Political Quotes

“I thank my friend, Representative Mooney, and I would like to also thank my colleague, Representative Axne, for introducing this legislation. I rise today to speak in support of this bill, the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act. This bill will expand the mission of the SEC Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation to identify the unique challenges facing rural small businesses and give them expanded access to the capital they need. As someone who, along with my wife, started a distillery business in the rural part of Virginia, I know many of the challenges faced by small business owners in rural areas. These small business owners are the backbones of communities across America and pillars of the local economies that help these areas thrive. According to Census data from 2017, one in five Americans live in a rural area. In my district, the Fifth District of Virginia, approximately 65 percent of the population resides in a rural area. These people deserve the same access to the financial system as urban dwellers and urban businesses. Running a rural small business is a challenge, and it is important for me as the Representative of the Fifth District to advocate for the needs of these small business owners. By expanding their access to capital, we can help small businesses grow and sustain rural communities. This bill will allow the SEC to help job creators and improve rural economies across the country.…”