[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8692]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ON OUR 
                            NATION'S ECONOMY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Hardy) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HARDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance and 
the impact that small businesses have on our Nation's economy.
  Last month, we celebrated National Small Business Week in order to 
recognize the hard work and dedication of the estimated 28 million 
small-business owners who provided 48 percent of the private sector job 
workforce here in the United States while also representing 99.7 
percent of all businesses with employees.
  It is without a doubt that small businesses are the backbone of our 
Nation's economy. I greatly appreciate each and every small-business 
owner across this country who devotes their time, their passion, and 
their financial resources to ensure that small businesses are 
successful. For these individuals, Small Business Week is every week of 
the year.
  As a former small-business owner of 20 years, I understand what it 
takes to build a successful small business while ensuring that our 
customers receive the products and service they expect and our 
employees are provided for.
  It wasn't always easy as a small-business owner, but having the 
opportunity to employ hundreds of employees over the years is an 
experience I would never trade.
  Over the last 17 months, I have had the great privilege of touring 
numerous small businesses within my district, where I have had the 
opportunity to speak to the employees that see firsthand what business 
does as it contributes to our economy.
  From the small-business barber shop to a tortilla chip factory, it 
has always amazed me to see the enthusiasm that exists when the small-
business owners work side-by-side with their employees. It is for this 
reason that small businesses are the backbone of our economy.
  It is my honor to recognize outstanding individuals who received the 
award on May 4 in Las Vegas during the 2016 SBA Small Business Award 
luncheon. These individuals serve their community as a current small-
business owner or provide services for small businesses.
  Receiving the Small Business Person of the Year Award was Bradley 
Burdsall, owner of six restaurants in southern Nevada named The Egg 
Works and the Egg &; I, with his newest location just recently opening 
in Nevada's Fourth Congressional District.
  Mr. Burdsall's company has seen tremendous growth and expansion over 
the past 18 years, including being featured in USA Today and on the 
Food Network. I congratulate Bradley Burdsall on being awarded the 2016 
SBA Small Business of the Year for Nevada.
  Receiving the Veteran Owned Business of the Year award was Robert D. 
Daniel, the owner of PrideStaff Las Vegas. Prior to starting the 
PrideStaff Las Vegas location, Mr. Daniel spent 30 years in the field 
of employee management, including holding executive positions with IBM, 
Fuji USA, Western Electronics, and MicronPC.
  With this valuable managerial experience along with his service in 
the United States Air Force and as a Vietnam veteran, Mr. Daniel has 
built a company that greatly benefits southern Nevada by providing 
businesses with temporary employees. I congratulate Robert D. Daniel on 
being awarded the 2016 SBA Veteran Owned Business of the Year for 
Nevada.
  Receiving the Small Business Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award was 
Bob Cushman, who has volunteered his time as a SCORE Las Vegas 
counselor and a mentor since 1998. With decades of experience, Mr. 
Cushman has used his invaluable knowledge to counsel 3,000 small 
businesses in southern Nevada.
  Mr. Cushman's dedication to the small business community has been a 
valuable asset to southern Nevada, so I congratulate Mr. Cushman on 
being awarded the 2016 SBA Small Business Advocate Lifetime Achievement 
Award.
  Receiving the Women's Business Advocate of the Year was Leanna 
Jenkins, director of the Nevada Women's Business Center. Ms. Jenkins 
has spent years working in the small business community to provide 
small-business owners with the educational and financial resources 
necessary to succeed, especially for women- and minority-owned 
businesses.
  Ms. Jenkins has made a tremendous impact within the small-business 
community of southern Nevada, so I congratulate Ms. Leanna Jenkins for 
being awarded the 2016 SBA Women's Business Advocate of the Year Award 
for Nevada.
  Again, I would like to thank these award winners and all small-
business owners for what they do on a daily basis to provide their 
employees with a job, their customers with a great product or service, 
and contribute to the American economy. Small businesses are the true 
economic engines of this country.

                          ____________________