| Weekly Update from Sam |
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Dear Friends,
We are just hours away from a possible government shutdown. On Thursday, my House Republican colleagues and I passed a short-term resolution to keep the government running, cut $12 billion in spending and fund our troops for the rest of Fiscal Year 2011. Thursday’s resolution is in addition to two long-term resolutions House Republicans have already sent to the Senate. However, Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Obama administration have yet to act to approve a plan to keep the government open. It is my hope that we can resolve the Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations as soon as possible, for the long-term and with real spending cuts, so that we can get to work on a responsible budget for next year that will boost confidence of small businesses and get Americans back to work.
The Small Business Committee continues to fight for rationale policies that will help small business create jobs. On Wednesday, I wrote an op-ed for TownHall.com on how stronger regulatory enforcement will help spur small business job growth. Costly and burdensome agency requirements are stifling job growth and slowing down economic recovery. This must be stopped. Click here to read the op-ed.
Best regards,
Sam Graves
Chairman
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Latest Committee Action
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On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee held a full committee hearing on the importance of passing the pending trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and Korea. Passage of the three trade agreements, among other things, means an estimated $10 billion in GDP, an addition of 75,000 American jobs and the ability for U.S. businesses to better compete in the international marketplace. Click here to read more about how essential the trade agreements are for job growth and American competitiveness.
On Thursday, the Healthcare and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, held a hearing to examine ways to better improve and strengthen the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs that invest in small business technological and scientific innovations so they can grow and create jobs. These programs are set to expire on May 31. Click here to read more.
Next week, on April 13th, the Committee will hold a full committee hearing entitled, How Tax Complexity Hinders Small Businesses: The Impact on Job Creation and Economic Growth. The hearing will focus on the difficulty entrepreneurs have with the confusing tax code and how this hinders hiring and economic expansion. To learn more about the hearing, click here.
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News From Washington
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1099 Mandate Repealed
This week the Senate passed the House legislation (H.R. 4) to repeal the job-crushing 1099 mandate. This is great news for small businesses, and I am eager to see it signed by the President. While our economy is trying to recover, we should be doing everything to help small businesses thrive. Repealing the 1099 paperwork mandate that was included in the onerous ObamaCare law moves us in the right direction. Click here to read more about the 1099 repeal.
SBIR Reauthorization Bill
On Thursday, Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, who chairs the Healthcare and Technology Subcommittee, introduced the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) reauthorization bill entitled, “Creating Jobs Through Small Business Innovation Act of 2011” (H.R. 1425). SBIR will create American jobs and spark economic growth— and without any additional federal funding. To read more about SBIR reauthorization, click here.
House Passes Energy Tax Prevention Act
On Thursday, the House passed the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 910) by a vote of 255 to 172. This bill stops the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using the Clean Air Act to impose costly greenhouse gas regulations unilaterally. A national energy tax would be detrimental to small businesses, especially in this economic climate. I was pleased to cosponsor and vote for this legislation and hope the Senate will make the responsible decision to pass it as well. Click here to read more.
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| April 8, 2011 |
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