Breakfast with Congress

Small Business Front and Center

One of the highlights of the National Small Business Association presentation in Washington DC was the Congressional Breakfast, held this year in the Senate Caucus Room where Senators and Congressmen addressed key small business issues and answered questions from NSBA members. Senator Landrieu (D-LA) secured the facilities for the Congressional breakfast, but unfortunately was unable to attend, owing to last-minute emergencies related to the oil spill. Her staff represented her at the breakfast. Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA) spoke on the Small Business Innovation and Research program. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) spoke on small business credit card issues. Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) spoke separately on the small business legislation initiatives currently moving through the Senate. Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) urged the NSBA delegates to engage with their representatives in Congress to raise awareness of small business issues. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) closed the breakfast with remarks in support of small business credit card reform and preservation of the SBIR program. We should all reach out to our representatives in Congress to make our voices heard. The viability of the small business sector is critical to our economic recovery, so we have visibility now.