by Toni-Anne Barry
This month’s Common Ground features Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH), and their bipartisan efforts on behalf of America’s small business owners.
THE ISSUE
Protecting small business owners
American small business owners in every industry face myriad issues that make it difficult for them to get their feet off the ground. The House Small Business Committee introduces and supports legislation to bolster the efforts of small business owners, including America’s hoteliers, from increasing access to capital to supporting comprehensive tax relief. These initiatives create a business-friendly America that helps entrepreneurs develop and maintain their businesses.
COMMON GROUND
Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez and Ranking Member Steve Chabot of the House Small Business Committee are working together in the 116th Congress to put forward innovative solutions to the small business communities’ biggest issues. So far, they have jointly introduced several pieces of legislation to the committee, including H.R. 277 “Access to Sufficient Capital for Everyone in Natural Disaster areas Act of 2019” (ASCEND Act) and H.R. 1648 “Small Business Advanced Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2019,” both of which would increase opportunities and protections for small business owners. They also worked together to pass a resolution to make May 5-11 National Small Business Week to highlight the efforts and successes of small business owners across America.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY)
First Elected: 1992
Chairwoman, Small Business Committee
“Access to affordable capital, finding and retaining talented workers, accessing new customers, and competing against larger competitors all provide headwinds for small business success. That is why our committee is focused on addressing these issues head-on by expanding access to capital, workforce development, and opportunities to do business with the federal government.”
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH)
First Elected: 1994
Ranking Member, Small Business Committee
“We want you developing that next product and service, not laboring over burdensome regulations. We want you creating jobs, not pouring over compliance paperwork. You play an outsized role by representing over 30 million small businesses that operate in this country. You create nearly two out of every three new private-sector jobs. To put it simply, you are a driving force in our economy. That is why it is critical for this committee to continue its bipartisan work to create a small business environment that allows you to grow, create jobs, and transform our communities.”
