Westerman Marks Small Business Week 2016

HOT SPRINGS – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement Friday (May 6) in commemoration of Small Business Week 2016 (May 1-7):

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” Westerman said. “Our nation’s 28 million small businesses are under attack by burdensome government regulations. As the partner in a small business for many years, I experienced government red tape first hand. In order to protect small businesses and the countless men and women employed there, I have joined my colleagues in sponsoring common sense legislation and will continue to do so.”

Since taking office in January 2015, Westerman has co-sponsored the following bills aimed at protecting small businesses:

• H.R. 1624, the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act (signed into law on October 7, 2015);
• H.R. 596, the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (passed by the House on February 3, 2015);
• H.R. 30, the Save American Workers Act of 2015 (passed by the House on January 8, 2015); and
• H.J. Res. 61, the Hire More Heroes Act of 2016 (passed by the House on July 27, 2015).

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are 240,123 small businesses in Arkansas employing 476,232 people. The totals represent 96.6% of all businesses in Arkansas employing 48.7% of all private-sector Arkansans.