By Carol Sakowitz, Charlotte Sun Weekly and Herald Area small business leaders aired their concerns regarding the current difficulty in obtaining bank loans to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, Monday at a field hearing conducted at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus near the county line. The hearing was chaired by U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., chairman of… Read more »

The House Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Small Business Administration and its Programs” on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.  During the hearing, the Committee will examine a wide range of matters concerning the operation and efficacy of SBA programs. WHAT:   “Oversight of the Small Business Administration and… Read more »

Friends: Growing up in a family business, I learned that it’s virtually impossible to meet your obligations and stay out of debt without a responsible budget.  Unfortunately, something as big as a budget doesn’t seem to be as important in Washington as it is on Main Street.  Every April 15th, while Americans are busy making sure they’ve filed their taxes and paid their debts to the… Read more »

On Wednesday, April 14th, the House Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing entitled, “Entrepreneurs and Tax Day:  How IRS Policies and Procedures Impact Small Businesses.” The hearing will examine IRS policies on non-compliant taxpayers, customer service, and the administration of recent tax policies affecting small businesses. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner… Read more »

In these difficult economic times, our government needs to take every step to make sure small businesses can thrive.  These employers have created seven out of every ten jobs in recent decades, and with unemployment still hovering around ten percent, it is clear that small businesses will play a critical role in stabilizing our economy.  However, instead of encouraging job creation… Read more »

Friends: As you are all aware, the controversial health care reform legislation passed the House last Sunday, March 21st, and was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Tuesday, March 23rd.  Needless to say, I am disappointed that Majority leaders chose to push an unprecedented overhaul of our health care system through Congress on a purely partisan vote.   The will of the… Read more »

On March 22, 2010, Ranking Member Sam Graves appeared as a radio guest on the show "Build Your Business"  During the show, Ranking Member Graves discusses how the unstable policies of Washington have caused small businesses economic uncertainty and why small businesses deserve a commitment to economic growth and job creation. Click here to listen to the show. Read more »

The House Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing entitled, “Small Business Participation in the Federal Procurement Marketplace” on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  The hearing will examine the role small businesses play in the government contracting process. WHAT:         “Small Business Participation in the Federal Procurement… Read more »

 Friends: This weekend, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi intends to force passage of her government takeover of health care, despite the fact that the American people have expressed widespread opposition to the legislation and process. Earlier this week, I joined more than 120 of my Republican colleagues in speaking out against the Majority’s health care bill on the House floor.   House Small… Read more »

The House Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing entitled, “Business Incubators and Their Role in Job Creation” on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  The hearing will examine the impact that business incubators have on fostering entrepreneurship and job creation across the United States.   The hearing will also explore the relationship… Read more »