Latest legislative update – Congressman Bob Goodlatte

Small Businesses = Big Impact
Two-thirds of all new jobs are created by small businesses. That’s a big economic impact. As we observe National Small Business Week through May 6, it’s a reminder that America’s 29 million small businesses do big things. Not only do they create jobs for many of you and your family members, but small businesses are the ideas of our friends and neighbors brought to life. America’s entrepreneurs are leading the innovation and creativity that we need in today’s global economy.

One of the highlights of representing Virginia’s Sixth District is the opportunity to visit many of the small businesses that have shaped our communities and to meet the employees who keep them running. In the past few weeks, I’ve visited several small businesses in our region, like The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy at White’s Travel Center in Rockbridge County, Blue Ridge Apothecary, a compounding pharmacy in Roanoke, and Front Royal Family Practice, a small medical practice in Warren County. Other stops have included agribusinesses, such as Crosskeys Vineyard in Rockingham County, and manufacturers, like Draftco and Parker Bows in Augusta County.

From health care and tech startups to manufacturing and construction, these businesses and their employees play a significant role in nearly every sector of our economy. However, as any small business owner or entrepreneur can attest, the challenges they face on a daily basis are also significant. One such challenge is the uncertainty of having to comply with poorly crafted and costly government mandates and red tape. Because the House of Representatives has heard from the folks we represent about the unique challenges faced by these job creators, several bills are moving through Congress to give small businesses a louder voice in Washington. One is my bill, the Regulatory Accountability Act, which would help make sure bureaucrats are required to communicate better with the small business community and actively search for ways to reduce unnecessary burdens.

Congress must work to see that the United States is a nation in which innovation can thrive by advancing legislation that protects free enterprise and encourages job creation, while also simplifying our tax code to spur competition. Additionally, I will continue actively working on efforts to create a health care marketplace that is more affordable and accessible for small businesses and their employees. If federal policies empower small businesses to innovate and expand they are also empowering America’s economy, setting off a domino effect of economic growth, prosperity, and job creation.

This Week: Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office Opens
On Wednesday, I joined Homeland Security Secretary Kelly at the opening of the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (VOICE) at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Through the creation of the VOICE Office, the Trump Administration is committed to providing accurate and timely information to victims of crimes committed by unlawful immigrants as their perpetrators face justice and are removed from the United States. Click here to read more about this opening.

Deadline Next Week! Click here for more information.

Should you have further questions, please visit the “Contact Bob” section of my website or call (202) 225-5431.