Many of my initiatives to facilitate the creation and growth of small businesses were made in response to the White House Conference on Small Business, which I convened.  My Administration began the implementation of most of the ideas produced last year by that citizen’s advisory body; others need to be addressed.  I have proposed the reconvening of the Conference next year to review progress; reassess priorities; and set new goals.  In the interim I hope that the incoming Administration and the new Congress will work with the committee I have established to keep these business development ideas alive and help implement Conference recommendations.

MINORITY BUSINESS

One of the most successful developments of my Administration has been the growth and strengthening of minority business.  This is the first Administration to put the issue on the policy agenda as a matter of major importance.  To implement the results of our early efforts in this field I submitted legislation to Congress designed to further the development of minority business.

We have reorganized the Office of Minority Business into the Minority Business Development Administration in the Department of Commerce.  MBDA has already proven to be a major factor in assisting minority businesses to achieve equitable competitive positions in the marketplace.

The Federal government’s procurement from minority-owned firms has nearly tripled since I took office.  Federal deposits in minority-owned banks have more than doubled and minority ownership of radio and television stations has nearly doubled.  The SBA administered 8(a) Pilot Program for procurement with the Army proved to be successful and I recently expanded the number of agencies involved to include NASA and the Departments of Energy and Transportation.

I firmly believe the critical path to full freedom and equality for America’s minorities rests with the ability of minority communities to participate competitively in the free enterprise system.  I believe the government has a fundamental responsibility to assist in the development of minority business and I hope the progress made in the last four years will continue.

II.  CREATING ENERGY SECURITY

Since I took office, my highest legislative priorities have involved the reorientation and redirection of U.S. energy activities and for the first time, to establish a coordinated national energy policy.  The struggle to achieve that policy has been long and difficult, but the accomplishments of the past four years make clear that our country is finally serious about the problems caused by our overdependence on foreign oil.  Our progress should not be lost.  We must rely on and encourage multiple forms of energy production—­coal, crude oil, natural gas, solar, nuclear, synthetics—­and energy conservation.  The framework put in place over the last four years will enable us to do this.