Shaheen Welcomes Granite State Small Business Owner to Hearing Celebrating the Contributions of Small Businesses Throughout America’s History

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee , welcomed Granite State business owner and author Amanda Grappone Osmer to a Small Business Committee hearing highlighting the importance of small businesses to America’s history and economy. Grappone Osmer is a fourth-generation Granite Stater and owner of Grappone Automotive Group which was founded in New Hampshire over 100 years ago in 1924 and remains family-run to this day. Click HERE to watch Senator Shaheen’s introductory remarks and HERE to watch her questions. Key quotes from Senator Shaheen: “I am really pleased to introduce Amanda Grappone Osmer, who is the president of Grappone Auto Group in Concord, New Hampshire. Her great-grandparents started this business more than 100 years ago with a single gas station in Concord. The family’s grown the business to three dealerships in New Hampshire [...] She’s now the fourth generation to own and operate Grappone Automotive [...] Her whole family has contributed significantly to the well-being of the state of New Hampshire." “What’s interesting to me is that only about twelve percent of family businesses survive the transition from second to third generation. […] Talk about how you are able to survive, to be the fourth generation, and I loved your testimony where you talked about the fifth generation from the family. And also, what did you find in your book that surprised you about the contribution of small businesses or your family business to New Hampshire?” As the former Chair of the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee, Shaheen has championed efforts to support New Hampshire’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. That includes helping lead efforts in Congress to mitigate the harmful impacts of President Trump's tariffs on Main Street. Shaheen has traveled across the Granite State to discuss the impact of tariffs on New Hampshire’s tourism industry and to visit businesses impacted by President Trump’s trade war. Earlier this year, Shaheen led the introduction of the Speedy Tariff Refund Act , legislation that would require full refunds of President Trump’s illegal tariffs after they were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court by a 6-3 vote. ###