WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan chaired a House Small Business Committee hearing focused on how small businesses incorporate social and environmental responsibility into their business model and the role of the federal government in empowering and supporting them.
“Small businesses have been critical leaders in the practice of corporate social responsibility,” said Houlahan. “Now more than ever, it is crucial for companies to invest in workers, the environment and community, to build sustainable business practices, and to promote diversity and inclusion. I was honored to serve as the Small Business Committee Chair today as we work on a bipartisan basis to elevate the power and promise of corporate social responsibility. Hearing from local small business owners from our community and beyond today was an important first step towards building an economy that is more fully invested in acting responsibly for all.”
“As corporations become increasingly drawn to social responsibility, we cannot forget that on Main Streets across America, small businesses are deeply embedded in enriching their communities and the planet,” said Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “I thank Representative Houlahan for her leadership on this issue and for conducting today’s hearing where entrepreneurs were given a platform to share how the federal government can better assist small businesses in providing for their employees, safeguarding the environment, and building a more just future.”
“Sean McElwee, who testified before the Committee today, is an inspirational leader in the business community and a perfect example of how the inclusion of the disability community in the workforce can have a great societal impact,” said Ranking Member Pete Stauber (R-MN). “I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to implement legislation that helps people like Sean pursue their dreams.”
“Small businesses have the opportunity to demonstrate that regardless of size, they have the power to be a force for good through social and environmental responsibility,” said Jaime Arroyo, Managing Partner at Work Wisdom, LLC. in Lancaster, PA who testified before the Committee. “Businesses can and should create inclusive and equitable workplaces as well as promote sustainable practices.”
Full video of the hearing can be found here.
Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She’s in her first term representing Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.
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