[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 54 (Friday, May 6, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   RECOGNITION OF SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I also want to rise today to recognize 
and celebrate Small Business Week.
  Small businesses play a crucial role in our Nation's economy. They 
account for one-half of total employment in this country and a large 
majority of new job creation. In fact, the American small business 
community ranks as the world's third largest economic power, behind 
only the United States economy as a whole and Japan. I believe it is 
important to recognize the contributions of these hard-working 
entrepreneurs.
  In my home State of Texas, there are over 350,000 firms with less 
than 100 employees. And these numbers are growing, including 
unprecedented ownership by minorities and women. During the last few 
years, the number of African-American-owned businesses in Texas has 
increased more than 30 percent; the number of women-owned businesses in 
Texas almost 50 percent; and Hispanic-owned businesses more than 60 
percent.
  But while we are celebrating these past achievements, we must not 
forget that the burdens many small business owners continue to face are 
from their own Government. Each new tax, regulation, or mandated 
benefit subtracts from business growth and new job creation. If we, in 
Congress, really want to help small business, we should remove 
obstacles to growth rather than piling on new ones.
  Let me outline three ways we can create a healthier small business 
environment and, hopefully, a healthier, robust economy.
  First, we need to pass health care reform that is affordable and 
accessible for small business owners and their employees. 
Unfortunately, a recent study found that under the employer mandate in 
the Clinton health care plan 850,000 jobs could be lost nationwide, 
including almost 52,000 in my home State of Texas.
  A few months ago, one of my constituents, Ed Norton from Austin, came 
into my office to talk about health care. Ed owns a chain of barbecue 
restaurants, and he said his health care costs under the Clinton plan 
would be higher than his entire net income.
  Mr. President, we must listen to the people who are out there working 
to make ends meet and get this economy going.
  Second, small business owners desperately need relief from excessive 
Government regulations and paperwork. According to the Small Business 
Administration, small firms spend a minimum of 1.2 billion hours each 
year just to comply with Government paperwork regulations--1.2 billion 
hours. As a former small business owner myself, I am very familiar with 
the weight of excessive regulations. Every minute devoted to filling 
out another Government form or to comply with another Government 
regulation is an hour that could be spent better looking at my customer 
base, developing a new product, better manufacturing methods or 
expanding my markets--in essence, contributing to the productivity of 
our Nation's economy.
  Ultimately, these regulations are a hidden tax. It is a cost of doing 
business. Reducing the regulatory burden will free up resources to fuel 
economic growth well into the 21st century. Mr. President, we must be 
ever mindful that all our businesses are going to be competing in the 
international marketplace.
  Finally, Mr. President, we must address skyrocketing product 
liability costs which are stifling innovation and competitiveness among 
our smaller businesses. Recently, I received a letter from a small 
manufacturer in Houston who said:

       We have fallen behind foreign competitors in new product 
     development due to concerns of liability exposure. And 
     because product development is being curtailed, so too is our 
     ability to create new jobs. The high cost of product 
     liability insurance increases product costs and reduces the 
     competitiveness of our products. We cannot compete at home or 
     abroad because of this situation.

  That was from a small business manufacturer in Houston, TX.
  To correct these problems, I cosponsored, along with many of my 
colleagues, the Product Liability Fairness Act. This bill sets uniform 
standards for product seller liability, limits punitive damages awards, 
and sets liability time limitations. I look forward to this bill's 
floor consideration before Congress adjourns.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the important 
contributions of small business owners during this very special week. 
But, more importantly, I hope they will join me in lifting some of the 
burdens and some of the regulations imposed by Government on these 
small firms. Let us initiate a new era of economic growth and 
prosperity for this country.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Dorgan). The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DeCONCINI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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