The Engine of Our Economy

Our nation’s small businesses employee half of our nation’s private work force. Yet, when it comes to economic recovery, lawmakers in Washington have largely brushed aside this important engine of our economy and focused instead on bailing out large corporations.

Read Congressman Forbes's solutions to cut taxes and unnecessary regulations on business owners.

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Committed to Small Businesses Congressman Forbes has been awarded the “Spirit of the Enterprise” aware from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for his work on behalf of small businesses.More...

Economic Resources for Business Owners Use this guide to find loan programs and resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration. More...

Tax Relief for Small Businesses Congressman Forbes supports extending critical tax provisions for small business owners. More...

Hearing from Small Business Owners and Representatives.  Congressman Forbes hosted a conference call with small business leaders to ask them what Congress can do to create an environment in which small businesses can grow and increase payrolls. To read some of Congressman Forbes’ ideas, click here.

Opposing Permanent Bailouts and Burdensome Rules for Businesses.  Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the Financial Regulatory Reform Bill (H.R.4173), which creates new government bureaucracies, institutionalizes taxpayer bailouts of large financial firms, saddles businesses with new regulations, and fails to address the root causes of the financial meltdown.  Instead, Congressman Forbes is a supporter of meaningful financial reform (H.R.3310) , which would reform the federal reserve, streamline bankruptcy, phase out taxpayer funding for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and reform the regulatory system.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 237-192.

Protecting Small Businesses from Onerous Provisions of Government-Run Healthcare.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored legislation (H.R.5141) that would repeal a provision in the new healthcare bill that extends to corporations that are not tax-exempt the requirement to report payments of $600 or more.  As currently written, this provision would substantially increase the price of doing business in an economic environment that is already challenging for small businesses.

Supported America’s small businesses.  Congressman Forbes supported a three month extension of Small Business Administration lending programs (S.3253) while a more permanent extension is still being negotiated.  This bill passed the House by voice vote.

Ensured Access to Small Business Loans.  Congressman Forbes voted to extend the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program (H.R.4938), which is designed to help small entrepreneurs start or expand their businesses.  This bill passed the House by a voice vote.

Opposed Higher Taxes on Businesses.  Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act (H.R.4849), which raises taxes on international companies with U.S. employees.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 246-178.

Supported Meaningful Tax Incentives for Small Business.  Congressman Forbes voted for an amendment to the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act that would have provided assistance to small businesses without raising taxes on international employers with U.S. employees.  For example, small business capital gains taxes would be suspended and businesses would be able to deduct more start-up expenses than currently allowed.This amendment failed in the House by a vote of 184-239.

Supported the extension of important small-business assistance programs. Congressman Forbes supported H.R. 4508 to reapprove the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and other Small Business Administration programs designed to help small high-tech businesses in federal research activities and help commercialize cutting-edge high-tech research.

Supported access to investment capital for small businesses. Congressman Forbes voted for H.R. 3854 to increase the size of loans available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs and reduce interest rates on loans made to small businesses under current programs. The bill is estimated to generate $44 billion in new lending for small businesses. This legislation passed by a vote of 389-32.

Read more about Congressman Forbes' work on small business issues here.