Political Quotes

“I thank the Chair, and I commend and congratulate Mr. Shuster on his very thoughtful approach to this passenger rail reform bill, which is poised to pass, and I encourage its passage here today. Mr. Chair, our Nation's veterans are the most highly skilled workforce in our Nation's history. They are the product of rigorous training and ironclad commitment to teamwork. They have a remarkable ability to succeed where others might fail. It is no wonder, then, that nearly 2.5 million veterans own and operate their own businesses, creating and sustaining over 8 million jobs for hardworking Americans. However, the current pool of veteran- owned businesses is getting older, with recent census data showing that 75 percent of current veteran-owned businesses were age 55 and over. As this older generation of veterans look toward retirement, America will begin to lose a key driver of economic growth. We need to be thinking now about how to encourage the next generation of veterans-- the more than 250,000 servicemembers currently transitioning from military to civilian life--to take up the job-creating mantle of starting their own veteran-owned businesses. The numbers are on our side, with one in four veterans saying they are considering starting or buying their own small business. We cannot miss this opportunity.…”