Collins Salutes National Small Business Week:
Small Businesses are Great for America

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14) - President Bush has proclaimed next week, the week of May 16-22, as "National Small Business Week", and designated it as a time to celebrate and recognize America's small business entrepreneurs. 

   Congressman Mac Collins (R-Georgia), a small business owner himself, joined the President in commending small businesses and called on Americans to salute small businesses in cities and towns throughout the state of Georgia for the great service they provide to their communities.

   "I love business, especially small business, because businesses create jobs for the American people," said Collins, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

   "I started a trucking business from scratch, and it took me several years before I made a profit. I have met a payroll. I have hired and trained personnel. I have even done welding and other mechanical work on trucks to keep them rolling," said Collins.

   "Every new business starts with an idea for a better product or process. These ideas become reality only when confident entrepreneurs are willing to take economic risks. Small businesses are the heart of the American economy because they drive innovation by establishing new firms on the very premise that they can do a better job," according to the Congressman.

   "Small companies create two-thirds of the new jobs in our economy, and employ half of all private-sector workers. Entrepreneurship has become the path to prosperity for many Americans, including minorities and women."

   "President Calvin Coolidge said many times, 'The Business of America is business.' I subscribe wholeheartedly to that philosophy," Collins said.

   However, Collins believes Congress should do more to help small business flourish.

   "Throughout my years in Congress, I have never forgotten struggling to make a business run. Even though the Republican majority in Congress has worked to support small businesses, excessive regulations and restrictions are unfortunately still a way of life for us. Business needs lower taxes, less regulations and more local control on issues affecting business," the Congressman said.

   "The role of government", Collins emphasized, "is not to create wealth, but to create an environment where entrepreneurs can flourish. Low taxes and clear, sensible regulations are essential to helping small businesses succeed in America. We also must continue to work to ensure that employees of small businesses have access to high-quality health care and reliable pensions. And for those small businesses that deal with the federal government, the contracting process should be fair, open, and straightforward." 

   "It is all about jobs.We must get more Americans working. The American economy will not improve until more people have more money in their pockets. That is why, I am cosponsoring, along with my colleague John Linder, the FairTax act, that would repeal all income taxes, payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, estate taxes and gift taxes in order for small business to flourish and our economy to keep growing," Collins concluded.