Case Bringing U.S. House Committee on Small Business to Hawaii for Hearing

NEWS RELEASE August 1, 2005

Case Bringing U.S. House Committee on
Small Business to Hawaii for Aug. 9 hearing
Committee to focus on Hawaii small business federal assistance and procurement

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Ed Case announced today that the U.S. House Committee on Small Business will hold a field hearing in Honolulu on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 to review federal government services for Hawaii small businesses and to facilitate small business access to federal government contracts in Hawaii.

Small Business Committee Chairman Donald Manzullo ( R-Illinois), Case (a committee member since 2003), and other members of Congress will conduct the hearing at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, 2552 Kalakaua Avenue, at 9:00 a.m. on the 9th. They and their colleagues are transiting through Hawaii following a ten-day congressional delegation to China focused on international trade, military and human rights issues.

"We in Hawaii know that Hawaii business is small business, and I appreciate Chair Manzullo agreeing to my request to conduct a formal committee hearing so that Hawaii's small business community can communicate exclusively and directly to the committee. This is a very good chance for us to let our Congress know how we need to maximize federal assistance and procurement for our small business community, said Case.

The committee intends to hear from Hawaii representatives of the federal Small Business Administration, Economic Development Administration and Department of Defense, the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and a representative Hawaii small business owner. Although, under Congress's standard committee rules, actual testimony will be limited to six invited witnesses, Case said he welcomes written submissions and will have them included in the official hearing record.

Recent statistics by the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy show more than 100,000 small businesses in Hawaii employing about 243,000 people with an annual payroll of $7.1 billion. Hawaii small business also has a disproportionately high number of women and minority-owned businesses.

"Our committee is especially interested in hearing about the unique challenges of providing federal assistance to local Hawaii businesses. The committee also wants to focus on the challenges and opportunities for Hawaii small businesses in winning federal contracts, especially defense-related," said Case.

http://wwwc.house.gov/case/press_releases/2005/2005-51.html