I am concerned about one recent development, the hiring freeze that was issued on January 23rd for Federal civilian employees.

A healthy workforce is a stable workforce, and a stable workforce is going to continue to produce.

Unfortunately, the views of the Office of Advocacy have been ignored more often than not.

I do fear that at times agencies do believe, 'I posted that in the Federal Register. Every small business in America should have seen it.'

We disagree.

At some point, this looked rational to someone in D.C.? But it does not look rational to anyone else.

Washington, D.C., is not the real world.

If you add additional requirements, you are welcome to, but this is the minimum standard.

Your new Democratic colleague in the Senate, Senator Tammy Duckworth, from Illinois, also introduced a version of that legislation.

That model does not seem to exist.

It is fascinating to me, the number of times that I will talk to an agency, and they will tell me, 'This does not affect a small business because this is only a regulation that was designed for larger businesses.'

Giving them the chance, letting them know that it is not going to be a 'gotcha' game.

Government, get out of the way.

it is great to see the Chairman here, Chairman Risch, but I also have a statement from the Ranking Member of Small Business, Jeanne Shaheen, and would ask that that be submitted for the record.

Despite the importance of this sector for our economy, small business owners continually tell me they do not feel that Washington hears their voice.

In my view, the only way to ensure that the Federal Government... stops beating up on small businesses... is to enact meaningful regulatory reform.

If the EPA wants to come around, you tell them no.

Is there a need to get some sort of definition and to get some sort of clarity on those?