Harrisburg - The Pennsylvania Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has named Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Lehigh/Northampton) a "Guardian of Small Business" for her outstanding voting record on pro-business legislation during the 2011-12 legislative session.

"I recognize the importance of our small business community and have always advocated for legislation that allows these businesses to succeed," said Harhart. "We have made a lot of strides in terms of making Pennsylvania more business friendly during this session and I look forward to continuing to support a pro-jobs, pro-business agenda as we look to the future. It is only through the support and success of our small business community that we will be able to lower the unemployment rate and once again experience a healthy and robust economy."I am honored to be among those legislators recognized by the NFIB and will continue to support our small business men and women in any way I can," she said."Guardians of Small Business" designations are awarded to legislators who consistently vote favorably on key small business issues. The votes tracked this session are among the highest priorities of NFIB's small business agenda - legal reform and regulatory relief, tax and fiscal policy, and unemployment and workers' compensation reforms.