As a former small business owner, I am always excited to highlight the great small businesses and small business owners in Missouri’s third district. This week we celebrate National Small Business Week – an opportunity to shop small at your favorite local shop or visit your favorite family-owned pizzeria.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community and of the nation’s economy. There are more than 29 million small businesses in America, creating two-thirds of all new jobs in the nation. I’m proud to serve as the Vice Chairman of the House Small Business Committee because it gives me the opportunity to shape critical legislation to help our small business owners in Missouri and across the nation continue to grow and succeed.

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider legislation to assist small businesses with job training, access to small business loans, and cybersecurity. The Small Business 7(a) Lending Oversight Reform Act will enhance oversight of the Small Business Administration’s lending program to increase transparency and accountability. It will also enhance the process in order to focus on more than just a credit score to determine the borrower’s creditworthiness – ensuring businesses have access to the critical funds they need to expand and grow.

As we increasingly rely upon technology in our day to day lives, cybersecurity has become a critical aspect of running a small business. That’s why the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act and the Small Business Advanced Cybersecurity Enhancements Act of 2017 will be considered by the House next week. These bills will assist small businesses with their cybersecurity and cyber strategy needs. Including a program to assist businesses with planning and implementing cybersecurity measures to defend against cyber-attacks. With even the largest companies falling victim to breaches, many small businesses need additional help to keep their information safe.

Not only is it critical for small businesses to have cybersecurity measures in places to protect their consumers, it is also critical to protect themselves from intellectual property harm. The Small Business Innovation Protection Act is a bipartisan bill that will provide training to small businesses who need to learn more about domestic and international intellectual property laws.

Small business owners are often the first one to work each day, the last to leave, and the last one paid. Through these trials and tribulations, small business owners would agree that it is an extremely challenging, but rewarding experience to run a small business. As National Small Business Week comes to a close, I hope you will also remember the hard work our friends and neighbors put into their businesses and remember to shop small.

As your representative in Washington D.C. I will always advocate for policies that allow you to achieve your American Dream. To learn more about the important legislation the House will be voting on next week, please visit SmallBusiness.House.Gov, or tune in to CSpan and watch next week’s debate for yourself!

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