The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H3436 on June 4, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a growing group of Americans who are at the heart and soul of America's thriving economy, America's small business owners. During this week, Small Business Week, I want to recognize small business owners for their contributions to our economy, our society and our communities. At the heart of every small business owner is the entrepreneurial spirit which our forefathers founded and build this country. It is this spirit and heart which has kept our business competitive for the past 200 years. In today's marketplace we can see large multinational corporations facing competition from small businesses making use of the Internet to expand their markets and competing with their counterparts from across the world. When we have small business owners striking out on their own trying to make a life and a living for themselves, we cannot afford to stifle the entrepreneurial spirit by overtaxing them.
Small businesses constitute 98 percent of all businesses in America. They employ nearly 60 percent of the work force. In addition, small businesses have created about two-thirds of the net new jobs in the American economy since the early 1970s. However, the government continues to impose policies like the burdensome death tax on small business people who wish to pass their business onto their children. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, we must recognize and assist those who make small business work for America, those who show the drive, initiative and imagination to make themselves, their business and their communities a success so that our economy can continue to grow.
One of these individuals is a young woman from Rushville, Illinois, a small town in west central Illinois. Judy Robbins was a hopeful small business owner in Rushville who wanted to start a dance studio but really had no plan, knowledge on how to start one. Judy decided she would take the initiative herself, and she signed up for a 4-week course at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs under the Small Business Development Council.
During the 4 weeks of her small business course training, Judy learned how to formulate a business plan, pool her resources and start a business of her own. She spent the next 4 months attempting to convince a bank to finance her business plan, finally finding an institution which would finance her idea for a dance studio. Shortly after, Judy started the dance center, dance studio, and I am happy to say that hundreds of dance steps are being performed on a daily basis in downtown Rushville today.
Mr. Speaker, Judy Robbins is a shining example of a classic American dream coming true. The American entrepreneurial spirit can and will thrive without excessive paperwork and burdensome taxes. Small business is the epitome of what is right with America and what is right with the free market. The more regulated and burdened this market becomes, the more small business owners will be unable to do their jobs and create jobs for others.
We must stop overtaxing our small businesses and hurting our economy by retaining the death tax. When we see a small business owner from our districts this week, thank him or her for contributing to the growth of our communities and our economy.
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