Committee to Hold Hearings on the Fiscal Cliff, Aviation User Fees and Medicare Competitive Bidding Program
The House Small Business Committee, chaired by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), today announced the schedule for the week of September 10, 2012:
On Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. the Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology, under the chairmanship of Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC), will conduct a hearing titled, Medicare’s Durable Medical Equipment Competitive Bidding Program: How are Small Suppliers Faring?
The hearing will focus on the Medicare competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS), and its impact on small suppliers. According to CMS, 51% of winning DMEPOS suppliers are small businesses. However, some small suppliers believe the program favors large companies and they are at a disadvantage.
On Wednesday, September 12, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. the Committee will conduct a hearing titled User Fees in the Aviation Industry: Turbulence Ahead.
The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the financial impact of additional user fees on small businesses within the aviation industry. In his fiscal year 2013 budget, President Obama proposed creating a $100 per flight fee, payable to the Federal Aviation Administration, by aviation operators who fly in controlled airspace. The General Aviation community is predominately made up of small businesses, employs about 1.2 million people, and contributes approximately $150 billion to the overall GDP. The hearing will examine whether the fee would stifle job creation and growth within the industry.
On Thursday, September 13, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, under the chairmanship of Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), will conduct a hearing titled, Adding to Uncertainty: Small Businesses' Perspectives on the Tax Cliff.
The purpose of the hearing is to examine how the December 31, 2012 expiration of current tax rates and tax increases proposed by the Obama Administration will impact small business job creation. Tax policies can have enormous influence on small business planning and operations, which in turn can have significant implications for future economic growth and job creation. On August 1st, the House voted to pass an extension of current tax rates, with 19 Democrats joining Republicans. A July study by accounting firm Ernst and Young found that the President’s proposal to raise taxes on more than 900,000 small companies would cost about 700,000 jobs.
Event Details:
Tuesday, September 11, 10:00 a.m. EDT
2360 Rayburn House Office Building
Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology
Medicare’s Durable Medical Equipment Competitive Bidding Program: How are Small Suppliers Faring?
Wednesday, September 12, 1:00 p.m. EDT
2360 Rayburn House Office Building
Small Business Committee
User Fees in the Aviation Industry: Turbulence Ahead
Thursday, September 13, 10:00 a.m. EDT
2360 Rayburn House Office Building
Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access
Adding to Uncertainty: Small Businesses' Perspectives on the Tax Cliff
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