WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX) gaveled in a full House Committee on Small Business hearing titled “From Nothing to Something: The Story of the American Dream.” Chairman Williams issued the following statement after leading today’s panel.

“I cannot think of a better way to highlight both the story and importance of the American Dream than by hearing directly from entrepreneurs,” said Chairman Williams. “These small business owners are the fabric of their communities and give hope to the next generation of our country’s entrepreneurs. As the voice of Main Street America in Washington, this committee will advocate on their behalf for free market principles and pro-growth policies. With inflation, broken supply chains, labor shortages, and high interest rates all weighing down America’s job creators, it’s more important than ever for Congress to prioritize the concerns and issues facing our small businesses.”

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“Small businesses and community banks are the backbone of the community,” said Zan Prince, Chairman of the Board of First Bank Texas. “Our bank serves the same folks that we see at youth ballgames, the grocery store, and church. We work side-by-side with our communities to make sure that the American dream is alive and real for our friends and neighbors. We see their challenges, many that mirror the bank’s operational challenges. They need an environment with reasonable regulations, a fair tax code, and access to credit to provide products and services to their customers.”

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“When I received an 82% grade on my business plan, I was disappointed but didn't let it discourage me,” said Drew Davis, owner of Crippling Hot Sauce. “Instead, I spent the next seven months and 1,200 hours conducting extensive research and testing countless recipes until I finally launched Crippling Hot Sauce. Starting and growing a small business is challenging, and as a young entrepreneur, I faced some unique obstacles. My mission with this hot sauce is to break the stigma against people with disabilities and inspire others that no matter what your circumstances are, you can achieve your dreams.”

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“Over the many years that we have been in business, the number of federal and state regulatory requirements affecting the construction industry has grown significantly,” said Roy Heim, owner of Heim Construction. “Ask yourself if government has created too big of a hill to climb. It is my hope that this committee can help cut regulations that threaten the American dream for entrepreneurs like myself, who want to work hard in pursuit of starting and maintaining a small business to provide for our families and support our communities.”

Watch the full hearing here.

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