[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 4, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SMALL BUSINESS BILL OF RIGHTS AND SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

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                       HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 2005

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for 
the Small Business Bill of Rights (H. Res. 22). 
  I think it is time we help small businesses so they can in turn help 
themselves. Small business owners desperately need our help in ensuring 
they can provide their employees with the best possible benefits.
  What better time to consider this bill than on National Small 
Business Week. I would be remiss if I did not mention that last year's 
Small Business Person of the year was from Columbus, Georgia. Sheree W. 
Mitchell started with an SBA loan in 1989 and turned her day care 
center business, Growing Room Inc., into a $5 million per year 
enterprise. I think Sheree should be a poster child for small 
businesses. She has proven that with persistence and entrepreneur 
thinking it is possible to build a successful enterprise from scratch.
  I also want to congratulate the 2005 SBA Award winners for the state 
of Georgia: Tom Eaves, President and CEO of Star Software Systems 
Corporation in Warner Robins, Georgia--Small Business Person of the 
Year; Win Roshell, Minority Small Business Champion of the Year; 
Mountville Mills, Inc., Family-Owned Small Business of the Year; Amanda 
Rodriguez, Young Entrepreneur of the Year; C. Vance Leavy, Small 
Business Journalist of the Year.
  These folks know what it takes to successfully run a small business 
and they should be recognized and praised for it. They were selected to 
be honored based on their record of stability, growth in employment and 
sales, financial condition, innovation, response to adversity, and 
community service.
  I am strongly supporting H. Res. 22 for people like those I've just 
named. This piece of legislation clarifies Congressional support for 
seven key issues importance to every small business. As a former small 
business owner, I can testify to the importance of each one of these. 
These seven issues are: reducing health insurance costs through 
Association Health Plans, ending frivolous lawsuits, red tape relief, 
tax relief, increasing access to capital, opening access to government 
contracts and reducing energy costs.
  These issues are commonsense rights every small business owner 
deserves and I hope the passing of this resolution will bring awareness 
to the seven areas this resolution addresses.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-sponsor and vote for the Small Business 
Bill of Rights.

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