[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7343-7344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 2001

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the House's attention to 
our country's most vital economic sector, our small businesses.
  Each year, for the past 38 years, the President has issued a 
proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business 
Week. This year, National Small Business Week, which is sponsored by 
the SBA, is being held right now.
  Mr. Speaker, this year's celebration will honor the estimated 25.5 
million small businesses in America that employ more than half the 
country's private work force, create 3 out of every 4 new jobs, and 
generate a majority of American innovations.
  Small Business Week also recognizes small business owners all across 
America for their personal achievements and contributions to our 
economy. From this group, in Indiana, the Indiana Small Business Person 
of the Year is Joseph A. Beckman. He is the owner of Home Lumber and 
Glenlord Lumber Company. This a retail lumber and land development 
concern that has

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grown steadily under his leadership and become a successful business in 
Indiana.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mr. Beckman and all the 
winners from across America who work long hours and make huge 
sacrifices to build family small businesses that are the backbone of 
this economy.

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