U.S. Chamber President Salutes Nation's Entrepreneurs During Small Business Week

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue today praised the entrepreneurial spirit of the nation's 25 million small businesses and their contributions to the success of America's economy during luncheon remarks to small business owners as part of Small Business Week.

"It was the innovation, dedication, and perseverance of the American entrepreneur that defined this country's rise to prominence," said Donohue. "Now, just as then, small businesses serve as America's economic backbone and we thank them for admirably and capably filling that role."

Donohue outlined the Chamber's efforts to create a better climate for small business owners around the country, particularly in the Gulf Coast region devastated by last summer's hurricanes. He pledged that the Chamber would continue to work with the Small Business Administration to expedite the flow of capital and resources needed to restore the region's small business base.

The Chamber is aggressively pursuing several legislative priorities in Washington that are important to small business owners, including small business health plans and health care savings accounts, pension and tax reform, and comprehensive immigration reform that protects America's borders while providing employers with enough workers to fill jobs. Additionally, the Chamber's Center for Workforce Preparation is conducting education and worker training programs to develop a workforce that is capable of competing and thriving in a global economy.

The Chamber will hold its small business summit, Access 2006, May 10-12 in Washington. Small business owners from across the country will gather for thought-provoking sessions on leadership, politics, and the tools for success and hear from some of the nation's pre-eminent business and political leaders.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

www.uschamber.com

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