Landrieu Votes Against Snowe Regulatory Amendment, Citing Lack of Congressional Review

Today, United States Sen. Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, voted against a regulatory reform amendment by Sen. Olympia J. Snowe [R-Maine], ranking member of the Small Business Committee.

The Freedom from Restrictive Excessive Executive Demands and Onerous Mandates Act of 2011, S. AMDT 390, reforms the regulatory process to ensure that small businesses are free to compete and to create jobs, and for other purposes. It was opposed by numerous Senate committees because of the lack of congressional input in the ongoing efforts to provide regulatory relief for small businesses.

"Every day, small-business owners come to my office asking for regulatory relief, and I am committed to removing unnecessary burdens that get in the way of the day-to-day operations of businesses," said Landrieu. "This amendment, however, has yet to have a single Congressional hearing. Because Sen. Snowe’s amendment reaches so far outside of the realm of small business, it seems irresponsible for us to move forward unless it goes through the entire process.

"There have been at least four other regulatory reform bills filed this Congress, and I know the chair of the committee of jurisdiction is doing everything he can to schedule a full hearing in the near future.

"I recognize that some federal regulations are a burden on small businesses. I agree it is important to streamline them -- but there is a time and a place to deal with that issue.

"I have tried to be helpful to my colleague. Last summer, when the Small Business Jobs Act was pending here in the Senate, I personally worked with my ranking member to include several of her provisions on regulatory relief into that bill, now law."

Snowe filed a similar amendment to S. 493, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011. During negotiations of S. 493, Landrieu offered to hold a hearing on Sen. Snowe’s regulatory reform amendment through the Small Business Committee, but Snowe declined. After five weeks of debate and 150 filed amendments, efforts to end debate and pass the long-term reauthorization of this important small-business program failed.

SOURCES: GovTrack.us, Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Small Business Administration
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To Prevent Shutdown, Sen. Landrieu Files Extension of SBIR and STTR Programs

United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today filed a one-year extension of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technical Transfer [STTR] programs.

After five weeks on the floor, the federal government’s two largest research-and-development programs for small businesses failed to pass a crucial vote last week. Long-term reauthorization is now stuck, and the current extension of these programs is set to expire on May 31, 2011.

"After years of negotiations, and with so much support from my colleagues and the small-business community, it is extremely unfortunate that we are right back where we started," said Landrieu. "To ensure that the SBIR and STTR programs do not end completely, I am filing a one-year, clean extension.

"There are too many businesses across the country with great ideas that are working with our government to develop technologies to improve national security; better the diagnosis, treatment and cure of diseases; and move us closer towards energy independence and efficiency. They would be left in the dark if these programs were to stop. We’d lose so much good technology and important investments.

"To avoid that, it is necessary to make sure the programs don’t shut down or slow down. I hope that we can provide, if only for one year, some sense of certainty for the businesses that partner with the government, and I urge my colleagues to support its continuation."

The SBIR and STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011, S. 493, passed out of the Committee on March 9, 2011, by a nearly unanimous vote of 18-1. Last week, the Senate held a cloture vote to end debate on S. 493, but the motion failed by a vote of 52-44.

To view the text of the extension, please click here.

SOURCES: GovTrack.us, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Sen. Landrieu: Small-Business Innovation Now in Jeopardy

Sen. Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, made the following statement after this morning’s cloture vote on the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011:

"Today was our last chance to reauthorize these important programs and provide some continuity to the small businesses that depend on them," Sen. Landrieu said. "I have to thank the many groups that went out of their way to support this bill, and who offered concessions during our negotiations to ensure a long-term reauthorization was possible.

"This bill, which reauthorizes the federal government’s largest research-and-development programs for small businesses, passed out of our committee with nearly unanimous support, but wound up hitting a brick wall when it reached the Senate floor.

"Unfortunately, some senators chose to stonewall in a self-serving effort to get their way on unrelated issues instead of letting every U.S. Senate committee do their due diligence with regulatory reform.

"Despite having so much bipartisan support going into this debate, not one Republican voted for this job-creating small-business bill -- even those senators in states like Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida, where almost 23,000 small businesses have gotten billions in SBIR and STTR projects.

"The door may have shut today for reauthorization of programs that have given us companies that are the envy of the world -- like Qualcomm, Sonicare and iRobot. But rest assured, at some point, we will find a way get this done."

SOURCES: GovTrack.us, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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On MSNBC, Senator Landrieu Discusses Need for Small-Business Innovation to Help Close Deficit and Create Jobs

This morning, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured lower right] appeared on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe."

