| Weekly Update from Sam |
Dear Friends,
This is the 50th National Small Business Week, a time to recognize the importance of small firms to our nation. When small businesses see widespread growth, the benefits can be felt throughout the economy. The first President to recognize National Small Business Week, John F. Kennedy, described this philosophy when he said “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Small firms that are growing are more likely to consider expanding or investing in new equipment. They hire more people. And they create more tax revenue. Our nation’s job market will not fully recover until small businesses throughout the country are optimistic and growing. This week, Committee Republicans highlighted National Small Business Week daily, including at a special hearing where owners and leaders of small American manufacturing firms told their stories in Washington, D.C. Their stories reaffirmed what we hear weekly from small businesses who are innovating to survive, but concerned about economic uncertainty, health care reform, over regulation, and tax complexity.
The celebration of National Small Business Week was interrupted by the news that the Obama administration is behind schedule on setting up the Small Business Health Option Program (SHOP) exchanges that are required by the health care law. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released two reports, including one that I requested, indicating that the Administration is ill-equipped for the implementation of the federally facilitated health insurance and SHOP exchanges. These delays and missed deadlines, the reports state, show potential for more “implementation challenges going forward.” In April, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), one of the chief architects of the health care law, warned that the administration’s implementation attempt is headed for a “train wreck.” Many of us who have opposed the law from the beginning share his concern. Increasingly, the administration is showing it is ill-prepared to implement the costly and far-reaching law.
Sincerely,
Sam Graves
Chairman
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Latest Committee Action
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On Wednesday, the Committee highlighted the success and survival stories of American small manufacturing firms that rode out the recession and the difficult business climate. American manufacturing is still responsible for 11 million jobs and has the potential for more. These small manufacturers are proud that their products are made in the USA, but concerned by the lack of a skilled American workforce and the government impediments that make doing business more challenging instead of facilitating growth.
On Thursday, the Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade examined the potential economic and employment benefits – particularly among small businesses – of producing more domestic oil and natural gas through new technologies. Recent advancements make it more economical to produce vast amounts of oil and gas from unconventional petroleum deposits, such as shale gas and tight oil. This increased production of oil and natural gas has the potential to ease U.S. dependence on oil and gas imports, contribute up to $111 billion in new federal, state and local tax revenues, and create 3 million new associated jobs, including up to 1 million manufacturing jobs. Many of these new jobs will be created by small businesses.
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News from Washington
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Yesterday, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947) was defeated on the House floor by a vote of 195-234. The five-year “farm bill” would have saved taxpayers $40 billion in deficit reduction, reformed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and consolidated or repealed over 100 programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. After the vote, Graves said in a statement, “I’m disappointed that the House failed to pass a Farm Bill today. Passage of the bill would have marked a critical step in providing certainty to farmers and growers. I hope that the House will soon consider a revised bill that can pass the chamber and get us closer to working through our differences with the Senate.”
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| Notable Op-Ed |
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Appreciation for Our Small Businesses
By Sam Graves
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| June 21, 2013 |
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| What We're Reading |
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Small Biz Resources
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| Tweet of the Week |
| @SmallBizGOP Mr. Bergmeier: My company will remain at 44 full time employees due to health care law #NSBW |
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