A diverse and dynamic economy is essential to our nation's prosperity.  Commitments to our nation's small businesses as well as our national workforce are fundamental to our economic policy.

Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and their prosperity directly affects the health of our nation's economy.  As a result, we need to do all we can to encourage and stimulate growth in the small business sector.  This means providing financial incentives where appropriate and structuring tax policy so that small businesses operate in an environment that positions them to thrive and succeed. 

With respect to our nation's workforce, we need to ensure that each and every hardworking American makes enough to provide for their families.  The best way this can do this is by increasing the federal minimum wage, which I'm proud to say, was finally accomplished earlier this session for the first time in over a decade.  By increasing the minimum wage, we'll be giving our hardworking families a much deserved raise while simultaneously stimulating local economies.  When people have more money to spend, they tend to do so locally, and the increased wages will directly benefit local small businesses. 

A healthy small business sector and a strong workforce are critical to our nation's prosperity.  By crafting economic policies that facilitate economic opportunity for small businesses and American workers, we'll secure our economic future as a nation.