Washington, D.C., July 23rd -

Dear Friends:

This week, Congress approved legislation to extend unemployment benefits through November.  My Republican colleagues and I support unemployment benefits as a safety net for families that fall on hard times.  However, we are disappointed that the Majority continues to ignore the question posed by millions of unemployed Americans:  Where are the jobs?

Another extension of unemployment benefits does nothing to reduce the number of jobless Americans.  All this extension does is put another band-aid on the problem.  We need to take concrete steps to reduce unemployment, but we cannot do so unless the Administration and Majority Leaders move away from their job-killing agenda of bigger government, more spending, soaring debt and higher taxes. 

At a recent Small Business Committee Hearing, small business owners from the construction, equipment distribution, printing, contracting and housing industries each expressed serious concern about the atmosphere of uncertainty stemming from damaging Washington policies.  It’s past time for Congress to stand up for small business owners and work together to create an environment in which employers are willing and able to hire and expand. 

Sam Graves

News from the Small Business Committee:
(Please send any Member media activity to Alexandra.Haynes@mail.house.gov)

• Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) was quoted in the National Utility Contractors Association’s weekly e-newsletter.

• Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) joined the Tea Party Caucus.

• Rep. Steve King’s (R-IA)  efforts to force a 100% repeal of “Obamacare” continue to gain momentum.

• Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) will hold an "America Speaking Out" town hall on July 24th in Sarasota, FL.

• Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) discussed America Speaking Out & YouCut on the House floor.

• Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) was presented the “Defender of Economic Freedom Award” from the Club for Growth.

• Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer invited a Hannibal, MO, businessman to testify about the impact on small businesses of potential EPA regulations of coal ash byproducts.

• Rep. Luetkemeyer spoke about job creation on the House floor.

• Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) will host a Balanced Budget Amendment Caucus roundtable discussion on H.J. Res. 1, the Balanced Budget Amendment.

House Small Business Committee Action:

• On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing entitled “The Impact of Intellectual Property on Entrepreneurship and Job Creation” to examine the importance of intellectual property on small businesses’ economic growth.

• Witnesses from industries such as music, technology and manufacturing discussed the important role that intellectual property has played in growing their businesses.  Witnesses also explained how their businesses have been adversely affected by counterfeiting and piracy.  Ranking Member Graves discussed how trade agreements can help improve the enforcement of intellectual property globally.

• Read more about the hearing here or click here to view video footage.

• On Thursday, the House Committee on Small Business’ Subcommittee on Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade held a hearing entitled “Coal Combustion Byproducts: Potential Impact of a Hazardous Waste Designation on Small Businesses in the Recycling Industry.”

• The hearing examined the potential impact that proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) would have on entrepreneurs in the recycling industry. Lisa Feldt, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, testified during the hearing.

• You can read more about the hearing and learn the details of what was discussed here.  For video footage of the hearing, click here. 

Updates from Washington:
(Please send any Member initiatives related to small business and job creation to Paul.Sass@mail.house.gov)

• President Obama signed into law an extension of unemployment benefits on Thursday night.  The legislation extends benefits though November 30, 2010. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this legislation will add $33.9 billion to the debt over 10 years.  Republicans had argued that it be financed with savings elsewhere in the budget to avoid adding to the deficit.

• On Wednesday, President Obama signed into law the most sweeping overhaul of financial regulations since the Great Depression. The 2,300 page bill aims to curb some of the practices that were blamed for the failures of our economy although concerns were raised throughout the debate over the creation of new bureaucracy and increased government intervention.

• The Senate voted on Thursday to include a proposed $30 billion government lending program in a package of aid for small businesses. This money would be made available to banks with less than $10 billion in assets.  Further consideration on the measure is expected next week.

News and Resources for Small Business Owners:

• The American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) released a study showing the harmful effects the Kerry-Lieberman cap and trade bill would have on small business.

• The National Association of Home Builders released a study showing that builder confidence in the housing market declined for a second consecutive month in July to its lowest level since April of 2009.

• The Heritage Foundation published a report entitled, “The 2010 Index of Dependence on Government: Dramatic Spike in Dependence Projected.”

• On Monday, July 26th, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will hold an event entitled, “Behind the Curtain: The Health Care Law's Impact on Small Business.”

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued two rules for public comment on the “meaningful use” requirements for electronic health records.  Learn more here. 

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