Erik Paulsen: “As we close, let me just start by thanking my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that have spoken in favor of the…”

“As we close, let me just start by thanking my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that have spoken in favor of the merits of the bill and in support for the bill. We all know that startups fuel innovation. {time} 1400 It is the entrepreneurial spirit and American ingenuity and know-how that has produced new technologies and has produced new breakthroughs and new inventions to improve health care, to improve society, and to create more jobs and economic growth. It is part of our DNA. Startups don't have the ability to offer potential employees and new talent the same benefits or same salaries that can be more valuable in the long run than larger institutions can offer to certain employees. So, instead, these startups have to go forward and offer their employees something that could be more valuable--a chance to be a part of the company, a chance to own a piece of the rock. A lot of startups offer stock options to recruit top talent. It is an incentive for an employee to work hard for the company they believe in or in the idea that they believe in. But more and more often, employees at these startups are missing out. They are missing out on the opportunity because they are not exercising their stock options to have the equity in the company that they believe in.…”