week, a non-partisan, congressionally-chartered initiative, has taken place annually during the third week in February since 2006. It is supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Klobuchar and Scott formed the bipartisan Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus in 2019 to address the most pressing issues facing entrepreneurs and serve as a forum for collaboration and coordination. Members include Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Inhofe (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Gary Peters (D-MI), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tina Smith (D- MN), and Bob Casey (D-PA).

Last February, Klobuchar and Scott introduced the Enhancing Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century Act, which would require the Secretary of Commerce to work with other relevant government agencies to conduct a comprehensive study into the underlying factors driving the current slowdown in entrepreneurship rates. 

Full text of the resolution to commemorate National Entrepreneurship Week can be found HERE and below:

Designating the week of February 12 through February 19, 2022, 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.

Whereas National Entrepreneurship Week is a congressionally chartered event taking place annually during the third week of February for the purpose of democratizing and promoting entrepreneurship across the United States through education, connection, and collaboration;

Whereas the United States is the most entrepreneurial country in the world and the entrepreneurial spirit woven into the national consciousness is central to the identity of the United States;

Whereas that entrepreneurial spirit and the countless new businesses it has spawned have built the most innovative and productive economy in the history of the world;

Whereas the United States is a nation of entrepreneurs, with new and small businesses comprising 99 percent of all businesses in the United States and employing nearly half of all workers in the United States;

Whereas, given the importance of entrepreneurship to innovation, productivity gains, economic growth, job creation, and expanding opportunity, a thriving entrepreneurial spirit is critical to post-COVID economic recovery in the United States;

Whereas National Entrepreneurship Week celebrates the initiative, drive, creativity, and commitment embodied in the entrepreneurial spirit of the United States;

Whereas National Entrepreneurship Week inspires students and the next generation of entrepreneurs by encouraging educators in grade schools, colleges, and universities across the United States to integrate entrepreneurship education into the classroom; and

Whereas research has demonstrated that students who participate in entrepreneurship education programs have better attendance records, perform better in core subjects, and have lower drop-out rates than students who do not participate in such programs: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) designates the week of February 12 through February 19, 2022, as ‘‘National Entrepreneurship Week’’;

(2) celebrates the importance of entrepreneurs and startups to the United States economy;

(3) recognizes the contributions entrepreneurs make to expand opportunity, provide more inclusive prosperity, and increase the well-being of every community across the United States;

(4) affirms the importance and urgency of enacting policies that promote, nurture, and support entrepreneurs and startups; and

(5) encourages Federal, State, and local governments, schools, nonprofit organizations, and other  civic organizations to observe National Entrepreneurship Week annually with special events and activities—

(A) to recognize the contributions of entrepreneurs in the United States;

(B) to teach the importance of entrepreneurship to a strong and inclusive economy; and

(C) to take steps to encourage, support, and celebrate future entrepreneurs