Golden to Serve House Small Business Committee

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) was named last week to the House Small Business Committee for the 118th Congress. This is Golden’s third term on the committee. The congressman plans to use his position on the committee to build on his work in Maine’s Second District and help the state’s existing businesses grow, innovate, and hire more Mainers. 

“Growing up in a small business family, I know firsthand how important small, family-owned businesses are to towns all over Maine,” said Congressman Golden. “With hundreds of thousands of hard-working Mainers counting on local businesses for their paycheck, so much depends on these businesses’ success. I’ve been proud to use my position on this committee to support the growth of Maine businesses and Maine jobs and I’m looking forward to building on that track record to boost Maine’s economy.”

Golden will also serve on three subcommittees: the Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains, the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access, and the Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations.

Maine small businesses employ over 293,313 workers in Maine and account for 99.2% of all businesses in the state. 

“I am pleased that Congressman Golden will continue his work on the Committee on Small Business,” said Dana Connors, President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.  “Congressman Golden understands that Maine is a small business state through and through and he has been a consistent and key ally for the workers who depend on these businesses. We are looking forward to continuing to work with him to secure the resources and support that our small businesses need to grow and thrive.”

The House Committee on Small Business has jurisdiction over regulations, grants, and federal contracting for small businesses across the country. The Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains will address the issues facing rural economic and business growth, increase America’s energy independence, and ensure America’s small businesses can compete effectively in a global marketplace. The Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access will oversee the evaluation of the operation of the financial markets in the United States and their ability to provide needed capital to small businesses. The Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations will oversee review of the regulatory burdens imposed on small businesses by federal agencies and how those burdens may be alleviated. 

Since his election to Congress, Golden has been a champion of rural small business owners and entrepreneurs. As the Chairman of the Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development Subcommittee in the 117th Congress, Golden consistently advocated for resources and support for small businesses. In April, the House of Representatives passed Golden’s bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. Golden grew up in a small business family, helping his parents operate their business in Leeds, Maine. 

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