[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H5897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                TAX SIMPLIFICATION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

  (Mr. SCHRADER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SCHRADER. In my home State of Oregon, 98 percent of our 
businesses are small businesses. In fact, small businesses employ 57 
percent of Oregon's workforce. During Small Business Appreciation Week, 
I want to commend all of the small business owners in my home State and 
across the country who drive the economy and keep the dream of American 
entrepreneurship alive.
  It is with that in mind that I speak about an issue that all small 
business owners face: the complexity of our Tax Code. Whether we're 
talking about dollars spent or time lost, tax complexity is an enormous 
drain for small businesses. With 3.7 million words, 70,000 pages, 
individuals and companies spend close to $265 billion just to fill out 
their taxes. Sadly, our small business entrepreneurs pay the majority 
of that.
  That's why I introduced H.R. 1509, the Home Office Deduction 
Simplification Act that would provide small businesses with a simple 
$1,500 home office deduction to claim a credit that very few use today.
  During Small Business Appreciation Week, I encourage all Members to 
consider ways to aid small businesses.

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