[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7829]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, this week marks the 49th annual National 
Small Business Week, a time to celebrate the innovations, ideas, and 
hard work of our entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the backbone of 
our economy, accounting for 65 percent of new jobs over the last 17 
years. This vital economic component also employs about half of all 
private sector employees.
  As a former small business owner I recognize the difficulty these 
owners have to plan for future growth and investment. It is our job to 
make sure we provide an environment that helps these engines of 
economic growth. We need to make sure our small businesses have the 
resources they need to continue providing good, well-paying jobs for 
hard-working Americans. I was pleased to support the American Jobs Act 
in March. This legislation seeks to increase capital formation, spur 
the growth of startups and small businesses, and enable more small-
scale businesses to enter public markets.
  Arkansans are familiar with what it takes to build a business from 
the ground up. As home to Fortune 500 companies--including the world's 
largest retailer, Wal-Mart, and the world's largest processor of 
chicken, Tyson's--that both started as a small business, residents of 
the Natural State understand the risks and rewards associated with 
small businesses.
  This week the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized the work 
of Americans who excel in their work to help small businesses. I am 
proud to say that Kelly Massey of the Henderson State University Small 
Business and Technology Development Center in Arkadelphia, AR was 
recognized as the SBA's Small Business Development Center Counselor of 
the Year winner. As director of the State's premier business assistance 
program, Massey dedicates himself to helping the area's small 
businesses achieve success and promoting the mission and goals of the 
SBDC program to help spur economic development.
  We are also proud of Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc., 
for its recognition as the 2012 Arkansas State Small Business Person of 
the Year. The company continues to strive for success as it develops 
the next generation of high energy-efficiency power electronics 
systems. APEI is a great small business model, growing from one person 
to more than 35 in 15 years, with plans for expansion in the coming 
years.
  These Arkansas business leaders will help move America into the 
future and construct the groundwork for economic recovery. We need to 
continue pursuing policies that support the entrepreneurial spirit of 
these economic building blocks.

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