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Small Business Committee Newsletter Printer Friendly Version
Small Business Committee Notes
Friday, September 29, 2006 Printer Friendly Version
Small Business Committee Notes September 29, 2006 -- Issue 109-56 Phil Eskeland, Policy Director, House Committee on Small Business _____________________________ U.S. House Approves Extension of SBA Programs through Early 2007 On Tuesday, September 26, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to temporarily extend the programs of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) until February 2, 2007 to give Congress more time to complete a comprehensive review and reauthorization of the agency. H.R. 6159, authored by House Small Business Committee Chairman Donald Manzullo (R-IL), extends all the programs (including pilot programs) and authorities of the SBA beyond the current expiration date of September 30, 2006 until February 2, 2007. This extension is necessary because several key programs at the SBA are not supported by direct appropriations; therefore, passage of H.R. 6159 is important in order to make it absolutely certain that non-appropriated SBA programs can operate without question such as the 7(a), Certified Development Company (CDC), and Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) programs. The general extension language (until November 17, 2006) in the Continuing Resolution, which was attached to the final Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Appropriations conference report, applies to all other non-defense federal programs that currently receive an appropriation. In addition, H.R. 6159 would extend the authority of the SBA to operate several smaller programs whose authorizations are set to expire on Saturday including grants to Small Business Development Centers participating in the Drug-Free Workplace program; sustainability funding for Women Business Centers; the pre-disaster mitigation pilot program; the New Markets Venture Capital program; and BusinessLinc. SBA programs that received a line-item appropriation in Fiscal Year 2006, such as Small Business Development Centers, Women Business Centers, SCORE, Microloan, and PRIME, are extended by the continuing resolution. H.R. 6159 would also extend SBA’s co-sponsorship and gift authority, which enables the SBA to accept private donations to help put on events or print publications, thus saving the taxpayer precious dollars. “This temporary extension is necessary to give us more time to complete a more comprehensive reauthorization of the SBA,” Chairman Manzullo said. “We are still working on a package that would improve the SBA’s response to catastrophic disasters and expand the reach of the SBA’s finance and entrepreneurship programs to more small businesses in America. We will also eliminate unnecessary programs at the SBA and combat waste, fraud and abuse by increasing fines for misuse of SBA programs.” The Senate is expected to act on the legislation later tonight. For more information, please contact Phil Eskeland, Policy Director. _______________________________ Chairman Manzullo Urges DHS to Revamp, Strengthen Security Credential Process for Port Workers On Wednesday, September 27, House Small Business Committee Chairman Donald Manzullo (R-IL) said the government’s proposed security credential process for port workers is too cumbersome and costly for America’s small businesses and needs to be revamped and strengthened to be effective. Chairman Manzullo, who held a full committee hearing on the issue on Wednesday, said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not adequately consider the impact to America’s small businesses when it drafted the proposed rules to the Maritime Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). The initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (RFA), required by law, was seriously flawed and did not accurately reflect the full small business impact of the rule. “I’m glad that DHS is taking steps to secure our ports, but I want a workable solution for the long term,” Chairman Manzullo said. “We must make sure DHS doesn’t go through all this effort in developing this worker credential process only to have the small business community successfully challenge it in court. Securing our homeland is way too important to be left to lawsuits.” The TWIC is an expensive biometric identification card designed to ensure individuals who could pose security risks do not have access to our nation’s ports. To apply for a TWIC, workers must travel to a remote credentialing facility and submit information for a security background check. The rule also requires facilities and vessels to purchase an electronic reader, ranging in cost from $1,000 to $10,000, to verify the worker’s TWIC. “The DHS received nearly 2,000 comments about this proposed program, many from small businesses who say the TWIC is too expensive and would cost them business,” Chairman Manzullo