Spotlight on the 117th Congress:
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) Q
What skills or perspectives from your background do you apply as a public official?
A
During my time working for President Clinton, Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Speaker Thomas Foley, I learned that it’s possible to find a bipartisan path forward without compromising your core values. I firmly believe that it doesn’t matter if an idea comes from the Democratic or Republican side of the aisle – only whether it will help my constituents in New Jersey’s fifth district. My experiences working in the private sector, at Microsoft and Ford, taught me the importance of understanding the needs of the business community. This has been invaluable as I work with my colleagues to support local businesses and ensure our local economies can recover from the pandemic.
Q A
You are co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress. How do groups like this benefit the business community and the nation?
The Problem Solvers Caucus, which I’m proud to co-chair with my Republican colleague, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), is focused every day on fixing the most pressing issues facing our country. For instance, in late 2020, when we were negotiating the bipartisan emergency COVID-19 relief package, the Problem Solvers Caucus fought to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and invest in COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution. We also helped get bipartisan legislation passed, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, to make PPP more accessible for more businesses looking to weather the COVID-19 economic storm.
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Q A
What do you see as the current biggest threat to small-business owners? What challenges have you helped small businesses in your district overcome?
Small businesses are the bedrock of the communities I represent in north Jersey. They’re our job creators and the backbone of our economy. I’m dedicated to working across the aisle to lower taxes, cut outdated and unnecessarily burdensome red tape, improve access to capital, unleash more economic opportunity and create jobs – to continue making my district a great place to live and do business.
Right now, many businesses are facing supply chain issues, shipping delays and rising costs. I’m working in Congress and back at home in New Jersey to do everything I can to resolve our nation’s supply chain crisis – to cut costs for our families to make life more affordable and support our local businesses. Earlier this fall, I convened the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Federal Maritime Commission and shipping stakeholders at the port in Newark, New Jersey, and announced steps to combat supply chain issues, including critical congressional oversight, dedicated federal action from the Federal Maritime Commission and relevant authorities to investigate the practices of major ocean carriers for any collusion or anti-competitive practices, modernization of how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security tracks and clears ship traffic, and passing key bipartisan ocean shipping reform legislation – the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021.
Q A
In what ways are you seeking feedback from small businesses in your state/district and using that information in Washington, D.C.?
I’m always going around my district to meet with business owners and workers to learn from the different industries that make up North Jersey’s local economies and to hear about any issues they may be facing. I take all of what I learn from my constituents back to Washington to inform what I’m doing in Congress, because it’s my job to fight for them.
Q A
How has your role on the House Financial Services Committee allowed you to affect legislation affecting small businesses?
I work with my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee to help cut burdensome regulations for large and small businesses alike, to expand access to capital while protecting consumers and to help make life more affordable in north Jersey. When legislation is moving through the Financial Services Committee and through Congress, I’m focused on ensuring small-business provisions help in the short term, especially as we continue recovering from the pandemic, and help build long-term growth.
