{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases/stauber-highlights-eighth-district-business-house-small-business-showcase", "Stauber Highlights Eighth District Business at House Small Business Showcase", "2026-05-19", "2026", "2026-05", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Pete Stauber", "S001212", "stauber.house.gov", "stauber", "https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Recently, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) participated in the House Small Business Committee\u2019s 3rd Annual Small Business Showcase, held in the United States Capitol. At the invitation of Congressman Stauber, Bemidji Woolen Mills, an innovative small business from Minnesota\u2019s 8th Congressional District, was featured.\n\nBemidji Woolen Mills is a retail store and clothing manufacturer in Bemidji, Minnesota. This iconic company was started by Ira Preston Betchelder in 1920 and is now headed up by his great grandson, Bill Batchelder. Over the century this company has been in business, it has become an iconic staple not only in the Bemidji community, but globally. During the 2012 election campaign, Bemidji Woolen Mills vests were named as TIME Magazine\u2019s No. 15 Most Memorable Item, as presidential candidate Rick Santorum purchased 6,500 vests for his team. Other notables who have been seen wearing sweaters, vests or jackets that came from this business are South African President Nelson Mandela, comedian Billy Crystal, and actor John Goodman.\n\nCongressman Stauber stated, \u201cBemidji Woolen Mills embodies the resilience, craftsmanship, and community spirit that define America\u2019s small businesses. It was an honor to invite them to the Small Business Showcase to celebrate their success and highlight exactly who the House Small Business Committee is fighting for here in Washington, D.C. As a former small business owner, I understand firsthand the challenges entrepreneurs face every day, which is why I am proud to have delivered meaningful victories for Main Street businesses through the passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. I will continue fighting to ensure small businesses like Bemidji Woolen Mills have the opportunity to grow, create jobs, and strengthen communities across our country.\u201d\n\nOf his visit, Bill Batchelder stated, \u201cThe employees of Bemidji Woolen Mills and the Batchelder family were humbled, blessed, and thankful to be part of the Small Business Showcase in Washington D.C. For 106 years, we have been afforded the opportunity by our great State of Minnesota to operate a family-owned small business in historic downtown Bemidji, Minnesota.\n\n\u201cLooking to the future, we are concerned with the barriers to entry for future entrepreneurs: rules, regulations, taxes, zoning, etc. We need to look no further than northern Minnesota to see the incredible family businesses that have been created and have added so much to their communities and our state. Small town America is where entrepreneurs can thrive the best. How many individuals\u2019 dreams will come to fruition in basements, garages and backyards? Let's make it happen for today's generation.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:21:02Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases/stauber-highlights-eighth-district-business-house-small-business-showcase"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9714499358087778, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}