Small businesses are the key to our economy. They make up more than 99 percent of our nation's firms and employ more than half our workforce. As a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, my top priority is to ensure that small businesses get the support and capital they need to succeed.

I chaired a congressional field hearing in Prince George's County about ways to improve access to federal contracts for small businesses and I have been an advocate for small business across Maryland. I am committed to removing barriers that make it difficult for small business owners to get the loans and capital they need to stay in business.

I also have...

• Authored a provision increasing the limit on surety bonds from $2 million to $5 million (enacted into law);



• Authored an amendment increasing the budget for the Small Business Administration by 25 percent (enacted into law);



• Supported strengthening and improving the SBA's 7 (a) and 504 loan program (enacted into law);



• Supported increasing funds for microloans (enacted into law);



• Fought to increase the amount of equity investment that is allowed in small businesses so they will be more attractive to investors, which was included in the economic recovery package; and,



• Championed strengthening the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and the Small Business and Innovative Research (SBIR) programs.