Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar was selected to serve as a member of the United States House of Representatives Small Business Committee.

“I look forward to working with my new colleagues in the Small Business Committee,” noted Congressman Cuellar. “The Small Business Committee plays a crucial role in ensuring that our nation’s economy continues to grow and prosper. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy; they represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms, employ half of all private sector employees, and pay more than 45 percent of total U.S. private payroll. In order to continue this growth and prosperity, Congress must work with small businesses to make government contracting more accessible.”

Congressman Cuellar continued, “I will work with local chambers of commerce, small business owners, and my committee colleagues in crafting sensible policies that keep America working. As a small business owner myself, I understand the sacrifice and hard work that goes into building and maintaining a successful small business. I will help ensure that small business owners are given proper consideration in the legislative process.”

The House Committee on Small Business is composed of the following subcommittees:
• Subcommittee on Finance and Tax
o SBA Lending and Investment programs: 7(a), 504, SBIC, and Micro-loan
o Oversight of tax, retirement, and pensions issues
• Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology
o SBA Contracting programs: 8(a), SBD, Vets, Women’s Business Centers
o SBA Technology programs: SBIR, STTR
o Oversight of government-wide procurement practices as related to small businesses
o Oversight of technology issues
• Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care, and Trade
o Regulatory Flexibility Act, SBREFA, SBA Office of Advocacy, and Paperwork Reduction Act
o Oversight of regulatory issues that affect small business
o Oversight health care issues
o Oversight of trade issues
• Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship
o SBA entrepreneurial development programs: WBC, Vets Corp, SBDC, BICs, and Drug Free Workplace
o New markets programs: NMVC and PRIME
o Oversight of federal government entrepreneurial development programs
o Oversight of agricultural and energy issues
• Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
o Oversight of SBA Administration, Management, and Agency Practices

Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the House Homeland Security, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees in the 110th Congress; accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Majority Senior Whip.