[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 16, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S2968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 165--CELEBRATING APRIL 30 THROUGH MAY 6, 2017, AS 
  ``NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK'' AND COMMENDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL 
         SPIRIT OF SMALL BUSINESSES OWNERS IN THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. RISCH (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
Inhofe, Mr. Coons, Mr. Enzi, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Cantwell, 
Mrs. Ernst, Ms. Heitkamp, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Booker, Mr. Rubio, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Young, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Scott, and Mr. 
Hoeven) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 165

       Whereas 2017 marks the 54th anniversary of National Small 
     Business Week;
       Whereas every President for more than \1/2\ a century has 
     proclaimed a week celebrating the significance of small 
     businesses across the United States;
       Whereas, as of May 2017, there are over 28,000,000 small 
     businesses in the United States;
       Whereas small businesses in the United States--
       (1) employ nearly \1/2\ of the workforce of the United 
     States;
       (2) comprise 99.7 percent of all employers in the United 
     States;
       (3) employ veterans, and since 2007, 9.3 percent of all 
     business owners have been veterans;
       (4) produce \1/3\ of all exports of the United States; and
       (5) account for nearly \1/2\ of private sector output;
       Whereas, on July 30, 1953, Congress established the Small 
     Business Administration to aid, counsel, assist, and protect 
     the small business community;
       Whereas 2 of every 3 new jobs are created by small 
     businesses; and
       Whereas the President designated the week of April 30 
     through May 6, 2017, as ``National Small Business Week'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of the week of April 30 
     through May 6, 2017, as ``National Small Business Week'';
       (2) celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of small business 
     owners in the United States;
       (3) recognizes the importance of creating a small business 
     climate that allows for sustained, entrepreneurial success;
       (4) celebrates the invaluable contribution that small 
     businesses make to the United States as the backbone of the 
     economy; and
       (5) supports increasing consumer awareness of the value and 
     opportunity that small businesses bring to local communities.

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