As debate over the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 continues on the Senate floor, Sen. Landrieu discussed how reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technical Transfer [STTR] programs will aid in efforts to close the deficit and create jobs.

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

SOURCES: GovTrack.us, MSNBC, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, YouTube
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Senators Reid, Landrieu Discuss Impact of Jobs Bill to Boost Innovation by Small Businesses

Nevada Senator Harry Reid [pictured] and Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu, chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today discussed the U.S. Senate’s third jobs bill: Reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technical Transfer [STTR] programs.

First passed under President Ronald Reagan in 1983, these initiatives have awarded more than 89,000 research and development grants worth more than $28 billion to help thousands of small businesses across the country expand and hire new workers.

The senators were joined on the call by Dr. Kenneth Eilertsen, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Louisiana-based NuPotential Inc., and Jim Hodge, Chief Technical Officer of southern Nevada-based K2 Energy Solutions Inc. Both companies have taken advantage of the SBIR and STTR programs.

"Tens of thousands of small businesses like Nevada-based K2 Energy Solutions have taken advantage of these innovation grants to create jobs and discover the exciting, new products that will keep America competitive in a 21st century global economy," Reid said. "These grants have a highly successful track record. They have helped launch new ideas -- everything from the electric toothbrush, to satellite antennae that helped first responders in Haiti, to technologies that keep our food safe and our military’s tanks from overheating in the desert.

"The only way to turn our economy around is to continue investing in the small businesses in Nevada, and across our country, that are come up with the next brilliant technological advancement that will put people back to work."

"We have already created the formula to get the best return on our investment in small, high-technology firms," said Sen. Landrieu. "Businesses like Mezzo Technologies in Louisiana, which began with only two employees, now has an annual payroll of $1.2 million. That’s putting Americans back to work with cost-effective investments in America’s entrepreneurs through programs like SBIR and STTR.

"In addition to the good return on investment from Mezzo, we’ve got the undeniable success of Qualcomm. With roughly $1.5 billion in SBIR awards, Qualcomm now pays more than $1 billion in annual taxes -- essentially paying for half of the SBIR and STTR programs each year.

"Clearly, there is a plan of action in place. Now it’s time for to execute, and I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting America’s innovators and job creators."

Since the SBIR and STTR programs began 28 years ago, Louisiana has received nearly $60 million and 239 grant awards for its small-business community. Louisiana-based NuPotential received more than $550,000 in STTR grants in collaboration with Louisiana State University to improve cattle somatic cell nuclear transfer [cloning] using NuPotential technology.

Over the last three decades, Nevada has received more than $76 million in grants -- 224 awards, with an average of $341,549 per award -- placing Nevada seventh among all states in dollars-per-award average and well above the national average of $316,341 per award per state.

The Henderson, Nev.-based company, K2 Energy Solutions -- one of the nation’s leaders of rechargeable battery technology -- has received nearly $140,000 in SBIR grants to create an updated BB-2590 battery for the U.S. Army that is three times as powerful, can be used longer, is lighter-weight, capable of a faster recharge, and costs less than the original. Such improvements will drastically reduce the number of batteries that troops must carry in the field, and save weight and logistics needed to transport the battery to the field.

After 10 short-term reauthorizations since 2008, the Senate will soon vote to give stability to the SBIR and STTR programs, so that they can continue to support America’s small businesses. Stay tuned...

SOURCES: GovTrack.us, U.S. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Sen. Landrieu: Economy Improving, But More Help Is Needed for America's Small Businesses

Late yesterday, just hours after the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that approximately 162,000 Americans were put back to work in the month of March, United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured], chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, issued the following statement:

"Last month, approximately 162,000 Americans were put back to work -- a sign that the measures Congress is taking to improve the economic climate are working," said Landrieu. "While I am encouraged by the number of jobs that were created, there is still much work to be done to support the nation's small businesses and those Americans still out of work.

"To build on the successful recovery loan initiatives -- higher guarantees and fee waivers on borrowers of Small Business Administration loans -- I urge my colleagues in the Senate to work to adopt the provisions coming out of the Small Business Committee. With small business accounting for 65 percent of all new jobs, these proposals are aimed at creating jobs and spurring small-business growth, and have passed this Committee with bipartisan support."

