<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing on blockchain’s impact on small businesses next week.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The hearing – "Building Blocks of Change: The Benefits of Blockchain Technology for Small Businesses" will be held at 11:30 a.m. EDT on March 4, <a href="https://smallbusiness.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=3159" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according to the committee’s website</a>. The hearing "will explore how innovators and entrepreneurs are using blockchain technology to help small businesses boost productivity, increase security, open new markets, and change the way business is done."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The witnesses set to appear are Shane Bigelow, CEO of Ownum; Marvin Ammori, general counsel for Protocol Labs; Jim Harper, visiting fellow for the American Enterprise Institute; and Dawn Dickson, CEO of PopCom.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When reached for comment, committee chairwoman Nydia </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Velázquez told The Block that </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">"i</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">t is vital that Congress keep pace with the evolving needs of our country’s innovative small businesses."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Entrepreneurs across the nation have already begun to utilize blockchain to enhance their security, spread their products to new markets, and run their daily operations," she said in a statement. "Congress must have a clear understanding of how blockchain is utilized and how it can help small businesses moving forward."</span></p>