As a member of the House Committee on Small Business and because of my own experience as a small business owner, I am appreciative of the impact these small businesses have on our local economies.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

In the Gulf region and nationwide, small businesses are an integral and crucial part of local economies and communities. They should not be overlooked.

We've had this program for a number of years now, called 10,000 Small Businesses, where Goldman Sachs has convened a group of partners to basically give business education to small business owners.

Small businesses are really the engine in the economy.

As a former small business owner, I recognize both the important role small businesses play in our economy and the broad universe of challenges that small business owners face in trying to make ends meet.