U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate hearing in the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, on which Heitkamp serves, considering the nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the U.S. Small Business Administration. Heitkamp met with McMahon one-on-one in her office earlier this month to discuss her nomination.
“Some of the most exciting startup and innovation hubs aren’t in New York or Silicon Valley – they’re in rural states like North Dakota, and it’s crucial that our next Small Business Administration leader understands their unique needs so we can better support their success,” said Heitkamp. “When I sat down with Linda McMahon, I spoke with her about the need to zero in on small businesses and startups in rural communities, and I’m glad she accepted my invitation to visit North Dakota so she can see their enterprising work firsthand, just as her predecessor did. During her nomination hearing, I highlighted the unique set of challenges rural small businesses and startups face and asked her about ways the Small Business Administration can help rural entrepreneurs – particularly North Dakota’s exceptional women and Native business owners – make sure they’re able to seize opportunities that can grow jobs and local economies. In the U.S. Senate, I’ve been fighting for legislation to provide the flexibility and reinforcement businesses need, and I’ll keep extending a hand to the SBA to make sure the agency remains a critical partner in building and growing innovation in rural America.”
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