Friends:

This week, the President traveled to my home state of Missouri to talk to workers at a biorefining plant about job creation and the economy.  The President discussed the important role that increased domestic energy resources will play in our recovery, but he failed to mention the overwhelming benefits that expanding trade opportunities for American businesses could have on our economy and job markets. 

Trade is critical to America’s prosperity.  Our trade industry supports roughly 10 million jobs and contributes 12.7 percent to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.  In 2008 alone, the U.S. exported $1.8 trillion worth of goods.  Unfortunately, small businesses represent only 30 percent of the total value of goods exported from the U.S. 

Creating more market access for small businesses by implementing pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea is one of the best things Congress and the Administration can do to improve the American economy and foster job creation.   We need to give our innovative American businesses the opportunity to compete fairly in the global marketplace.  It is past time to act on finalizing these agreements. 

Sam Graves


News from the Small Business Committee:
(Please send any Member media activity to Alexandra.Haynes@mail.house.gov)

• The House Small Business Committee Republicans will be launching a NEW WEBSITE next week – be sure to check http://republicans.smbiz.house.gov to explore it!

• The House Small Business Committee Republicans will be launching a NEW WEBSITE next week – be sure to check  to explore it!

• Ranking Member Graves released a statement on President Obama’s visit to Macon, Missouri.

• Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) published his Message from Main Street: “Obama making legislative war on business.”

• All 12 Republican Members of the House Small Business Committee received the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for their pro-business voting record in 2009. To view a complete list of the 2009 Spirit of Enterprise recipients and to learn more about the award, click here.

• Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) is the recipient of Goodwill Industries International’s National Policymaker Award for 2010.

• Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) released a statement entitled, “President Disappoints Northeast Missourians with More Empty Promises.”

• Rep. Luetkemeyer discussed the President’s visit to Missouri in the Quincy Herald Whig.

• Rep. Luetkemeyer also commented in the Hannibal Courier-Post article, “Cap-and-trade could be sore spot on Obama visit.”  He also contributed to another Hannibal Courier-Post article on the impact of cap-and-trade on rural America.

House Small Business Committee Action

• On Wednesday, April 28th, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing entitled, “Evaluating the Impact of Small Business Trade Policy on Job Creation and Economic Growth.” Read more about the hearing and learn what was discussed here.

Click here to watch video footage of the trade hearing and hear Ranking Member Graves’ opening statement.

• On Wednesday, May 5th, the House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Tax Initiatives that Promote Small Business Growth.”  

Updates from Washington:
(Please send any Member initiatives related to small business and job creation to Paul.Sass@mail.house.gov)

• This week, the House passed a three month extension of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) core programs through July 31, 2010.  The legislation (S. 3253) has been cleared for the White House and is expected to be signed shortly.   

• On Tuesday, the Senate Small Business Committee conducted a hearing entitled, “Connecting Main Street to the World: Federal Efforts to Expand Small Business Internet Access.”  Ranking Member Olympia Snowe (R-ME) called on witnesses from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), SBA, and other agencies to discuss whether the FCC’s National Broadband Plan adequately increases broadband access to small businesses, particularly located in rural areas.  To view a webcast of the hearing, click here.

• On Monday, President Barack Obama signed two executive orders regarding small business federal contracting opportunities.

• Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) introduced legislation to repeal a portion of the new health care law that could be particularly damaging to small businesses. The Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act (H.R. 5141) would remove section 9006 of the new health care law.  Section 9006 would place an excessive burden on small business by requiring any business that purchases more than $600 of goods or services from another business submit a Form 1099 to the Internal Revenue Service. The mandate is to take effect in 2012.  Learn more here.

 News and Resources for Small Business Owners:

• The Heritage Foundation released “Obamacare: No Friend of Small Business,” an article that explores the impact of the new health care law.

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce published “Health Care Reform And Your Business” to help small business owners learn how the health care law will affect their business.