Workplace Issues

Ranking Member Chabot Opening Statement at Hearing on Small Business Retirement Security WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Small Business met for a hearing titled, “Unlocking Small Business Retirement Security.” Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH) delivered the following opening statement: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Planning for the future, preparing for what’s ahead, and creating a roadmap for success are cornerstones for many small businesses. These p... Read more

Chabot Opening Statement at Hearing on Boosting Rural Digital Technology WASHINGTON - The House Committee on Small Business met today for a hearing titled, "Flipping the Switch on Rural Digital Entrepreneurship." Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH) delivered the following opening statement: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Good morning to all of you and a special thank you to our witnesses who have taken the time to work with us on this hearing today. The use of digit... Read more

Ranking Member Chabot Looks to Ensure Entrepreneurial Resources are Effective Washington – The House Committee on Small Business met today for a hearing titled, “Supporting America’s Startups: Review of SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs.” Ranking Member Steve Chabot (R-OH) delivered the following opening statement: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery Time and again, this Committee has lauded the importance of small businesses to the American economy. The impact that over 30 million small fir... Read more

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) released the following statement after meeting with local members of the Ohio Franchise Business Network in Cincinnati, Ohio. The International Franchise Association invited Chairman Chabot to this meeting to update members on legislation affecting small business franchises. “Franchises bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, local communities, and brands by the opportunity they offer job creators. With 7.6 mill... Read more

WASHINGTON – This week, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) held a roundtable in Lebanon, Ohio, to examine the challenges and successes of women small business owners. The roundtable also celebrated the opening of the first Small Business Administration (SBA) Women’s Business Center (WBC) in Cincinnati. “While we on the House Small Business Committee celebrate all entrepreneurs, in October we also like to highlight the specific achievements of women-led companies. Wome... Read more

WASHINGTON - This week, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its September 2018 Small Business Optimism Index, which reports continued business optimism, and recorded the third highest level in the survey’s history. The September 2018 NFIB survey revealed: 37 percent of owners reported compensation increases, which set a new record. 61 percent of owners reported hiring or trying to hire. 29 percent of owners are expecting higher real sales volumes. Actual capital spend... Read more

WASHINGTON – This week, President Trump signed S. 791, the Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017, into law. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 2655, which passed the House in July and was led by Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The Small Business Innovation Protection Act will expand intellectual property education and training for small businesses by establishing a partnership between the United States Small Business... Read more

WASHINGTON – This week, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) wrote an op-ed for the Cincinnati Enquirer on how the opioid crisis is affecting small businesses and how the Committee is addressing this important issue. “... According to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), small business optimism is at a 45-year high. But they have also expressed concern over a new problem: a lack of qualified workers. “While this may be due to a number of d... Read more

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce held a hearing to examine the pilot and mechanic shortage in the aviation industry, specifically within small businesses. While the shortage has been widely documented, the impact to small firms operating as part of this pipeline remains unexamined. “With airlines growing and their need for pilots and mechanics ever increasing, small businesses are particularly vulnerable to losing their workforce... Read more

There’s no question the economy is soaring and with small business optimism at a record high, there’s much to be hopeful about. Employees are the lifeblood of a small business, and currently 25 percent of small businesses cite difficulty in finding qualified workers as their single biggest problem. In a survey by Private Capital Index, 54 percent of small businesses report they plan on hiring between 1 to 5 people in the next six months, but with the lack of qualified labor, attracting and retai... Read more