In my short time in Congress so far, I have heard that small firms need a simple Tax Code, one that levels the playing field and creates opportunities to build Main Street, not Wall Street.

Unfortunately, like many tax incentives, there are opportunities for abuse and few guardrails around the program which could result in lost opportunity and thwarted congressional intentions.

These are issues that need to be addressed right away.

Thank you so much for coming here and talking with our Committee.

We also want to make sure that we are able to really draw on the community in the same way that we here in New Jersey want to absolutely embrace the joint base.

I remember growing up here. We used to just be able to drive through the base, and obviously, after September 11th, that is no longer doable.

These field hearings play a critically important role in the work that we are doing.

If we are looking to expand opportunities at the bases across the U.S., then we need to tell these large corporations you need to be at the door.

I think you are right. I mean, look, there is no single layer of government that is going to have all of the solutions to this.

I will tell you that it has been truly a great honor to be able to work on this Committee.

I have often found that... a lot of the folks there, they want to make sure that they are connecting in with the communities.

This is the first time in 10 or 15 years that someone or a Committee in Congress has... asking us what are the needs.

But it is even just difficult for us to get small business owners down to D.C. to testify because they have got their business to run.

I often say, you know, on the Small Business Committee and the other Committee I am on, the Armed Services Committee, these are Committees that really have shown a lot of bipartisanship in this time.

I really want to thank Moorestown as well for hosting us.

It is totally--the money that we receive and what we can do with that money here in the New York metro area doesn't--can't compete with what the expenditures are out West or the Midwest.

I have often found, certainly at the joint base and Picatinny, and a lot of the places here in New Jersey, that a lot of the folks there, they want to make sure that they are connecting in with the communities.

if ever there was an issue that we can rally around and put aside any differences, it is, you know, looking out for our small businesses.

I mean just having to constantly go in that kind of process.

this Committee is one where I can assure you I have talked to every single Member on both sides of the aisle, and they feel very committed to this.

It is really wonderful to be able to do this right here in our own district.

We are so focused on these field hearings.

America's small businesses are an economic engine that drives growth in our economy.

Like we absolutely want to make sure that we have local workers having a fair shot at the type of projects that are going on.

That just sounds so frustrating about how, you know, a business--a veteran-owned business, how they have to get certifications, you said, from the VA and then from elsewhere.