Sen. Landrieu has proposed five measures to be included in the next jobs bill to be debated on the Senate floor. The measures include:

* Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009 [S. 2869]: Raises the cap on small-business loans to increase lending by $5 billion the first year, and refinances commercial real estate debt into long-term, fixed-rate loans -- provisions that are expected to be budget neutral and could create/save 200,000 jobs;

* Small Business Export Enhancement and International Trade Act of 2009 [S.2862]: Boosts small businesses’ exporting potential by improving access to loans, counseling programs and coordination of existing federal export assistance resources, while injecting more than $1 billion in capital for small businesses and saving/creating as many as 50,000 jobs;

* Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2010 [S. 2989]: Removes the red tape and closes loopholes that too often put government work into the hands of multinational corporations instead of Main Street businesses. Increasing contracts to small businesses by just 1 percent can create more than 100,000 jobs;

* Small Business Community Partner Relief Act of 2010 [S. 3165]: Strengthens SBA women’s business and microloan programs to ensure they have the funds and manpower needed to be successful resource partners and help small-business owners get the assistance they need; and

* SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 [S. 1233]: Encourages small businesses to develop new technologies in fields from health care and defense, to clean energy. These competitive grants are the largest source of federal R&D funding for small, high-tech firms. Twenty-percent of SBIR participants say they started their company in part because of a prospective SBIR award, creating thousands of jobs.

This week, Sen. Landrieu sent a letter to her Senate colleagues requesting their support for this legislation. To view a copy of the letter, please go to: http://bit.ly/LandrieuLetterJobsBill.

Detailed information on each proposal can be found here: http://bit.ly/SmallBizJobCreation.

SOURCES: GovTrack.us, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
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President Obama Proposes Strong Budget for Small Business; Increases SBA Funding by More Than 20 Percent

Yesterday, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu [D-La., pictured] praised the Small Business Administration [SBA] components of President Barack Obama’s budget proposal. For the second year in a row, the President has proposed increasing funding for the SBA and its programs, taking decisive steps to rebuild the SBA after eight years of cuts.

The request proposes to increase funding to the agency by $170 million from last year’s enacted level, to $994 million. This, along with new small-business, job-creating proposals the President outlined in his State of the Union address last week, show the Obama Administration’s strong support for small businesses.

"By requesting more money to help our small businesses succeed," said Sen. Landrieu, "President Obama’s budget proposal emphasizes that small business remains a top priority for the Administration, and is central to the President’s efforts to create jobs.

"As part of his budget, the President again showed his support for increasing the caps on small-business loans as a way to provide small businesses with immediate capital to grow and hire workers. This is a proposal I, along with Ranking Member Olympia Snowe [R-Maine], introduced last year. It has since gained even more bipartisan support, and passed the committee. It is my hope the proposal will be included in any job-creating measure introduced in the Senate."

President Obama’s proposed budget:

Expands Access to Capital
* Supports the increase of the maximum 7[a] loan size from $2 million to $5 million, 504 loans from $1.5 million to $5.5 million, and microloans from $35,000 to $50,000. Sen. Landrieu introduced, and the committee passed, legislation that matches these increases;

* Supports more than $28 billion in small-business financing -- including $17.5 billion for the 7[a] loan guarantee program; $7.5 billion for the 504 loan guarantee program; and $3 billion for the Small Business Investment Company [SBIC] program, which provides venture capital financing to small firms;

* Supports $25 million in microloans, allowing intermediaries to provide small loans to entrepreneurs and start-ups; and

* Provides $5.9 million for the SBA’s international trade and export promotion programs, allowing the agency to support more than $1.1 billion in capital to small exporters and maintain their network of 18 export finance specialists.

Supports Counseling and Contracting Programs
* Provides $113 million to support about 900 Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs];

* Provides $14 million to support about 100 Women’s Business Centers [WBCs];

* Provides $7 million to support about 370 chapters of SCORE, a mentoring program involving retired executives;

* Provides $2.2 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones [HUBZones] program, which creates incentives for contracting with small firms to create jobs in underserved communities;

* Provides $3.4 million for the 7[j] technical assistance program, which provides small disadvantaged businesses with training in financing, business development, management, accounting and marketing;

* Provides $3 million to increase the reach of Emerging Leaders. Graduates of this program -- often in distressed areas -- have reported significant increases in revenues, government contracts, local hires, and access to financing; and

* Provides $11 million to support the job growth potential found in regional clusters of businesses. These clusters will involve public-private partnerships, which align federal resources with existing regional strengths and economic growth opportunities.

Provides Help for Those Hit by a Disaster
* Supports $1.1 billion in direct disaster-assistance loans, in line with the 10-year average;

* Includes a legislative proposal that would extend, from three to seven years -- the maximum term for businesses that want an SBA disaster loan, but have an existing line of credit with a bank or have enough cash on hand where they could get a conventional loan from non-SBA sources; and

* Requests $203 million to support for administrative expenses for the disaster program -- an increase of $126 million from last year’s enacted level. These funds are critical in supporting SBA’s effort to efficiently and effectively service its $8.4 billion active loan portfolio.

