Washington, D.C. - On the floor of the U.S. Senate last night, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) spoke about the urgent imperative of job creation in the nation and called on her colleagues in Congress to act swiftly to advance a bipartisan small business jobs package that will spur private sector job creation and ensure entrepreneurs have access to the tools they need to help lead the nation out of the longest and deepest recession since World War II.

“Time is of the essence if we are to assist our nation’s small businesses. And nowhere is the test of meeting that challenge more immediate than with our nation’s small businesses which as each turn and in every sector are having to struggle not only at their own expense, but at the expense of job creation and reversing our dire economic downturn,” said Senator Snowe, as senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax and health care issues. 

Over the past 15 years, small enterprises and entrepreneurs have created 64 percent of net new jobs. Senator Snowe said it is vital for Congress to enact legislation that embraces critical policies that have long attracted broad bipartisan support, including small business expensing, easing credit terms to increase access to capital for smaller firms and bolstering exporting opportunities, among others.

“Whether we are debating trade, healthcare, a jobs bill, climate change, whatever the issue, it’s time we retool our thinking so that in every matter before us, we are striving to create a climate in which our job creators can not only survive, but thrive,” continued Senator Snowe.

Senator Snowe went on to conclude, “There is no greater urgency before this chamber right now than striving with every fiber of our being to help the longtime beacons of our economy – our nation’s small businesses.

To read Senator Snowe's statement, or her legislation - the Small Business Job Creation Act of 2010 (S. 3103), please click the links below.