[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 172 (Thursday, November 10, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S7391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 320 submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 320) designating November 26, 2011, 
     as ``Small Business Saturday'' and supporting efforts to 
     increase awareness of the value of locally owned small 
     businesses.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 320) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 320

       Whereas small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all 
     businesses having employees (commonly referred to as 
     ``employer firms'') in the United States;
       Whereas small businesses employ \1/2\ of the employees in 
     the private sector in the United States;
       Whereas small businesses pay 44 percent of the total 
     payroll of the employees in the private sector in the United 
     States;
       Whereas small businesses are responsible for more than 50 
     percent of the private, nonfarm product of the gross domestic 
     product;
       Whereas small businesses generated 65 percent of net new 
     jobs during the last 17 years;
       Whereas small businesses generate 60 to 80 percent of all 
     new jobs annually;
       Whereas small businesses focus on 2 key strategies: 
     deepening relationships with customers and creating value for 
     customers;
       Whereas, for every $100 spent with locally owned, 
     independent stores, $68 returns to the community through 
     local taxes, payroll, and other expenditures;
       Whereas 92 percent of consumers in the United States agree 
     that the success of small businesses is critical to the 
     overall economic health of the United States;
       Whereas 93 percent of consumers in the United States agree 
     that small businesses contribute positively to the local 
     community by supplying jobs and generating tax revenue;
       Whereas 91 percent of consumers in the United States have 
     small businesses in their community that the consumers would 
     miss if the small businesses closed;
       Whereas 99 percent of consumers in the United States agree 
     that it is important to support the small businesses in their 
     community; and
       Whereas 90 percent of consumers in the United States are 
     willing to pledge support for a ``buy local'' movement: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates November 26, 2011, as ``Small Business 
     Saturday''; and
       (2) supports efforts--
       (A) to encourage consumers to shop locally; and
       (B) to increase awareness of the value of locally owned 
     small businesses and the impact of locally owned small 
     businesses on the economy of the United States.

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