Brad Ellsworth | CONGRESSMAN FOR THE 8TH DISTRICT OF INDIANA

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CONGRESSMAN BRAD ELLSWORTH

As the 8th District's Congressman, Brad Ellsworth is continuing his career-long commitment to put Hoosiers first. In Congress, he is a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and is working to reduce waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. He also sits on the Armed Services, Agriculture, and Small Business Committees.

Before coming to Congress, Brad spent 24-years in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office protecting the people of southwest Indiana. He was twice decorated for heroism in the line of duty and graduated from the FBI National Academy. In 1998, Brad was elected Vanderburgh County Sheriff, where he completed two terms. Brad was born and raised in southern Indiana. He grew up in Evansville; attending University of Southern Indiana and Indiana State University. Brad and his wife, Beth, reside in Evansville. Together they have a daughter, Andrea.

07 21

Ellsworth on Wall Street Reform Signing: Middle Class Hoosiers Investors Score Victory over Wall Street Lobbyists

Today, following the signing of the Wall Street Reform bill which will help protect Hoosier investors from having their life savings, 401Ks, and college funds gambled away by a few unscrupulous Wall S... MORE

07 21

Ellsworth Votes to Help U.S Manufacturers Compete in the Global Economy

Today, as Hoosier businesses continue to climb out of this recession, Brad Ellsworth voted to provide tax relief for U.S Manufacturers to help them compete in the global economy: “For too long Ho... MORE

Featured Issue: Healthcare

Skyrocketing costs have forced many small businesses to either shift the growing cost of their insurance programs to their employees or eliminate their health plans altogether. The result: the majority of workers haven't seen any increase in their buying power in the last decade, since any additional compensation is quickly absorbed by their increasing health insurance premiums. Read More

Date Roll Bill Vote More Votes >
Dec 01 595 h res 1724 Yea
Dec 01 594 h res 1217 Aye
Dec 01 593 h j res 101 Yea
Dec 01 592 h res 1430 Aye
Dec 01 591 h res 1735 Aye
Dec 01 590 h con res 323 Yea
Dec 01 589 h res 1741 Yea
  • EVANSVILLE DISTRICT OFFICE
    101 NW Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Room 124 Evansville, IN 47708 T 812.465.6484 | F 812.422.4761
  • TERRE HAUTE DISTRICT OFFICE
    901 Wabash Avenue Suite 140 Terre Haute, IN 47807 T 812.232.0523 | F 812.232.0526
  • WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
    513 Cannon House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515 T 202.225.4636 | F 202.225.3284 Toll Free 866.567.0227
WHAT'S NEW

Small Business

Small Business

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, creating three out of every four new jobs.  Unfortunately, for many small business owners and their employees the current government regulation system doesn't always take into account the needs of entrepreneurs starting and growing small businesses. 

I am proud to be a member of the House Small Business Committee, the only committee in the House of Representatives dedicated to ensuring the continued growth of American small businesses.  In January 2007, Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez was successful in expanding the committee's jurisdiction to include input on every piece of legislation impacting small business - not simply on oversight of the Small Business Administration (SBA).  That change gives committee members like me greater ability to advocate for Indiana's small businesses.

Easing the Regulatory Burden
For too long, the government set rules and regulations without taking into account the effect they would have on small businesses. Any small business owner can tell you that uniform regulations put them at a disadvantage.  Big corporate firms -- with their teams of lawyers and compliance officers -- have a leg up.  This is not a small problem: 1.25 million workers are employed by small businesses in Indiana, and they deserve to have their voices heard during the rulemaking process. The federal government took an important step forward when it passed the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RegFlex) in 1980.  RegFlex was designed to give small businesses a seat at the table when federal agencies write their regulations.  Unfortunately for Hoosier small businesses, bureaucrats in Washington have exploited loopholes in the original legislation -- ignoring the effects of regulations on small businesses and refusing to adjust them to the needs of these vital employers.

Particularly in these tough economic times, I believe it's important to close these loopholes and ensure our policies do not hinder the growth and development of small businesses.

Making it Easier to Provide Health Care
Businesses of all sizes face significant challenges in providing for the health of their employees while remaining competitive in a global marketplace.  Skyrocketing health care costs have had an especially devastating impact on the bottom lines of small businesses trying to provide quality benefits to their employees.  Rising costs are leading many small businesses to eliminate health benefits; increasing the number of uninsured middle-class families. In fact, more than half of the 47 million uninsured Americans live in a household headed by a small business owner or employee.

We can begin to address this problem through a bipartisan approach allowing small businesses to buy health insurance at the same rate as larger firms.  While less than half of the smallest businesses can afford to offer health insurance to their employees, almost all companies employing over 200 workers are able to afford coverage for their employees. I support implementing Small Business Health Plans (SBHP) to close this coverage gap. SBHPs would allow groups of small businesses to pool their resources and buy health insurance for their employees with the same buying power of a larger company. This approach would decrease costs and ensure small businesses are able to provide competitive benefits for their employees.

Empowering the Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is one of our most important tools in supporting America's small businesses.  Through financial and educational programs, the SBA provides entrepreneurs with vital resources that allow established small businesses to grow.  The SBA also works as an advocate for small businesses within the federal bureaucracy, educating other government agencies about the potential impact of their decisions on small businesses and their employees. Unfortunately, the SBA has faced significant funding cuts in recent years. I have supported increasing their budget, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Small Business Committee to ensure that the SBA secures the funding necessary to fulfill its mission.