6/17/2004
WASHINGTON--"You are sitting among some of the most powerful people in the country, and you are one of the most powerful people in the country." Those are the words that NFIB members and small-business delegates from around the country heard from NFIB President and CEO Jack Faris to officially open the 2004 NFIB National Small Business Summit in Washington today.
The summit came to an official opening for activism, learning and lobbying Thursday morning, following a kick-off reception and entertainment on Wednesday evening.
The full two-day summit features workshops pertinent to small business, speakers and appearances by national leaders. "We've packed a lot into these two days," Faris said. "It's information you can take home and use in your business."
Faris gave delegates a rundown of the big issues of important to small business right now and encouraged delegates to contact their lawmakers on issues like health care, the upcoming election and the economy.
"Small-business owners are leading us out of a recession in a big way," Faris said. "Research indicates that 2004 will be one of the strongest years economically in the past two decades."
Calling Small-Business Health Plans (AHPs) a "prescription for fairness" -- the House has passed AHP legislation seven times and the president has agreed to sign it, yet the Senate has not brought it up -- Faris urged delegates to sign NFIB's petition while they are here at the Summit, urging the Senate to act.
"Making health insurance available is our No. 1 priority," Faris continued. "And if they (Congress) want to continue working in this town, it better be their priority too."
