U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit Opening Remarks by Thomas J. Donohue
On: Small Business--Opening Remarks
To: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit Attendees
From: Thomas J. Donohue
Date: September 8, 2004
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Washington D.C.
September 8, 2004
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.
I'm Tom Donohue, the Chamber's president and CEO, and I'm very pleased to kick off the Chamber's inaugural Small Business Summit.
Putting together an event like this requires the support and hard work of many individuals and organizations – too numerous to name here.
But I would like to recognize our lead sponsors: AIG, CQ, FedEx, Inc. Magazine, FastTrac, and Sam's Club. Thank you for helping make this summit possible.
A dozen other organizations have also sponsored this event, and their names can be seen on the posters flanking either side of this podium.
Longtime Chamber members will recall that for many years the Chamber held an Annual Meeting.
It was one time during the year that Chamber members of all sizes and from all places came together to discuss common challenges and opportunities.
Today's Small Business Summit is, in a way, a reincarnation of that event, except with a special focus on the needs of small business.
Why did we decide to do this? For a couple of reasons.
First, small businesses are the foundation of this organization – they represent 96% of the Chamber's 3 million business members.
And second, small businesses are the primary driver of economic growth in this country.
Small companies create three-fourths of new jobs and more than half of all private sector output.
You are the ones who hire the workers, who make the investments, who pay the taxes, and who sponsor the healthcare and retirement needs of millions of American workers.
Without you, America's strength, its innovation, its leadership, and its future are greatly diminished.
That answers the why question. Now let me say a word about what we hope to accomplish over the next couple of days.
Because the health of small businesses are so key to economic prosperity, we're going to provide you with lots of opportunities to learn how to improve your business operations, such as enhancing business-to business-marketing, gaining greater access to capital, becoming more involved in trade, and moving goods more efficiently.
We also want you to become better educated on the issues and make your voice heard in the debates surrounding those issues.
That's why we've invited several influential lawmakers and regulators to discuss with you topics such as legal reform, regulations, taxes, health care, and trade.
Just as importantly, we want you to leave your mark on the upcoming election.
Every politician running for office is going to tell you that he or she supports small business. Talk is cheap. You need to really examine where they stand on these issues.
The Chamber helps in that regard. Through our VoteForBusiness.com web site, you and your employees can learn about the issues that affect your business and how the candidates voted on them.
The Chamber is sponsoring a new political organization called the November Fund, which will educate voters in key battleground states on legal reform.
Through the November Fund and similar efforts, the U.S. Chamber is working to ensure that when voters go to the polls, they understand the importance of restoring responsibility and fairness to our legal system.
With the White House, the entire House of Representatives, and one-third of the U.S. Senate at stake, the business community must mobilize and make an impact on this election.
In closing, let me just say one more thing: This country runs on the backs of people willing to take a chance to start their own enterprise, work their tails off to meet payroll, make their customers happy, and take care of their employees.
That has been and will forever be what makes ours the greatest nation in the world.
And that is why the U.S. Chamber will always be a steadfast partner of small business.
At this time, I'd like to call to the stage William Cotter, chief operating officer of AIG Small Business, to continue the program.