Jim Justice Discusses Importance Of Small Business When Questioning Trump Administration Nominees

2 days ago

At a Senate Small Business Committee hearing last week, Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) quesitoned Trump Administration nominees.

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Transcript

00:00questions. We've had some great dialogue today. You're recognized.

00:04Madam Chairman, thank you so much, and thank both of these wonderful young men that I've

00:11had the opportunity to talk to and be with, and I really appreciate both that. I can tell

00:19you just this. From Jim Justice's standpoint, Jim Justice is a business guy. He's not a

00:26politician. I'm a small business guy, and I've had dialogue with both these individuals,

00:33and we are blessed. We are just flat blessed to have them both. Mr. Briggs was here before,

00:43and you bring so much to the table. Mr. Mulligan, I am just so impressed with you, it's off

00:50the charts. With all that being said, I've got a couple of questions. They're kind of

00:55bland in themselves, but I would just tell you first and foremost that you can't fathom

01:03in West Virginia how important our small businesses are, but we really can't fathom all across

01:10this nation absolutely that the guts, the absolute everything we have in this nation

01:19starts with our small businesses. With all that being said, again, we have two guys here,

01:26two gentlemen, that are going to lead us, and they're going to knock it flat out of

01:31the park, and I promise you that. If I could ask this question real quick. Mr. Briggs,

01:38you've been there before, and my question reads, can you tell us today how your prior

01:44experience at SBA is going to serve you the very best and serve all of us at the highest

01:51level? Thank you, Senator, for that question. During the first term, I had the privilege

01:57to travel your state three times on Office of Capital Access Business. I'm a big fan

02:02of West Virginia. You loved it, didn't you? I loved it, yeah. Now we're talking. We were

02:07doing that during the rural initiatives, one of the things that we did. Sir, I served at

02:12the SBA at probably the most crucial time in the agency's history outside of its founding,

02:17and it was stretched to its limit. From that kind of experience, or battlefield experience

02:23as it were, you just learn things you would otherwise never learn. You understand it.

02:27You're quickly, intuitively understanding how the agency works and what needs to be

02:31done. In addition to that kind of insight or knowledge of how it works, I also bring

02:35these tremendous external relationships formed during that era, and a willingness to work

02:40with the committee on both sides, particularly as it comes to disaster response and related

02:45issues to better serve American small businesses. I believe that. I believe every part. Absolutely,

02:54not only do I believe, but all of us will hold you to that, too. I think we'll hold

03:01you to that very proudly. If I could go to Mr. Mulligan just real quick and just say

03:07just this. You know West Virginia. I just spoke just a second ago. I had the great opportunity

03:14to be the governor of West Virginia for eight years. Just think about this. I've said this

03:19over and over and over. What is my number one responsibility when I was their governor?

03:27My number one responsibility, you may think, well, take care of the people. Absolutely

03:34be there when things get really tough on them and everything. All those things are

03:38true. Absolutely make sure we're safe. All those things are true, but the number one

03:45thing that I felt was get the economics right. Make sure the economics were right, because

03:52if the economics were right, then you could do so much for so many. If the economics are

03:58upside down, and believe me, when I walked in the door, and I don't say this braggadociosly,

04:03but West Virginia was bankrupt. That's all there is to it. All of a sudden, we got it

04:07really, really, really cooking. At the end of the day, we'd have never got it really

04:12cooking if it hadn't been for great people like you and absolutely all the support of

04:18SBA all across the planet in West Virginia. Mr. Mulligan, understanding all that and understanding

04:26absolutely how vital our economy is, tell us, tell me just a couple of things about

04:34how you would support a rural economy in absolutely every way.

04:41Thank you for your question. I was glad to be in your office and share with you the priorities

04:44that I have for the Office of Advocacy, if I'm confirmed. The rural small businesses

04:50are something that the office is well situated to serve and listen to. Really, it's a listening

04:55exercise and coming back and communicating. So the office has been, historically, it's

05:00been to West Virginia to visit the small businesses where they are. There was a lime business

05:04there they recently visited. With the farmers, we have the opportunity to go out and meet

05:11them, also virtual meetings. And the whole point is to listen and then come back to Washington

05:17where they, in Washington they have authority but not knowledge, and relay, hey, the small

05:22businesses in West Virginia, they have these concerns, and you really need to take them

05:25into account before you make your policies.

05:29Let me just add one comment. You're splitting the bullseye on one thing. You know, I'm a

05:35real believer if you want to know what's going on with your business, you've got to get out

05:38there and get dirty and get right with the people. You know, that's all there is to it.

05:43And literally, I hear you in every way. And that is a terrific answer to me. Madam Chairman,

05:49thank you so much for allowing me to speak.

05:52You bet. Thank you, Senator Justice.

Jim Justice Discusses Importance Of Small Business When Questioning Trump Administration Nominees

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