Wages have basically been stagnant in the State of Iowa for the last 10 years.

Small businesses--which I like to remind folks are also our farmers--make up 97 percent of U.S. exporters.

The idea and the discussion around retirement right now, especially when talking about young folks and student loan debt is one of, I believe, one of the biggest challenges we are going to have here in the next 20 years.

We have heard directly from Iowa and small business owners across the country about the support they need.

It means a lot as a freshman to be here and have this important opportunity to really uplift the issues that are really important to Iowa.

Having access, starting a small business is one way to do that.

Trade should help us export goods but also protect our workers and our communities.

I look forward to working with him in a bipartisan fashion on this Subcommittee.

I commend you for your commitment to public service.

With 95 percent of the world's consumers living outside of the United States, small businesses are missing out.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to harness the feedback we receive today to make much needed improvements to the STEP program for all of our communities, small businesses, and hard-working families.