Dear Friends,

In the midst of nearly nine percent unemployment, a $14 trillion debt and massive deficit—bold measures must be taken to get our economy back on track. Unfortunately, based on the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal, it is obvious they see otherwise. In fact, the SBA Administrator has proposed new costly initiatives—all of which are highly unlikely to help small businesses create any jobs.

For this reason, I proposed cutting $100 million, or roughly 10 percent, from the SBA budget during this week’s Small Business Committee markup. No federal agency should be immune from spending cuts— and the SBA is no different.  Some of the programs cut were duplicative and the others showed no evidence of helping small businesses create jobs.

House Republicans must continue on this path, and look for more ways to cut spending and root out government waste as we did during the Committee markup on Tuesday. I talk more about this in my op-ed that was posted on TownHall.com this week. Click here to read the op-ed on how federal spending cuts will spur more small business job creation.

Also this week, the House Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Republicans unveiled a study, “Spend Less, Owe Less, Grow the Economy”, that proves what we have known for a long time— less government spending lowers the deficit, which boosts economic growth and job creation. Click here to read the JEC study.

I was also very pleased to see business owners from around the country joining House Republican leaders at an interactive forum on job creation in the Capitol on Wednesday. The forum focused on ways to better create an environment of certainty, eliminate barriers to growth, and foster an environment for job creation. You can watch the entire forum by clicking here.


Sam Graves
Chairman

On Tuesday, March 15th, the House Small Business Committee held a Full Committee markup on the Committee Views and Estimates on the Small Business Administration’s FY 2012 Budget. Click here to read Chairman Graves' opening statement regarding the $100 million in SBA cuts.

On Wednesday, March 16th, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing to begin work on reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Last fully authorized in 2000, the SBIR program is an effective way to jump start entrepreneurs, grow our economy and create jobs. The hearing included testimony from Mr. Tom Tullie, CEO, President and Chairman of EcoATM; Dr. David B. Audretsch of Indiana University; Dr. Mike Squillante, Chairman of the Board of the Small Business Technology Council and Ms. Amy Comstock Rick, CEO of Parkinson's Action Network. Click here to read more.

Follow the Small Biz Committee Today 

Be sure to check out all the different ways you can follow what is happening on the Small Business Committee through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the Committee website.

• WSJ: GOP Lawmaker Seeks SBA Cuts
• Washington Post: House Republicans Try to Steer Focus Back to Jobs
• Biz Journal: Tough Choices on SBA Budget
• Accounting Today: Small Business Bankruptcies Drop

• Graves Welcomes New Committee Member Rep. Hanna
• Tipton Introduces Legislation Aimed at Attracting Business Investment and Job Creation
• Graves to Join Fleischmann at Small Business Forum 

• NFIB: 4 Labor Laws Every Small Business Owner Should Know