BLAINE’S BULLETIN

Leading the Small Business Committee

By Blaine Luektemeyer
Posted 12/9/20

From our favorite restaurants, ice cream shops, hardware stores, florists, barbers, you name it – local small businesses hold a special place in towns across America. There is something about …

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BLAINE’S BULLETIN

Leading the Small Business Committee

Posted

From our favorite restaurants, ice cream shops, hardware stores, florists, barbers, you name it – local small businesses hold a special place in towns across America. There is something about knowing a business is owned by a friend or a neighbor and helping your local economy that makes supporting them feel that much more worthwhile. However, just as their size allows them to innovate and adapt quickly to the world around us, it also makes them more susceptible to the threats posed by economic turmoil and reckless government policies.

 This week, I was honored to be elected by my House Republican colleagues to serve as the leading Republican (or Ranking Member) of the House Small Business Committee. In this position I have the responsibility of leading our oversight of government programs that help and hurt small businesses, their employees, and their customers. And, as the committee with sole jurisdiction over the Small Business Administration (SBA) which operates the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), our work will be more important than ever.

You are likely familiar with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and all it has done to help get America’s small businesses through this past year. Seeing that our country’s small business community was going to take a major hit with the nationwide shutdowns, Congress and the Administration worked together to get this massive relief program off the ground to help save small businesses at a record pace. The program has supported 51 million American jobs by providing resources that helped small businesses keep their doors open and their employees paid. However, with millions of businesses still struggling and $138 billion of PPP funds unused, there is still plenty of work to be done.  

 Support for small businesses doesn’t stop at PPP. Just as important as resources is a regulatory framework that actually rewards hard work and doesn’t hinder economic growth. My goal as the new leading Republican on the Small Business Committee is to ensure small companies in Missouri and across the U.S. who lack access to teams of high-dollar lawyers get a fair shot at success. Through responsible support from SBA and sensible regulation, I am confident we can do just that.  

 CONTACT US: As always, for those of you with Internet access, I encourage you to visit my official website. For those without access to the Internet, I encourage you to call my offices in Jefferson City (573-635-7232) Washington, Mo. (636-239-2276), or Wentzville (636-327-7055) with your questions and concerns. 

If you want even greater access to what I am working on, please visit my YouTube site, Facebook page, and keep up-to-date with Twitter and Instagram.