Paul Coverdell: “I rise in support of his extended efforts to reduce and relieve American business of the enormous regulatory burdens…”

“I rise in support of his extended efforts to reduce and relieve American business of the enormous regulatory burdens that we have put on the sector of our economy that generates the vast majority of the new jobs. We just held a field hearing of the Small Business Committee in Georgia, and this quote was most alarming. One businessman came before the committee, and he said: The Federal Government of the United States of America has become the No. 1 enemy of small business. It was astounding to hear the presentations of these business people as they pointed time and time again to the onerous burdens that are being put on them and their inability to match them. Sixty percent of America's businesses have four employees or less. How in the world can they possibly keep up with the staggering requirements coming year after year on these small businesses? The result is they do not hire another employee. The Lord's prayer has 66 words; the Gettysburg Address 286 words. There are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence, Mr. President. But Government regulations on the sale of cabbage has a total of 26,911 words--on the sale of cabbage. According to the Georgia NFIB, there are 168,000 businesses in Georgia, and 53 percent have four or less employees. I wish to reiterate again and again, there is absolutely no way for these very small businesses to match the enormous regulatory burden that has built up over the last 20 years.”