[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 86 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E896-E897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SBA'S NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS 
                                  WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PATRICK MURPHY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 17, 2013

  Mr. MURPHY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
small businesses across our nation on the 50th anniversary of National 
Small Business Week. Small businesses are the backbone of our country--
making up 50 percent of American jobs--and are essential to our 
economic recovery. It is our job as Members of Congress to provide 
support from Washington to small businesses by reducing unnecessary 
regulations and improving access to credit and small business 
assistance programs.
  As a former small businessman, I am proud to serve on the House Small 
Business Committee and to use my prior experience to promote the 
interests of this vital sector of our economy. There is so much work to 
be done to help small businesses prosper. That is why I support 
legislation to create a stable business environment by passing a budget 
that reduces the deficit, simplifying the tax code for all Americans, 
and continuing to support essential small business assistance programs. 
To that end, the first bill I introduced was the Partnering with 
American Manufacturers for Efficiency and Competitiveness Act to foster 
more efficient manufacturing capabilities in small businesses, to 
promote competitiveness, and to create jobs. Having seen firsthand the 
havoc hurricanes can cause for small businesses, I also recently 
introduced the Small Business Disaster Reform Act to help small 
business owners recover more quickly in the wake of natural disasters.
  Since coming to Congress, I have met with several small business 
groups, and recently hosted a small business roundtable in my district. 
I also have met staff from Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) 
and SCORE, and I will continue to push for full funding for both of 
these organizations that play a crucial role in supporting small 
business growth. I ask my colleagues to recognize the significance of 
these organizations and the importance of preventing proposed cuts to 
SBDCs in the budget. We must also immediately consider legislation that 
creates jobs and those that help provide America's small businesses 
with new incentives to grow and hire.
  This week represents half a century of recognition of the importance 
of small businesses and I am proud to join in commemorating National 
Small Business Week and thanking small businesses across the nation for 
the important work they do. They create jobs and stimulate the economy, 
all in the face of tremendous personal risk. I urge my colleagues to 
stand with me in support of small businesses and in creating an 
economic climate where they can thrive.
  Mr. Speaker, on the 50th Anniversary of Small Business Week, it is 
clear that Congress still has much more work to do to help small 
businesses, but by working together we can better support the backbone 
of our economy to create jobs and continue on the path to economic 
recovery.

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