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In the News
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Press Release Archive
June 24, 2003
U.S. House of Representatives Passes
Akin's Small Business Advocacy Improvement Act
Washington, D.C.- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation brought forth by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), who is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment and Government Programs. The Small Business Advocacy Improvement Act of 2003 (H.R. 1772), strengthens the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.
The legislation authorizes a larger budget for the Office of Advocacy to hire more staff, thereby increasing its vigilance on excessive regulations. In addition, the bill encourages the SBA Ombudsman to work more closely with the Office of Advocacy in coordinating opinions on the impact of regulations on small businesses. It also enables the office to operate more autonomously on behalf of small businesses and entrepreneurs, through the use of a protected line item in the President's budget and the creation a new principal deputy chief counsel.
"The Office of Advocacy is essential to the elimination of federally-imposed regulations that just don't make sense. It is a government entity that exemplifies public service at its best- service that is devoted to ensuring that small businesses are not encumbered by regulatory burdens that cost time, money and energy but achieve little, if any, benefit," Akin said as he addressed the House of Representatives. "the office has been a tireless as a key voice for small businessmen and women, confronting larger agencies to prevent them from imposing unnecessary rules and regulations on small companies and family-owned businesses."
Chairman of the Small Business Committee, Don Manzullo (R-Ill), has stated that, "This is an important bill that will help small businesses battle unfair and burdensome regulations. Especially now, we should do what we can to help our struggling small employers get through these tough times. A strengthened office of advocacy will help."
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