Sustaining job growth spurred by small business

According to the recently released December 2011 ADP National Employment Report, more than 85 percent of jobs created last month came from small businesses.

Of the 148,000 jobs created by small enterprises during the time period, 130,000 were from the service-producing sector and the remainder were in goods production.

"As the private sector tries to lead our nation out of the worst economy in a generation, Washington should focus on ways to help small companies build from their holiday hires, because small business growth is the key to addressing our unemployment crisis," said Missouri Republican Congressman Sam Graves, chairman of the House Small Business Committee, in a recent statement.

Graves called for lawmakers to support entrepreneurs in their efforts to expand their companies. Specifically, he urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring bipartisan jobs bills up for a vote in the Senate, including the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act and the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act.

"Small businesses want to hire and invest in their companies more, but they need Washington to work together to address the uncertainty they face," he said."