said. “I called this hearing to give the DHS another opportunity to hear the concerns of small businesses so DHS can revamp and strengthen this proposed program.” As a follow-up to the hearing, both Chairman Manzullo and the Chairman of the Regulatory Reform & Oversight Subcommittee, Representative Todd Akin (R-MO), co-signed a letter on Thursday, September 28th to the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Representative Peter King (R-NY), asking him to support the inclusion of Section 104 of the Senate passed version of the SAFE Port Act (H.R. 4954), otherwise known as the Vitter amendment, in any final port security bill that passes Congress. This section would make various modifications to the TWIC program based on input from small business owners like those who testified before the committee on Wednesday. These changes include: 1) Provide newly hired workers the opportunity to being work immediately by conducting an initial background check; 2) Process Merchant Mariner Credentials and TWIC concurrently; 3) Thoroughly pilot test TWIC card readers prior to implementation that portion of the proposed rule; and 4) Stagger the implementation of TWIC cards base on the degree of risk associated with each facility and vessel. For more information, please contact Chris Szymanski, Professional Staff. _______________________________ Chairman Manzullo Hails National Plan to Certify Workers for Skilled Production Jobs On Monday, September 25, House Small Business Committee Chairman Donald Manzullo (R-IL) joined national manufacturing leaders in announcing a new program to train and certify workers in the advanced skills demanded by today’s American manufacturers. Chairman Manzullo, who also heads the House Manufacturing Caucus, joined National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO John Engler, Manufacturing Skill Standards Council CEO Leo Reddy, and other manufacturing leaders for Monday’s announcement at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. “As our manufacturers continue to innovate, a gap has developed in the skills manufacturing employees possess and the skills manufacturers need to continue to move American industries forward in the global marketplace,” Chairman Manzullo said. “This national certification program will train manufacturing employees in the advanced skills needed by today’s modern manufacturers.” A full 80 percent of manufacturers surveyed are having trouble finding qualified and skilled production employees, according to a recent NAM study. NAM estimates that U.S. manufacturers will face a 10 million skilled-workers shortage by 2020 if current trends go unchecked. Chairman Manzullo, who represents a heavy manufacturing district in northern Illinois, has been working with Leo Reddy and Rock Valley College President Dr. Jack Becherer to establish a similar certification program in Rockford, Illinois. Chairman Manzullo often visits with local manufacturers, and the number one complaint is that they can’t find employees who possess the advanced skills necessary in today’s manufacturing climate. “We have many great, high-paying manufacturing careers available to those who possess the necessary skills,” Chairman Manzullo said. “Our job now is to train and certify employees in these skills so they can help American manufacturers continue to innovate and thrive.” For more information, please contact Nathan McGrath, Legislative Assistant. _______________________________ Chairman Manzullo: America’s Small Businesses Thrived Under GOP House Leadership On Monday, September 25, House Small Business Committee Chairman Donald Manzullo (R-IL) issued a report that shows Republican leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives over the past 12 years has been a boon for America’s small businesses and their employees. “House Republicans have enacted an aggressive agenda to give America’s 25.8 million small businesses the tools they need to prosper and create jobs,” Chairman Manzullo said. “By reducing taxes, creating more affordable health care options, and eliminating unnecessary regulations, Republicans have made our small businesses more competitive in the global marketplace.” The 9-page report includes a comprehensive list of all legislative and administrative actions that have occurred since 1995 to help small businesses in the following categories: tax relief, regulatory relief, health care reform, litigation reform, procurement, and SBA programs. “Republicans will continue to promote legislation that gives small employers options to deal with the surging cost of health care; make all of the 2001 tax relief provisions permanent; fight burdensome and unnecessary federal regulations which hamper small business growth and their job creation potential; reform our litigious culture; encourage federal agencies to do more business with U.S. small businesses; and improve the programs at the SBA,” Chairman Manzullo said. A copy of the full report is attached.
