WASHINGTON - 12th District Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) this week received his remaining legislative committee and subcommittee assignments for the 109th Congress. Most notably, Barrow accepted an invitation to join the Committee on Small Business, where he was elected the Ranking Democratic Member for the Subcommittee on Rural Enterprise, Agriculture, and Technology -- a rare honor for a freshman member of Congress.

"America's small businesses are the backbone of our workforce and the engine of our economy," Barrow said. "I'm honored that my colleagues have offered me Ranking Member responsibilities for the Subcommittee on Rural Enterprise, Agriculture, and Technology. This assignment will give me the chance to work directly on initiatives aimed at creating new economic opportunities across many of Georgia's agricultural and rural communities."

Small businesses constitute more than 95 percent of the nation's employers and are responsible for almost half of the country's gross domestic product. Created to help foster small business growth, the Committee on Small Business works to provide the tools and support growing businesses need to expand and develop in an ever changing economy. In particular, the Committee works to provide relief from burdensome taxes and unnecessary federal regulations, as well as developing new ways to help make health care affordable and accessible to all small businesses.

In the 109th Congress, the Committee on Small Business will be closely involved with the reauthorization of the Small Business Administration (SBA), playing a key role in modernizing many of its programs and outreach efforts.

In addition to receiving his new committee assignment, Barrow also finalized his subcommittee assignments for the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the House Committee on Agriculture. For the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Barrow will serve on both the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness and the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

In the House Committee on Agriculture, Barrow was selected to join three subcommittees: General Farm Committees and Risk Management; Livestock and Horticulture; and Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs.