Verbatim: 'We Can Out-Compete Any Other Nation on Earth'

Periodically, GoodBiz113 puts its ear to the rail to listen to what politicos, pundits and others have recently said about small businesses and our integral role in growing the U.S. economy. Today -- just one day before President Obama's annual State of the Union address -- we share some select events and perspectives with you, our loyal readers.

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"As we continue to get this economy back on track, I am encouraged by this Administration’s commitment to reduce the regulatory burdens businesses in America face on a daily basis. Every day, we hear from small businesses that are bogged down with unnecessary paperwork and outdated regulations.

"As chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, I am committed to reducing burdens America’s entrepreneurs face -- beginning with the full repeal of the Form 1099 reporting requirement set to take effect in 2012. I will continue working with the Administration to pinpoint problem areas in the federal regulatory process that hinder job creation and economic growth, and I applaud their efforts to make tackling this problem a priority." -- U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu [D-La.], applauding the efforts of the Obama Administration to reduce the regulatory burdens facing businesses in America -- particularly, small businesses [U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Jan. 18]

* * *

"Today's announcement reflects this Administration's commitment to promoting the development of advanced biofuels. Strong biofuels projects like Diamond Green Diesel can help to diversify our transportation fuel supply, while creating jobs and strengthening our economy." -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, announcing the offer of a conditional commitment to Diamond Green Diesel LLC -- the proposed joint venture between Valero Energy Corporation and Darling International Inc. -- for a $241 million loan guarantee.

This loan guarantee will support the construction of a 137,000,000-gallon-per-year renewable-diesel facility in Norco, La. -- located about 20 miles west of New Orleans. Valero Energy Corporation plans to direct the design, construction and operation of the project, and market all of its output, while Darling International Inc. will supply feedstock to the project.

The company estimates that the project will create 700 jobs during peak construction, and over 60 jobs during operation. The project will reduce greenhouse gases by more than 80 percent over conventional petroleum-based diesel, and is expected to nearly triple the amount of renewable diesel produced in the U.S.

In addition, the facility will fulfill almost 14 percent of a national mandate to boost production for biomass-based diesel. Approximately 95 percent of the project components are expected to be produced in the United States. [U.S. Department of Energy, Jan. 20]

* * *

"...In order to meet President Obama’s goals of a 28% reduction in federal greenhouse gas [GHG] pollution by 2020 and a net-zero-energy building requirement by 2030, GSA began sustainable construction and retrofit projects around the country, employing 500 businesses and creating jobs in all 50 states.

"Moving forward, all GSA construction projects will achieve at least a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for GSA’s use of cutting-edge and sustainable design and technology..." -- General Services Administrator Martha N. Johnson, reporting on GSA's 2010 achievements [The White House Blog, Jan. 20]

* * *

"...Leading the world in innovation. Opening new markets to American products. That’s how we’ll create jobs today. That’s how we’ll make America more competitive tomorrow. And that’s how we’ll win the future...

"We’re living in a new and challenging time, in which technology has made competition easier and fiercer than ever before. Countries around the world are upping their game and giving their workers and companies every advantage possible.

"But that shouldn’t discourage us. Because I know we can win that competition. I know we can out-compete any other nation on Earth. We just have to make sure we’re doing everything we can to unlock the productivity of American workers, unleash the ingenuity of American businesses, and harness the dynamism of America’s economy." -- President Barack Obama [pictured above], during his weekly address [The White House, Jan. 22]

* * *

Be sure to tune in to President Obama's State of the Union address tomorrow, Jan. 25, at 9 p.m. EST. All of the major TV networks will broadcast it, as will a handful of cable channels.

You can also view live streaming video of the event, and interact with White House officials during the hours and days following. Engage yourself: http://bit.ly/EnhancedSOTU.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, The White House [photo]
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Employers Gain Access to Database to Recruit Workers With Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense, today made available the 2011 Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities database. This resource is intended to assist federal and private-sector employers in identifying workers with disabilities.

The more than 2,200 candidates in this year's database represent all academic backgrounds and are working toward, or recently earned, associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral or law degrees. Students have been interviewed by recruiters from various federal agencies. Some seek summer employment, while others are looking for regular, full-time positions.

"This database is filled with talented students who are highly motivated to prove their skills in the workplace," said ODEP Assistant Secretary Kathy Martinez [pictured].

To take advantage of the new database, federal officials can visit http://www.wrp.gov/ to register and search independently for candidates who meet their hiring needs. They also can track the status of candidates they are interested in interviewing, including whether they already have been hired.

Private-sector employers can search the program's database through ODEP's national Employer Assistance & Resource Network by making a toll-free telephone call to 866-327-6669, or filling out a request form at http://www.earnworks.com/.

More than 20 federal agencies regularly utilize the Workforce Recruitment Program as a recruiting tool, and it has provided employment opportunities for more than 5,500 students since 1995. The program supports President Obama's executive order titled "Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities."

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor
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President Obama: 'We Need to Take New, Common-Sense Steps to Help Small Businesses'

In this week's address to the nation, President Barack Obama [pictured] criticized the Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate for opposing initiatives that would create jobs and strengthen the economy; e.g., cutting taxes for small businesses, extending unemployment insurance for Americans who have lost their jobs during the recession.

"This week," Obama declared, "many of our largest corporations reported robust earnings -- a positive sign of growth.

"But too many of our small-business owners, and those who aspire to start their own small businesses, continue to struggle -- in part, because they can’t get the credit they need to start up, grow, and hire. And too many Americans whose livelihoods have fallen prey to the worst recession in our lifetimes -- a recession that cost our economy eight million jobs -- still wonder how they’ll make ends meet.

"That’s why we need to take new, common-sense steps to help small businesses, grow our economy, and create jobs -- and we need to take them now.

"For months, that’s what we’ve been trying to do. But too often, the Republican leadership in the United States Senate chooses to filibuster our recovery and obstruct our progress. And that has very real consequences.

"Consider what that obstruction means for our small businesses -- the growth engines that create two of every three new jobs in this country. A lot of small businesses still have trouble getting the loans and capital they need to keep their doors open and hire new workers. So we proposed steps to get them that help: Eliminating capital-gains taxes on investments. Establishing a fund for small lenders to help small businesses. Enhancing successful SBA programs that help them access the capital they need.

"But again and again, a partisan minority in the Senate said 'No,' and used procedural tactics to block a simple, up-or-down vote...."

To view the video of President Obama's weekly address, titled "Filibustering Recovery & Obstructing Progress," go to: http://bit.ly/Obama07172010.

GoodBiz113's Take
For the past 18 months, President Obama has fought to help small-business owners because -- unlike his immediate predecessor -- he truly understands that small businesses are key to getting the American people back to work. He's fought for expanded unemployment insurance because he truly understands that putting money in the pockets of the people who are most likely to spend it is a cost-effective way of boosting local economies and creating jobs.

"Unemployment insurance is a vital lifeline for many families struggling to find work in these tough times," noted David Axelrod, senior advisor to the President, in a letter to folks who actually want to see Obama -- and our nation as a whole -- succeed. "Over the past few weeks, that lifeline has disappeared for more than 2 million Americans, and if Congress doesn’t act, that number will grow to 3.2 million people by the end of this month.

"Getting our economy back on track hasn’t been easy, but passing important legislation to support small businesses and Americans looking for work has proved nearly impossible. Repeatedly, Republicans have used procedural maneuvers to deny this legislation an up-or-down vote.

"There may be a lot of controversial topics out there, but support for small businesses and unemployment insurance shouldn’t be among them.

"It’s time for an up-or-down vote on these important measures. It’s time for Congress to act."

We couldn't agree more. It's time for hard-headed and mean-spirited obstructionism to stop...NOW.

SOURCE: The White House [photo by Samantha Appleton]
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SBA Offers New Podcasts to Help Small Businesses Break Into the Global Market

The U.S. Small Business Administration is now offering a new set of three export-oriented podcasts offering valuable information on issues and challenges that small-business exporters may face when dealing with specific countries.

The podcasts, featuring interviews with business representatives from Uganda, Cameroon and Bahrain, are part of a comprehensive effort by SBA to promote and support President Barack Obama’s National Export Initiative. The interviews focus on what U.S. companies can expect when exporting to those countries, and provide information relevant to their respective business and import environments.

"U.S. small businesses looking to increase sales and profit should look beyond the U.S. borders," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills [pictured]. "Nearly 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the U.S., and small businesses need to factor that in to their strategic planning. We’re hoping these tools will help them do that, so they can grow and create jobs here at home."

The podcasts on Uganda and Cameroon include interviews with two women business owners who are members of the Africa Business Women Network, an organization that supports a network of businesswomen’s organizations in Africa. The podcast on Bahrain features an interview with an official of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The podcasts are available online at http://bit.ly/PodcastsExportsSBA, and include transcripts. They provide valuable information on country infrastructure, types of U.S. products and services in demand, cultural tips on how to do business, plus other relevant issues.

In his State of the Union Address on Jan. 27, 2010, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative as part of an effort to promote and achieve long-term, sustainable economic growth for the United States. The President has a goal of doubling exports over the next five years -- an increase that will support 2 million American jobs. The SBA is committed to supporting NEI by offering American small businesses the resources they need to break into, and succeed in, the global market.

In addition to the new online tools, SBA resource partners Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE -- as well as U.S. Export Assistance Centers -- are available to assist small businesses that are interested in exporting in every U.S. state and territory.

These resource partners can help entrepreneurs identify potential export markets; facilitate export transactions; develop links between United States small-business and pre-screened foreign buyers; advise on participation in international trade shows; assist in obtaining export financing; and developing or re-orienting marketing and production strategies.

In addition to counseling resources in every state and territory, there are export specialists available at the eight International Trade Export Assistance Centers, plus SCORE online international trade advisers.

There are 19 U.S. Export Assistance Centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. USEACs are one-stop shops ready to provide small- or medium-sized businesses with personalized local export assistance by professionals from the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Export-Import Bank, and other public and private organizations. For more information about USEACs, go to http://bit.ly/USEAC.

To find your local small-business counseling resources, please visit http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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President Obama on Clean Energy: ‘We Could Have as Much as 40 Percent of the World’s Market by 2015’

Today, President Barack Obama spoke with workers at Smith Electric Vehicles' new factory in Kansas City, Mo. With a $32 million grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA], coupled with $36 million in private capital, the electric-vehicle company is building up to 500 all-electric trucks.

While he was there, the President [pictured above with Smith Electric executives] also had the pleasure of announcing the company was hiring its 50th worker at the plant. By September, that number is expected to grow to 70 and, at the project’s peak, Smith says the project will create more than 220 direct and indirect jobs.

"Just a few years ago, America had the capacity to build only about two percent of the world’s advanced batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles like Smith’s -- two percent, that was it," President Obama told a crowd of Smith Electric employees and guests. "We account for 25 percent of the world’s economy, and we were only making two percent of the world’s advanced batteries.

"But, thanks to our new focus on clean energy and the work that’s taking place in plants like this one, we could have as much as 40 percent of the world’s market by 2015 -- five years. That means jobs. But that also means we’re going to have an expertise in a sector that’s just going to keep on growing all around the world for years to come. So, all these efforts taken together are making a difference."

The story of Smith’s factory shows the direct and measurable impact of the Recovery Act. Smith’s factory is repurposing an 80,000-square-foot jet-engine overhaul facility at the Kansas City International Airport -- a space that was not being utilized or creating jobs is now a fully operational plant.

Along with creating new jobs and breathing life back into this facility, this project is helping demonstrate that electric-drive cars and trucks are real. Fleet customers like Coca-Cola and AT&T will test the vehicles, realizing they can save money over diesel-powered trucks with lower fuel costs.

Without government-supported demonstrations, these companies would likely have waited years before testing a new technology -- especially during an economic downturn. Like any technology, these first demonstrations will help lower the cost, as companies perfect the manufacturing assembly processes and begin operating on a larger, more cost-efficient scale.

Proposed "Green Impact Zone" Would Fuel Sustainability in Kansas City Community
Smith Electric’s story is only one piece of a much broader Recovery Act puzzle unfolding in the Kansas City area. Early this year, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D-Mo.] developed a plan for a Green Impact Zone to be established in a 150-block area in the city. The goal is to create a sustainable community -- i.e., one that is environmentally, economically and socially stronger tomorrow than it is today.

Here are a few of the highlights:

* Weatherization: In Kansas City, stimulus funds have been used to finish weatherization work at almost 200 residences in the last few months.

* Energy Efficiency: Kansas City will use its community block grant funds to undertake a number of projects to enhance energy efficiency across the city -- including energy-efficiency upgrades of several major buildings. The city anticipates these activities to create or retain more than 200 jobs.

* Modernizing the Electric Grid: Kansas City Power and Light won a $24 million grant to support a $48 million smart grid demonstration project.

* Science and Innovation: Kansas City-based EaglePicher Corporation, in partnership with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, won a $7.2 million ARPA-E award to develop a new generation of high-energy, low-cost planar liquid sodium beta batteries for grid-scale electrical power storage applications.

* Advanced Vehicle Technology: The Metropolitan Energy Center’s Midwest Region Alternative Fuels Project was awarded nearly $15 million as part of the Clean Cities program to develop 27 alternative-fuel stations, and deploy 373 alternative-fuel and advanced-technology vehicles.

Through collaboration with industry leaders, nonprofits, universities, and federal/state/local-government leadership, Smith Electric and Kansas City are demonstrating the opportunities for communities across the country to develop a clean and renewable-energy economy.

"My answer to those who don’t have confidence in our future -- who want to stop -- my answer is, come right here to Kansas City," President Obama noted towards the end of today's remarks. "Come see what’s going on at Smith Electric. I think they’re going to be hard-pressed to tell you that you’re not better off than you would be if we hadn’t made the investments in this plant."

To read the full text of remarks that President Obama made today regarding the economy and the success of Smith Electric Vehicles and other young green-energy small businesses and initiatives, go to: http://bit.ly/ObamaSmithElectric.

For more information on the Recovery Act’s work in Missouri, please visit the Department of Energy's website: http://bit.ly/MissouriRecoveryAct.

To learn more about how clean-energy small businesses are helping to drive our nation's economy forward, go to: http://bit.ly/SmallBizCleanEnergy.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Energy, The White House [photo by Pete Souza]
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Senate Confirms Marie Johns as SBA Deputy Administrator

Marie C. Johns [pictured], a longtime advocate for small businesses, was confirmed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate today as deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA].

Johns, who was nominated for the post by President Barack Obama, will be the second-ranking official at SBA, with major responsibility for management, policy development and program supervision.

"I’m thrilled to welcome Marie Johns as deputy administrator of the SBA," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. "Over the past two decades, Marie has dedicated herself to creating great opportunities for small businesses and the local community in Washington, D.C. Marie’s strong leadership will help provide small businesses with the guidance, support and tools they need to grow, create jobs and continue to drive economic recovery throughout the country."

"I am grateful to President Obama for his nomination, and it is an honor to assume the role of SBA deputy administrator," Johns said. "I am excited to join Administrator Mills and the entire SBA team to serve the interests of small businesses across this country. The SBA mission is fundamental to the economic strength of our nation; that is, give small businesses the support they need to grow and create jobs."

Johns is a managing member of L&L Consulting LLC, an organizational effectiveness and public-policy consulting practice. Previously, she served as president of Verizon Washington. Under her leadership, Verizon Washington made significant strides in maintaining the company’s financial health during tumultuous times in the telecommunications industry. Johns retired from Verizon in 2004, after 21 years of service in the telecommunications industry.

Johns has a long record of business and civic leadership. She is the former chair of the DC Chamber of Commerce; founder of the Washington, D.C., Technology Council; former chair of Leadership Greater Washington; and founding chair of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science [MS]².

While at Verizon Washington, Johns created the Students Educated for Economic Development Success [SEEDS] program. SEEDS prepared over 200 high-school dropouts for entry-level positions in the telecommunications industry -- many of whom were hired by small, local firms.

"Marie Johns comes to the SBA with an impeccable record of leadership and public service," noted Mary Landrieu [D-La.], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. "At a time when this agency is undergoing enormous transformations, Marie will be an invaluable asset to Administrator Mills and her team as they continue to put small businesses at the forefront of our economic recovery. I look forward to working with Deputy Administrator Johns in her new capacity, and am glad to have her working on behalf of small businesses across the country."

Johns currently chairs the board of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science [MS]²; serves on the Council for Court Excellence; and is a member of the board of Girl Scouts USA, the advisory board of the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services, and the women’s advisory board of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital [GSNC].

She earned her BS and MPA degrees from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Trinity University in Washington, D.C. Johns has been married to Wendell Johns for 38 years.

Last month, the Small Business Committee held a confirmation hearing for the deputy administrator. To view more information from the hearing and testimony from Marie Johns, please visit: http://bit.ly/JohnsConfirmation.

GoodBiz113's Take
Once again, the Obama administration has added an extremely well-qualified candidate to its team. Our nation needs all the MVPs we can get, and Marie Johns clearly has the leadership and management acumen to keep SBA moving forward for the win-win-win good of small businesses, entrepreneurs and self-employed folks from coast to coast.

SOURCES: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Tonight: President Barack Obama on 'Larry King Live'

This evening, Larry King, who's celebrating 25 years hosting CNN's popular "Larry King Live" show, interviews President Barack Obama. Among the topics discussed: immigration, economic recovery, health-care tax credits for small businesses, the BP environmental disaster [AKA "oil spill"], plus myriad other challenges that President Obama faces in what he calls "the best job on Earth."

Later, Bob Woodward, New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist of the Washington Post, weighs in on President Obama's first 500 days in office. Woodward's yet-to-be-titled book on the Obama administration will be released in September.

To watch a sneak-preview video clip of tonight's show, go to: http://bit.ly/ObamaKing25.

To watch the entire program, tune in to CNN at 9 p.m. ET.

SOURCES: CNN, The White House [photo by Lawrence Jackson]
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Recovery Loan Queue Activated as SBA Presses for Longer-Term Funding

U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills today issued the following statement regarding efforts to ensure continued funding for two key provisions first implemented as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act [ARRA] of 2009:

"Two key enhancements to SBA’s loan programs -- increased guarantees and reduced fees in our two largest lending programs -- have engineered a significant turnaround in SBA lending, and have been successful in helping jump-start our economy for small businesses," said Mills. "To date, these programs have supported more than $27.5 billion in lending to more than 60,000 small businesses across the country. They have also brought more than 1,300 lenders back to SBA’s loan programs, increasing the points of access for small businesses to get the capital they have needed during these tough economic times.

"Due to the heavy demand from small businesses for available credit, the original $375 million provided under the ARRA for these loans was exhausted in November. Since then, additional funds have been provided for short-term extensions, and those funds, too, have been exhausted. As a result, today we communicated to our lending partners that we have reactivated the Recovery Loan Queue. The queue is an efficient and transparent way to ensure that every remaining dollar possible is made available to help small businesses drive economic recovery across the country.

"Small businesses are a key engine for job creation across the country. With that in mind, President Obama has laid out an aggressive agenda for providing small businesses with the tools they need to drive economic growth. A key piece of that agenda is a longer-term extension of these increased guarantees and reduced fees, and we urge Congress to move quickly to continue these critical programs."

SBA’s ARRA Programs
As part of the Recovery Act, enacted on Feb. 17, 2009, SBA received $730 million to help small businesses -- including $375 million to increase the SBA guarantee on 7[a] loans to 90 percent, and to reduce borrower fees on most 7[a] and 504 loans.

The funds for these programs were exhausted on Nov. 23, 2009, and an additional $125 million was provided in December. Those funds were exhausted in late February, and an additional $60 million was provided to extend the programs through March. SBA was authorized for an additional $40 million in late March, and an additional $80 million was provided in mid-April to support the programs through May 31.

SBA’s 7[a] and 504 ARRA Transition Plan
SBA has transitioned 7[a] and 504 programs back to their pre-ARRA terms and is communicating those plans with its lending partners. As part of this plan, SBA has reactivated its Recovery Loan Queue today. The queue will operate in the same manner as when originally implemented in November 2009.

Sometimes previously approved loans are later cancelled or never disbursed for a variety of reasons, and the funds committed to those loans can be applied to applications in the queue. The queue takes this into account and, beginning on the transition date, will allow eligible small businesses -- in consultation with their lenders -- to choose to be placed in the queue for possible approval for an ARRA loan if funding once again becomes available.

Small-business owners and lenders will have transparent access to the queue via www.sba.gov/recoveryq, and will be able to remove themselves from the queue at any time to be considered for a non-ARRA SBA loan with all applicable fees and, for 7[a] loans, standard guaranty levels. Authorization for the 90 percent guarantee on 7[a] loans ends on May 31, but the authorization for fee waivers is in place through September 2010.

To learn more about SBA’s ARRA programs and other resources for small businesses, visit www.sba.gov.

GoodBiz113's Take
This timely move by SBA should provide welcome reprieve for small-business owners, whose business-development efforts have been hamstrung by a lack of capital. Now, let's just hope that lenders fully participate in the Administration's practical, well-intentioned and unprecedented efforts to promote far-reaching small-biz growth.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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Labor Department Reports That U.S. Added 162,000 Jobs in March; President Obama Tells N.C. Clean-Energy Workers, 'We Are Beginning to Turn the Corner'

This morning, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the nation added jobs at the fastest pace in three years last month as factories, stores, hospitals and Census 2010 all brought workers on board -- the surest sign yet that the worst employment market in a generation has finally snapped back.

The unemployment rate stayed at 9.7 percent for the third month in a row. Overall, the economy added a total of 162,000 jobs for the month, including 123,000 jobs added by the private sector -- the most since May 2007. Approximately one-third of the gains came from Census 2010, with much more to come: About 700,000 head-counters will be hired to tally the nation's population this spring.

Later, President Barack Obama travelled to Charlotte, N.C., where he visited the global headquarters of Celgard LLC, a relatively small manufacturing company that is benefiting from the Recovery Act investments towards clean energy. Celgard develops and produces specialty microporous membranes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and is at the frontier of our clean-energy economy -- and the frontier of recovery.

There, the President [pictured above, with Celgard employees, executives and guests] delivered remarks about the current state of the economy and job growth, noting that the economy created 162,000 new jobs created in March, instead of losing them -- "the best news we’ve seen on the job front in more than two years."

He warned that, while the economy appears to be picking up, there is still a lot of work to be done. "Economic statistics don’t do justice to the pain and anxiety that results from unemployment," said Obama. "Lasting unemployment takes a toll on families, takes a toll on marriages, takes a toll on children. It saps the vitality of communities, especially in places that have seen factories and other anchoring businesses shut their doors. And being unable to find work -- being able to provide for your family -- that doesn’t just affect your economic security, that affects your heart and your soul. It beats you up. It’s hard.

"So we have to be mindful that today’s job numbers, while welcome, leaves us with a lot more work to do. It will take time to achieve the strong and sustained job growth that we need."

The President noted that the private sector is the "true engine of job growth in this country," and that, while the government "can’t reverse the toll of this recession overnight," it can help to spur job growth by providing incentives for companies to begin hiring again.

The President recently signed the HIRE Act, a jobs bill that provides tax cuts for businesses that hire new employees, and makes investments in clean energy and schools to encourage job creation. He talked about the Recovery Act, which made significant investments in infrastructure, helping to create private-sector jobs.

President Obama also explained that Celgard LLC received a $50 million grant through the Recovery Act to expand the facility and lead in the clean energy sector, and that this story is being repeated all over the country.

"So here’s the bottom line," said Obama. "This investment is expected to create nearly 300 jobs for this company, more than a thousand jobs for your contractors and suppliers -- and these are all jobs helping America build the batteries that will power cleaner and more efficient cars and trucks. And through investments like this one across the country, we’re already seeing an incredible transformation.

"Here’s an interesting statistic: Before the Recovery Act, before I took office, we had the capacity to make less than two percent of the world’s lithium-ion batteries -- less than two percent. In the next five years, on the trajectory that we’re now on, we’re going to be able to make 40 percent of the advanced batteries right here in the United States of America. Right here.

"So the next time somebody asks you, when you’re at the grocery store, well, what did this Recovery Act do? You can tell them, one of the things it helped do is to expand and catalyze an entire new industry, where the United States of America can gain enormous market share across the globe.

"And that’s the kind of strategy we need -- helping the private sector thrive in entirely new industries, the industries of the future. It’s a strategy that will not only create jobs in the near term, but also sustained growth and opportunity in the long run."

To read the entire text of President Obama's remarks, go to: http://bit.ly/ObamaJobsEconomyCelgard.

To learn more about the benefits of the Recovery Act, visit: http://bit.ly/RecoveryAct2009.

GoodBiz113's Take
No one, even in their far-right mind, could possibly argue against job growth being a good thing. And the fact that small, innovative and sustainable companies like Celgard are helping to power our economy forward, is even better.

SOURCES: Bureau of Labor Statistics, GovTrack.us, The White House [official photo by Pete Souza]
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It's Time to Put American Families and Small Businesses in Control of Their Own Health Care

According to a report released yesterday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, President Obama's proposal for health insurance reform will provide insurance for 32,000,000 Americans -- more than the populations of Arizona, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia combined -- thus guaranteeing that 95 percent of working Americans will be covered.

President Obama's health insurance reform plan will:

* Make health insurance affordable for middle-class households and small businesses -- including the largest middle-class tax cuts for health care in history -- reducing premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

* Strengthen consumer protections and reins in insurance-company abuses.

* Give millions of Americans the same types of private insurance choices that members of Congress will have -- through a new, competitive health insurance market that keeps costs down.

* Hold insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of care and coverage, including for pre-existing conditions.

* Improve Medicare benefits -- with lower prescription drug costs for those in the "donut hole," better chronic care, free preventive care, and nearly a decade more of solvency for Medicare.

* Trim the federal deficit by $130 billion over next 10 years, and $1.2 trillion dollars over the following decade -- reining in waste, fraud and abuse; overpayments to insurance companies; and by paying for quality over quantity of care.

As President Obama says, "We must act now" and put American families and small businesses -- not health insurance companies -- in control of their own health care.

For more information, go to:

* Americans for Stable Quality Care: http://www.stablequalitycare.org/

* CNN/Health Care in America: http://bit.ly/HealthCareInAmerica

* HealthReform.gov: http://www.healthreform.gov/

* Kaiser Family Foundation: http://healthreform.kff.org/

By all accounts, the final-stretch vote on health insurance reform will happen as soon as this Sunday [March 21]. To encourage your U.S. senators and representatives in Congress to pass this historic health reform legislation, please visit the following website for contact info: http://bit.ly/ElectedOfficials

SOURCES: Congressional Budget Office, Politico, U.S. Census Bureau, USA.gov, The White House
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March 17: Secretary Sebelius Takes Questions About Health Reform Via Yahoo! News and Ustream at 5:15 p.m. ET

Today, as our nation enters the home stretch on health reform, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will take your questions via Yahoo! News and Ustream. You can e-mail your questions to news-editorial@yahoo-inc.com, and then join the chat at 5:15 p.m. ET. The entire event will stream via White House Live.

"President Obama's health insurance reform plan will make our insurance system work for families, small-business owners, and individuals," Sebelius wrote in an op-ed piece published in today's Yahoo! News.

"First, it will protect families by ending the worst insurance practices," Sebelius explained. "It will outlaw the practice of arbitrarily canceling someone’s coverage and eliminate caps on benefits. It will also forbid insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a pre-existing condition like high blood pressure. So for the first time ever, every American will be able to get an insurance policy.

"Second, it will give self-employed workers and small-business owners the same private insurance choices as members of Congress by creating a new, consumer-friendly insurance marketplace called an exchange. Because this marketplace will allow consumers to band together to negotiate lower rates, it's estimated that premiums for many consumers will go down 14 to 20 percent for comparable coverage. And it will provide tax credits to help middle-class Americans and small-business owners buy insurance.

"Third, the president's plan will bring down costs for families, businesses, and government with the broadest package of health care cost-cutting measures that has ever come before Congress. A report from the Business Roundtable [an association of CEOs from leading U.S. companies] says these reforms could lower costs by as much as $3,000 per employee. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the president's plan will lower the federal deficit by about $100 billion over the next 10 years.

"Collectively, these changes will help give Americans control of their health care choices..."

To learn about what President Obama's proposal for health insurance reform specifically means to you, go directly to the following sites:

* Own a small business? http://bit.ly/SmallBizOwnersFAQ

* Have insurance through work? http://bit.ly/ThroughWorkFAQ

* Have Medicare coverage? http://bit.ly/MedicareFAQ

* Don't have any insurance? http://bit.ly/NoInsuranceFAQ

* Buy your own insurance? http://bit.ly/BuyOwnInsuranceFAQ

GoodBiz113's take: Health reform deserves everyone's full attention and understanding. Make time to learn about how President Obama's proposal for health reform will benefit you, your family, and/or small business. Then, contact your senator and/or representative in Congress ASAP, and ask them to vote for the triple-win plan this week: http://bit.ly/ElectedOfficials

SOURCES: Congressional Budget Office, HealthReform.gov, USA.gov, The White House [photo], Yahoo! News
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Kathleen Sebelius: Giving Peace of Mind Back to the American People

Today, after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius [pictured next to President Obama, with insurance-industry CEOs in White House Roosevelt Room] convened a meeting with health insurance executives to get answers about recent large increases in health insurance premiums across the country, she blogged about the immediate need for health reform:

* * *

The urgency of health reform couldn’t be more clear.

Across the country, working families have been saddled with huge rate increase in their health insurance premiums. In California, consumers were informed of rate hikes as high as 39 percent; and, in Michigan, insurers sought a 56 percent increase. And this is happening across the country.

This is unacceptable -- particularly at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, and the largest insurers took in more than $12 billion in profits last year alone. The American people want to understand why their premiums are skyrocketing while some companies are doing well. And they deserve a clear and accurate explanation.

I just got out of a meeting where I asked leaders from big insurance companies for answers. I hosted a discussion with the CEOs of UnitedHealth Group Inc., WellPoint Inc., Aetna Inc., Health Care Service Corporation, and CIGNA HealthCare Inc., along with leaders from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. I asked them to explain why these crushing burdens are being placed on middle-class families and what we can do to lower costs.

I also asked the CEOs to post the actuarial justification for these stunning rate increases online in an easy-to-understand manner, so that consumers can see why premiums are skyrocketing to the point that some people in the individual market can no longer afford coverage. I hope they will act quickly and make this information available to all of us. If insurance companies are going to raise rates, the least they can do is tell us why.

But families deserve more. They need to know how we can prevent these increases from happening in the future. Families want to be responsible and buy health insurance. They’re willing to pay a fair price. They understand that health care is not cheap.

But they don’t want to be afraid every time they open a letter from their insurer that their premiums are going up $7,000 a year. Or that their application has been rejected because they take a medicine for high blood pressure. Or that their insurance is being cancelled because of a mistake on their paperwork.

The point of health insurance is to give people peace of mind, and they’re not getting it. The system we have is failing them.

President Obama has offered a health insurance reform proposal to help working families and small-business owners. It will hold insurance companies accountable by laying out common-sense rules of the road to keep premiums down, prevent insurance industry abuses, and outlaw discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.

Reform also includes key provisions that will protect consumers from unjustified premium increases. Building upon existing state practices, the President’s plan includes a new federal authority to force insurers to justify their rate increases, provide additional support for states that already do rate reviews, and help those states that don’t currently review increases on their own.

Right now, in 21 states, insurance companies can raise rates without any oversight, no questions asked, and consumers suffer. Reform will change the rules and help stop exorbitant increases.

And the President’s plan will help reduce costs and require insurance companies to dedicate more of the premiums dollars they collect to actual care -- instead of profits, CEO salaries and advertising. If they don’t spend enough on actual care, they’ll be required to send rebate checks to consumers.

Comprehensive reform is a necessary step to fix our broken health insurance market. Holding the insurance industry accountable is one step in that direction.

* * *

For answers to small-business owners' frequently asked questions about what President Obama's health insurance reform proposal means for their companies and their employees, visit http://bit.ly/SmallBizOwnersFAQ. If you don't find the answers you need, you can submit your own question.

For the latest health reform-related developments, go to http://www.healthreform.gov/.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The White House [photo by Pete Souza]
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President Obama: It's Time to Move Forward and Put the American People In Control of Their Health Care -- and In Front of Insurance Companies

Earlier this afternoon, President Barack Obama [pictured above in the White House East Room, flanked by six doctors] made it exceedingly clear that he intends to move forward on reform to put Americans in control of their health care, and explained once again why:

"Democrats and Republicans agree that this is a serious problem for America. And we agree that if we do nothing -- if we throw up our hands and walk away -- it’s a problem that will only grow worse. Nobody disputes that. More Americans will lose their family's health insurance if they switch jobs or lose their job. More small businesses will be forced to choose between health care and hiring. More insurance companies will deny people coverage who have pre-existing conditions, or they'll drop people's coverage when they get sick and need it most. And the rising cost of Medicare and Medicaid will sink our government deeper and deeper and deeper into debt. On all of this we agree.

"So the question is, what do we do about it?"

The President proceeded to reiterate substantive facts related to the decades-long discourse about providing affordable health care for American individuals, working families and businesses. He punctuated his remarks with a call for an up or down vote from Congress in the next few weeks, concluding "I ask Congress to finish its work, and I look forward to signing this reform into law."

GoodBiz113's take: Hooray for President Obama -- and virtually everyone who has a stake in seeing that his comprehensive, win-win-win health reform proposal finally becomes law. We applaud his compassion, tenacity and leadership, and urge our readers to contact their elected officials in Washington to move forward and pass health insurance reform once and truly for all.

To find your senator and/or representative, simply go to: http://bit.ly/ContactElectedOfficials.

To read the entire transcript of President Obama's remarks, visit: http://bit.ly/MovingForwardTranscript.

To view the video, go to: http://bit.ly/MovingForwardVideo.

Last, but not least, if you want specific, clear, succinct and refreshingly forthright answers regarding what the President's health reform proposal means to you, go directly to the following sites:

* Own a small business? http://bit.ly/SmallBizOwnersFAQ

* Have insurance through work? http://bit.ly/ThroughWorkFAQ

* Have Medicare coverage? http://bit.ly/MedicareFAQ

* Don't have any insurance? http://bit.ly/NoInsuranceFAQ

* Buy your own insurance? http://bit.ly/BuyOwnInsuranceFAQ

We'll end this post with the very words that President Obama used to conclude today's resounding speech: "Let's get it done."

SOURCES: HealthReform.gov, USA.gov, The White House [photo by Pete Souza]
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President Obama Says It's Time to Move Forward on Health Care Reform; Sebelius Warns That 'Doing Nothing' Poses Biggest Threat to Health Care Coverage

This morning, President Barack Obama [pictured above, during taping session] used his weekly address to call on Democratic and Republican leaders to attend next week’s health care meeting in good faith to find reforms that work for American individuals, families and small businesses.

With several health insurance companies recently announcing outrageously steep hikes in their rates -- from 10 to more than 30 percent -- it's clear that the status quo, while good for the insurance industry, is bad for the American people. After a year of exhaustive debate, he says it's time to move forward on reform.

Following, is the full text of President Obama's address:

"The other week, men and women across California opened up their mailboxes to find a letter from Anthem Blue Cross. The news inside was jaw-dropping. Anthem was alerting almost a million of its customers that it would be raising premiums by an average of 25 percent, with about a quarter of folks likely to see their rates go up by anywhere from 35 to 39 percent.

"Now, after their announcement stirred public outcry, Anthem agreed to delay their rate hike until May 1st, while the situation is reviewed by the state of California. But it’s not just Californians who are being hit by rate hikes. In Kansas, one insurance company raised premiums by 10 to 20 percent only after asking to raise them by 20 to 30 percent. Last year, Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield raised rates by 22 percent after asking to raise them by up to 56 percent. And in Maine, Anthem is asking to raise rates for some folks by about 23 percent.

"The bottom line is that the status quo is good for the insurance industry and bad for America. Over the past year, as families and small-business owners have struggled to pay soaring health care costs, and as millions of Americans lost their coverage, the five largest insurers made record profits of over $12 billion.

"And, as bad as things are today, they’ll only get worse if we fail to act. We’ll see more and more Americans go without the coverage they need. We’ll see exploding premiums and out-of-pocket costs burn through more and more family budgets. We’ll see more and more small businesses scale back benefits, drop coverage, or close down because they can’t keep up with rising rates. And, in time, we’ll see these skyrocketing health care costs become the single largest driver of our federal deficits.

"That’s what the future is on track to look like. But it’s not what the future has to look like. The question, then, is whether we will do what it takes, all of us -- Democrats and Republicans -- to build a better future for ourselves, our children, and our country.

"That’s why, next week, I am inviting members of both parties to take part in a bipartisan health care meeting, and I hope they come in a spirit of good faith. I don’t want to see this meeting turn into political theater, with each side simply reciting talking points and trying to score political points. Instead, I ask members of both parties to seek common ground in an effort to solve a problem that’s been with us for generations.

"It’s in that spirit that I have sought out, and supported, Republican ideas on reform from the very beginning. Some Republicans want to allow Americans to purchase insurance from a company in another state to give people more choices and bring down costs. Some Republicans have also suggested giving small businesses the power to pool together and offer health care at lower prices, just as big companies and labor unions do. I think both of these are good ideas -- so long as we pursue them in a way that protects benefits, protects patients, and protects the American people. I hope Democrats and Republicans can come together next week around these and other ideas.

"To members of Congress, I would simply say this: We know the American people want us to reform our health insurance system. We know where the broad areas of agreement are. And we know where the sources of disagreement lie. After debating this issue exhaustively for a year, let’s move forward together. Next week is our chance to finally reform our health insurance system, so it works for families and small businesses. It’s our chance to finally give Americans the peace of mind of knowing that they’ll be able to have affordable coverage when they need it most.

"What’s being tested here is not just our ability to solve this one problem, but our ability to solve any problem. Right now, Americans are understandably despairing about whether partisanship and the undue influence of special interests in Washington will make it impossible for us to deal with the big challenges that face our country. They want to see us focus -- not on scoring points, but on solving problems; not on the next election, but on the next generation. That is what we can do, and that is what we must do when we come together for this bipartisan health care meeting next week. Thank you, and have a great weekend."

You can view the video of President Obama's weekly address here: http://bit.ly/PremiumsProfitsReform.

Sebelius Issues Dire Status-Quo Prognosis
Shortly after the address, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius -- a former Kansas governor and, before that, the state's insurance commissioner -- punctuated President Obama's remarks with a resonant warning for all Americans.

"A lot of people think that health insurance reform doesn't matter to them because they already have coverage," Sebelius wrote in a statement. "And it's easy to understand why some Americans might resist changing the insurance system for fear that significant reform would threaten what they have now.

"There is a threat to health care coverage in the country, but it isn't reform; it's doing nothing. Rising costs of insurance premiums are pushing more and more people into the ranks of the uninsured.

"At a time when health insurance companies are fighting as hard as ever to stop health reform, their actions couldn't show more clearly why we need it... If we don't pass reform, premiums will continue to rise, and Americans will continue to be at the mercy of the worst insurance company practices and abuses."

To stay atop the latest developments regarding health insurance reform, go to: http://www.healthreform.gov/.

To learn about the far-reaching economic effects of health care reform on small businesses and their employees, visit: http://budurl.com/HealthReformSmallBiz.

For information about the myriad ways in which health insurance reform will actually reduce health care costs for small businesses, go to: http://bit.ly/LowPremiumsStrongBiz.

SOURCES: Council of Economic Advisers, HealthReform.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The White House [photo by Samantha Appleton]
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Administrator Mills: SBA Re-Activating Recovery Loan Queue by Monday, Feb. 22

SBA issued the following statement today from Administrator Karen Mills [pictured] regarding efforts to ensure continued funding for two key provisions in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act [ARRA] of 2009:

"SBA’s most popular ARRA provisions -- the increased guarantee and reduced fees in the two largest lending programs -- have helped engineer a significant turnaround in SBA lending. Continuing those ARRA provisions is SBA’s top priority.

"Through the original $375 million and the additional $125 million appropriations for these two provisions, SBA has supported more than $20 billion in lending to small businesses across the country and seen its average weekly loan volume increase by nearly 90 percent since February 2009.

"Through ARRA, we brought nearly 1,100 lending institutions back to the SBA’sprograms that had not made an SBA loan since at least 2007. All told, these steps have benefited tens of thousands of small businesses and supported hundreds of thousands of jobs during these tough economic times. However,we know there is still more work to be done. As the President has requested, we will continue to work with Congress to extend these programs through September 2010.

"The additional $125 million appropriation approved in December to extend SBA’s 7[a] loan guarantee to 90 percent, and reduce or eliminate borrower fees on both the 7[a] and 504 loans, will be used faster than expected.

"Loan volume has surged since earlier this week, when an Information Notice was released to lenders. SBA communicated with its lending partners today that it will re-activate the Recovery Loan Queue no later than Monday, Feb. 22. The Queue is an efficient and transparent process that will ensure that every remaining dollar possible is made available to help small businesses drive economic recovery across the country.

"The SBA advocates for small businesses across the federal government, and will continue its efforts to keep America’s small businesses on a path to recovery and long-term success. Small businesses are a central piece of President Obama’s Jobs Plan because they have been, and will continue to be, a key engine for job creation across the country.

"With that in mind, President Obama laid out an aggressive agenda for providing small businesses with the support they need to create jobs and drive economic recovery. That agenda includes proposals in three key areas: expanding access to capital; providing tax incentives to encourage job creation; and maximizing the potential of innovative, high-growth companies."

SBA’s ARRA Programs
SBA received $730 million in ARRA to support economic recovery programs for small businesses. Included in the appropriation was $375 million to support raising the government guarantee to 90 percent on SBA’s 7[a] loans, and reducing some lender and borrower fees on its 7[a] and 504 loans -- the agency’s two largest lending programs.

The funds for these popular provisions ran out in November 2009. SBA received an additional $125 million appropriation in December 2009, along with authority to continue both of the programs through February.

SBA’s 7[a] and 504 ARRA Transition Plan
SBA is in the process of finalizing the plan for transitioning its 7[a] and 504 programs back to their pre-ARRA terms and communicating those plans with its lending partners. This plan, when implemented, will include re-activating the Recovery Loan Queues no later than Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. The Queues will operate in the same manner as when originally implemented in November 2009.

Sometimes, previously approved loans are later cancelled or never disbursed for a variety of reasons. The Queues take this into account and, beginning on the transition date, will allow eligible small businesses -- in consultation with their lenders -- to choose to be placed in the Queue for possible approval of an ARRA loan if funding becomes available.

Small-business owners and lenders will have transparent access to the Queue via http://www.sba.gov/recoveryq/index.html, and will be able to remove themselves from the Queue at any time to be considered for a non-ARRA SBA loan with all applicable fees and, for 7[a] loans, standard guaranty levels.

Authorization for the 90 percent guarantee on 7[a] loans ends Feb. 28, 2010, though funds may be exhausted sooner. Furthermore, applications in the Queues after Feb. 28, 2010, will only be eligible for decreased or eliminated borrower fees when funds become available.

To learn more about SBA’s ARRA programs and other resources for small businesses, please visit http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCES: Recovery.gov, U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House
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President Obama Outlines Latest in Series of New Small-Business Proposals; Successful SBA Programs Expanded to Boost Working Capital

Today in Lanham, Md., President Barack Obama [pictured] proposed the expansion of two critical Small Business Administration [SBA] lending programs aimed at allowing small businesses to refinance, and increasing limits for working capital. These are both legislative proposals designed to help small businesses through what continues to be a difficult period in credit markets.

“The true engine of job creation will always be businesses,” President Obama declared. “What government can do is fuel that engine: by giving entrepreneurs and companies the support to open their doors, expand, and hire more workers. Today, we're taking another step towards assisting small-business owners get the capital they need to grow and hire.”

SBA Administrator Karen Mills was pleased with this latest development. “These proposals will provide us with two effective tools to help small businesses meet specific challenges brought on bythe recession,” she said. “First, in the tight credit market of the last two years, lines of credit have been cut for small firms. Raising the limit on SBA Express loans to $1 million will mean more small-business owners will have quicker access to this source of capital to help restock inventories and support larger revenue sales and, literally, take that next step to grow their business and create new jobs.

“Second, thousands of good, creditworthy businesses find themselves caught by declining real estate values as a result of this recession. With many of them now facing mortgages coming due in the next few years, the ability to refinance into SBA’s 504 loan will give them the chance to lock in long-term, stable financing, as well as protect jobs by protecting small businesses from foreclosure.”

Following, are details of the President’s new small-business initiatives:

Expand SBA’s Existing Program to Temporarily Support Refinancing for Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate Loans
The Administration is proposing legislation to temporarily allow for the refinancing of owner-occupied commercial real estate [CRE] loans under the SBA’s 504 program, which provides guarantees on loans for the development of real estate and other fixed assets. Currently, 504 loans cannot be used for the refinancing of maturing debt. This change would respond to the difficulties that many current, solvent borrowers face in refinancing existing commercial real estate loans.

Businesses with a loan maturing in the next year, who are current on all loan payments, will be eligible. Lenders that are refinancing mortgages for existing customers will make a loan for up to 70 percent of the current property value; and SBA will help finance the remaining 20 percent. For new lenders taking on a refinancing project, SBA will take on a greater share of financing, up to 40 percent. SBA’s proposal for a temporary, zero-subsidy CRE refinancing program would be funded through additional fees for refinancing projects, not through a Congressional appropriation. This proposal will help refinance up to $18.7 billion each year in commercial real estate that might otherwise be foreclosed and liquidated.

Temporarily Increase the Cap on SBA Express Loans from $350,000 to $1 Million
The President is proposing to temporarily increase the maximum SBA Express loan size to $1 million, which would expand the program’s ability to help a broad range of small businesses through a streamlined approval process.

Unlike traditional 7[a] loans, lenders can use their own paperwork for SBA Express loans, which can be structured as revolving lines of credit. Currently, these Express loans are capped at $350,000, and carry a 50 percent guarantee. Fees would cover virtually all of the added costs of this proposal.

These proposals complement the President’s broader small-business agenda -- a key part of his overall jobs plan. The other elements of the small-business agenda include:

* Extending small-business expensing and bonus depreciation for 2010.

* Eliminating capital-gains taxes for small businesses in 2010.

* A Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Credit that would cut taxes for more than 1 million small businesses by paying up to $5,000 for every net new job, and covers payroll taxes on overall wage increases in excess of inflation.

* A proposal to transfer, through legislation, $30 billion to a new Small Business Lending Fund that will support lending by community and smaller banks.

* Additional SBA lending proposals -- including an extension of the Recovery Act programs that eliminate fees and raise guarantees on SBA’s two largest loan programs, and permanent increases in the maximum loan sizes for major SBA programs.

An SBA Fact Sheet on these proposals is available at: http://bit.ly/SmallBizWorkingCapital

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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Verbatim: President Obama Draws Praise for His Commitment to Making Small Business a Top Priority

After his first-ever State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress and the American people last evening, President Barack Obama [pictured with Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in background] drew high praise from two key small-biz stakeholders regarding his agenda to make small business a top priority.

"Tonight, the President made clear that he recognizes the central role small businesses play in our economy," said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez [D-N.Y.], chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business. "His address outlined a broad-based strategy for putting our nation on a path back toward prosperity.

"The tax initiatives the President discussed would spark job growth by helping firms reinvest in their facilities, expand operations and purchase new equipment. Importantly, the President's proposed investments in infrastructure and energy efficiency programs will put more Americans back to work in sectors dominated by small businesses.

"Ultimately, access to capital remains the single biggest obstacle to small-business job growth. So, I was particularly pleased to hear President Obama focus on ways to get credit flowing to entrepreneurs.

"The House has already passed legislation that would support $44 billion in small-business lending and investment. In coming weeks, I look forward to working with the President as we seek ways to improve the flow of capital to small businesses.

"As the President made clear tonight, we will not rest until America's entrepreneurs have the resources necessary to lead our economy forward. After all, small businesses are critical -- not just for immediate job growth, but for rebuilding our economy in the long term."

U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu [D-La.], who has effectively shepherded small-business job creation measures through her committee, also weighed in on President Obama’s important focus on investing in small businesses to help create jobs.

"Tonight, President Obama made it clear that investing in our Main Street businesses is the quickest way to improve our economy and create jobs," Sen. Landrieu declared. "Small businesses are truly our nation’s job creators, creating 64 percent of all new jobs in the last 15 years. And, yet, this past year, small businesses have been hit the hardest by the economic downturn.

"Nearly 85 percent of the jobs lost came from small businesses. We must invest in our small businesses, because they are the businesses that have bared the greatest burden in this economy, and they are the businesses that have the greatest potential to improve it.

"The first, and fastest, way to boost our small businesses’ ability to create jobs is by giving them greater access to capital and tax credits. President Obama highlighted several ways to do this -- all of which I support, and look forward to hearing more details.

"Another way is by increasing the loan limit cap on small-business loans -- something that President Obama has encouraged, and that I, along with 18 Republican and Democratic Senators, have included as part of S.2869, 'The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act.' In addition to raising the cap on loans, this bill extends important Recovery Act provisions that have helped to create more than 500,000 jobs in the last year.

"In addition to improving lending for small businesses, President Obama launched the National Export Initiative to help small businesses and farmers increase American-made exports, and help reach a goal of creating 2 million new jobs in America by doubling our exports. Making minor changes to some of the programs that already exist to help small exporters can help us reach the 2 million goal even faster. I, along with Sen. [Olympia] Snowe, made these changes in a bill to boost the exporting potential of small businesses.

"These are simple, inexpensive ways we can make a big impact. I look forward to working with President Obama, his administration and my colleagues in Congress to help our small businesses as we work to create jobs in America.”

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship passed S.2869, "The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act," and S.2862, "The Small Business Export Enhancement and International Trade Act," out of committee last December. For more information on the bills, please click here.

Last week, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced that his office is dedicating a high-level post to promoting the interests of small-business exports, a move that Sen. Landrieu repeatedly advocated. To read more about the announcement, please click here.

Several small-business owners sat with First Lady Michelle Obama during last night’s address. They included: Ping Fu of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Chris Lardner of Albuquerque, N.M.; Juan Yépez of Lawrence, Mass.; and Trevor Yager of Indianapolis, In. For biographies of the small-business owners, please click here.

GoodBiz113 Tools
* To view the video and read the transcript of President Obama's first State of the Union address, go to: http://bit.ly/SOTU01272010

* To learn more about S.2869, "The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act": http://bit.ly/SmallBiz2869

* For an overview of S.2862, "The Small Business Export Enhancement and International Trade Act," visit: http://bit.ly/SmallBiz2862

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. House Committee on Small Business, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, The White House [photo by Pete Souza]
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