Rep. Graves to lead House Small Business Committee

WASHINGTON (AP) - Missouri Republican Congressman Sam Graves will lead a House panel focused on businesses.

Graves said Wednesday that he had been selected to the lead the Small Business Committee after Republicans take control of the House next month. Graves currently is the top-ranking GOP member on the Democratic-led panel. He is from Tarkio, and his congressional district covers northwestern Missouri.

Graves says he wants to focus on reducing waste and fraud in programs designed to boost small business development. He also plans to identify ways to address health care, taxes and energy issues without increasing the national debt or harming employers.