On the recordJuly 26, 2022
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5128, the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act, introduced by Representative Axne. While small businesses in the big cities may enjoy easier access to capital to grow their businesses, hire and support their employees, and serve their communities, the businesses in rural America often struggle. Rural America's job growth is half the rate than that of big cities, and rural America's poverty rate is also higher than that of the big cities, even though it has dropped under President Biden's leadership and as a result of this Congress' work. Congresswoman Axne's bill would require SEC's small business advocate to report to Congress particular challenges that rural businesses face in accessing our capital markets. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
