WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Small Business is holding a full committee hearing to celebrate our country’s entrepreneurs: “From Nothing to Something: The Story of the American Dream.”

Chairman Roger Williams’ opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the first Committee on Small Business hearing of the 118^th Congress.

I want to thank our witnesses for being here today and understand that all of you traveled a long way to share your stories. There are probably more important things that you could be accomplishing in your own business, and I am extremely grateful that you chose to give us your time to tell us about your backgrounds so any American watching this might be inspired to start their own business. 

The Committee on Small Business serves as the voice for Main Street America in Washington. The goal today is to learn more about the current state of small business from the people who know it best: our country’s entrepreneurs. 

As job creators, you are the driving force of our nation’s economy, accounting for over half of the payroll of the entire country. More importantly, you are the beacon of light and extension of culture into each of our communities, giving back selflessly through your business with many of your struggles often going unnoticed. I have been carrying on my family business for over 50-years, and I understand the highs and lows of being your own boss. 

America’s entrepreneurs have had to confront historic challenges over the past few years: the COVID-19 pandemic, out-of-control inflation, broken supply chains, high interest rates, and a national labor shortage. But as small businesses have done countless times before, they endured.

Here on the Committee on Small Business, I promise you we will be working to create an environment where businesses can thrive. Small business owners dedicate their lives and finances to what the products and services they bring to the marketplace. Every extra hour of paperwork is one less hour they can tend to their personal livelihoods, every inflated tax is an extra dollar that could have gone somewhere else, and every job vacancy is one more a small business owner must cover themselves. As we listen to these first-hand accounts, we salute the small businesses who continue to fight and give selflessly back to their communities. We are eager to enact policy solutions that will help pave a path toward success for both now and the future.

I wanted to have this hearing first so we could celebrate the risktakers here today and across the country who have worked countless days and nights to achieve the American Dream. As Chairman, I am glad we can come together today to celebrate entrepreneurs, learn more about their stories, and hear first-hand about the economic realities impacting the livelihoods of Main Street America. I am excited to have you all here with us today and I am very much looking forward to today’s hearing.

With that I will yield to our distinguished Ranking Member from New York, Ms. Velázquez.

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