_______________________________ Upcoming Events The House is currently in recess and will resume session post-election on Monday, November 13, 2006. No official committee activities are scheduled. The next edition of SBC Notes is planned to be released on Friday, November 17th. Election Day – Tuesday, November 7th _________________________________ Past hearings/mark-ups/roundtables/meetings in 2006 February 1, 2006 – Joint Tax, Finance & Exports (TF&E) and Rural Enterprises, Agriculture & Technology (REA&T) Subcommittee hearing on “Transforming the Tax Code: An Examination of the President’s Tax Reform Panel Recommendations.” February 8, 2006 – Regulatory Reform & Oversight (RR&O) Subcommittee hearing on “The Internet Sales Tax: Headaches Ahead for Small Business?” March 2, 2006 – Workforce Empowerment & Government Programs (WE&GP) Subcommittee hearing on the “Oversight of the Small Business Administration’s Entrepreneurial Development Programs.” March 8, 2006 – TF&E Subcommittee hearing on the “Oversight of the Small Business Administration’s Finance Programs.” March 15, 2006 – REA&T Subcommittee hearing entitled, “The Missouri River and its Spring Rise: Science or Science Fiction?” March 15, 2006 – hearing on the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget and Reauthorization Proposals of the SBA. March 16, 2006 – RR&O Subcommittee hearing entitled, “The State of Small Business Security in a Cyber Economy.” March 30, 2006 – RR&O Subcommittee hearing on the “Procurement Assistance Programs of the SBA.” April 5, 2006 – hearing on “IRS Latest Enforcement: Is the Bulls-Eye on Small Businesses?” April 6, 2006 – RR&O Subcommittee hearing entitled “Can Small Healthcare Groups Feasibly Adopt Electronic Medical Records Technology?” April 26, 2006 – hearing on “Cutting Our Trade Deficit: Can the U.S. Muster Its Diverse Trade Promotion Operations to Make an Impact?” April 27, 2006 – WE&GP Subcommittee hearing on “Healthcare and Small Business: Proposals that will Help Lower Costs and Cover the Uninsured.” May 3, 2006 – REA&T Subcommittee hearing on “The Future of Rural Telecommunications: Is Universal Service Reform Needed?” May 3, 2006 – hearing on “What is the Proper Balance between Investor Protection and Capital Formation for Smaller Public Companies?” May 10, 2006 – hearing on “Bridging the Equity Gap: Examining the Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs Act of 2006.” May 23, 2006 – RR&O Subcommittee hearing on “Data Protection and the Consumer: Who Loses When Your Data Takes a Hike?” May 25, 2006 – REA&T Subcommittee hearing on “Unlocking Charitable Giving.” June 7, 2006 – hearing on “Contracting the Internet: Does ICANN Create a Barrier to Small Business? June 21, 2006 – Joint hearing with the Government Reform Committee on “Northern Lights and Procurement Plights: The Effect of the ANC Program on Federal Procurement and Alaska Native Corporations.” June 27, 2006 – RR&O Subcommittee hearing on “S Corporations: Their History and Challenges.” June 27, 2006 – WE&GP Subcommittee hearing on “Immigrant Employer Verification and Small Business.” June 28, 2006 – TF&E Subcommittee hearing on “The Effects of the High Cost of Natural Gas on Small Businesses and Future Energy Technologies.” July 13, 2006 – RR&O Subcommittee hearing on “An Update on Administration Action to Reduce Unnecessary Regulatory Burdens on America’s Small Manufacturers.” July 20, 2006 – Joint REA&T and TF&E Subcommittee hearing on “Does China Enact Barriers to Fair Trade?” July 25, 2006 – hearing on “Failure to Comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act: IRS Endangering Small Businesses Yet Again.” August 10, 2006 – WE&GP Subcommittee field hearing in Loveland, CO on “Health Care and Small Business – Real Options for Colorado Businesses.” September 27, 2006 – hearing on “Advancing Security and Commerce at Our Nation’s Ports: The Goals are not Mutually Exclusive.” _____________________________ Small Business Website Check out the Small Business Committee website at http://www.house.gov/smbiz. The site includes regular updates on small business committee news. The site features special projects, press releases, hearings and scheduling information. _______________________________ Phil Eskeland Deputy Chief of Staff & Policy Director House Committee on Small Business Phil.Eskeland@mail.house.gov (202) 225-5821 To contact any staff member listed in the above newsletter, please use the general number for the House Small Business Committee – (202) 225-5821. Please E-mail me if you want to be removed from the mailing list or if you know of others who might be interested in receiving this publication. Mission Statement of the House Committee on Small Business "We promote the success of America’s small businesses by leveling the global economic playing field and reducing domestic burdens that impede their growth. In this spirit, we work to ensure that every branch of the U.S. government understands the critical role America’s small businesses play – both at home and abroad – including the jobs they create and the spirit of entrepreneurship they embody
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