[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 72 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E927-E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         COMPETITIVENESS AGENDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RICK RENZI

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2004

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, last week Republicans kicked off an eight-
week Competitiveness Agenda by bringing legislation to the floor that 
addressed staggering health care costs faced by American businesses. 
This week, we voted to streamline the government compliance process and 
increase competitiveness in today's worldwide economy. By eliminating 
unnecessary government regulation, we took action, helping business 
owners across the nation to reduce countless hours and resources 
sacrificed to comply with unnecessary red tape.
  Mr. Speaker, small businesses disproportionately bear the burden of 
government regulation costs. The U.S. Small Business Association 
estimates that in 2000, small businesses with 20 or fewer employees 
faced an annual regulatory burden of approximately $6,975 per employee. 
That is almost two thirds more than the $4,463 estimated for large 
firms. We also know that these small businesses are the Number One jobs 
creators in the United States accounting for 60 to 80 percent of new 
jobs. In other words, nearly 8 out of 10 jobs created in this economy 
come from the very business owners being strangled by regulation costs.
  Common-sense regulatory reforms will help reduce costs to American 
businesses, allowing them to compete in the global market and bring 
careers to those bright Americans seeking them. Mr. Speaker, I thank my 
colleagues for voting to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.

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