[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 22397]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             MAKING SURE SMALL BUSINESS THRIVES AND EXPANDS

  (Mr. WILSON of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. WILSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this morning to 
dispel a misleading rumor I recently heard about small business and 
health care reform.
  Some are saying that, by requiring employers to offer health 
insurance for their employees or to opt out, we are going to crush 
small business. As a small business owner for over 40 years, I can 
assure you, Mr. Speaker, that this reform will not cost us jobs in 
small business.
  Under our current system, there is no requirement for employers to 
offer insurance. Yet 99 percent of large firms do offer and nearly 65 
percent of small firms offer insurance to their employees. For the 
firms already offering coverage, health care reform will bring much-
needed competition and affordability to the insurance market. In 
addition, the smallest firms will be exempt. Finally, a 50 percent 
credit will be available to help pay premiums for the small businesses' 
insurance expenses.
  In Ohio's Sixth Congressional District, which I serve, over 11,000 
small businesses will receive credits to help cover their employees. As 
we continue to work on health care reform, I am committed to making 
sure small business continues to thrive and expand.

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