National Small Business Week

This week marks the 51st annual National Small Business Week, which is a time to celebrate the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. North Missouri, like the rest of the nation, depends on the strength of our middle class families that rely on small businesses to put food on the table. Small businesses afford us the Missouri way of life, and it's something worth fighting for.

People are surprised to learn that 7 out of 10 new jobs come from small businesses. These companies are the backbone of our economy and the communities they serve. However, these businesses and their employees are facing a barrage of regulations making it difficult to create new jobs and economic growth across the country.

Whether it's trying to regulate farm dust or restricting our home heating options - it is more clear than ever that our federal government is out on control. If we want businesses to do better, if we want farmers to do better, and if we want the majority of Americans to be prosperous then we need to get the government off our backs and out of our pocketbooks.

During Small Business Week, I am conducting a Small Business & Middle Class Relief Forum with area business leaders in several Sixth District communities. The question and answer events will feature discussion on ways to provide relief from overbearing government regulations which are burdening our small businesses, farmers, and families.