Reduces Risk and Increases Oversight
* Provides $2 million to strengthen lender oversight and on-site reviews, to ensure taxpayer dollars are going to those who need help the most;

* Provides $4 million to improve oversight of government contracting programs, including the HUBZone program, and to strengthen performance assessment and management of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program; and

* Provides $1.1 million to evaluate the SBA’s loan, counseling and other programs to optimize effectiveness.

"While this budget request shows the President’s strong dedication to small businesses, I will work to increase funding for critical counseling programs, and to restore funding for the Federal and State Technology Partnership program [FAST]," Landrieu added. "The FAST program increases small-business innovation opportunities, and is vital for the growth of rural areas. The program received funding last year for the first time since 2004, and must not disappear."

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Senate Unanimously Passes Kerry Small-Business Innovation and Technology Funding Plan

Senator John Kerry [D-Mass.], a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, applauded yesterday's unanimous Senate passage of two small-business research programs that Kerry originally sponsored as the committee’s former chairman.

The Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs, administered under the Small Business Administration [SBA], offer competitive awards to innovative small businesses. Reflecting Kerry’s original legislation, yesterday’s vote will reauthorize the SBIR and STTR programs for eight years, making the new sunset date for both programs Sept. 30, 2017.

"This is a shot in the arm for small businesses in Massachusetts and throughout the country," said Kerry. "This vote ensures that these programs do not lapse, so that small, high-tech firms, from Springfield to Newburyport, can continue to utilize them to develop technologies to keep our military strong, advance medical breakthroughs, and develop energy sources that are renewable and clean."

Small businesses awarded funding through SBIR or STTR work through three incremental phases. Yesterday’s legislation will increase the awards from $100,000 to $150,000 for Phase I, and from $750,000 to $1 million for Phase II.

SOURCES: Library of Congress, Sen. John Kerry's Online Office, U.S. Small Business Administration
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Landrieu Fights for Small-Business Contracts in Military Procurement Process

United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu [D-La.] wrote today to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin [D-Mich.] and Ranking Member John McCain [R-Ariz.] in support of the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 [S.454], which was marked up this morning.

Specifically, Sen. Landrieu indicated her support for Section 205, “Organizational Conflicts of Interest in the Acquisition of Major Weapon Systems,” and Section 203, “Maximization of Competition Throughout the Life Cycle of Major Defense Acquisition Programs,” which would increase meaningful opportunities for small businesses to compete for Department of Defense [DoD] projects.

Currently, the DoD procurement process sometimes lacks independent or objective analysis to determine the best firm for a particular contract. In her letter, Sen. Landrieu cited an example in which a small business was nearly put out of business because the DoD disregarded a conflict of interest when making a contracting decision.

With the help of the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program, the company, NAVSYS Corporation, developed technology for a GPS navigation system for the Air Force, which the government found helpful. When the Air Force began to transition the technology into its GPS program, it asked the prime contractor to assess whether the technology should be used. The prime contractor, however, had a conflict of interest in determining whether the small business should get the contract or the prime contractor should do it themselves. The prime contractor ultimately decided to do it themselves.

“Small businesses are too often overlooked or harmed by the federal government’s contracting process,” Sen. Landrieu said today. “Section 205 of the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act will go a long way toward protecting small businesses from conflicts of interest, while eliminating waste and inefficiency at the DoD.

“Section 203 of the bill would also help to maximize competition for defense acquisition contracts, which will help small businesses because it creates more potential opportunities for them to participate.”

Sen. Landrieu’s letter to Sens. Levin and McCain is available online at: http://tinyurl.com/d7zc3s.

GoodBiz113's take: For far too long, greedy and gluttonous prime contractors have feasted at the DoD contracting table. It's time for them to share the wealth of DoD procurement opportunities with smaller, leaner and faster enterprises who bring real innovation and cost-effective efficiencies to the needs of our military forces. Bravo to Sen. Landrieu for her efforts to improve DoD's acquisition procedures to serve the greater good.

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
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House Committee Calls for Sweeping Reforms to SBIR Program; Velázquez Critiques President Bush's Final State of the Union Address

As the specter of a recession looms, small-business innovation becomes an increasingly vital asset to our economy. It was technology startups, after all, that led the way back to growth during our last slowdown.

During a hearing on the Small Business Innovation and Research [SBIR] program today, witnesses underscored its importance in ensuring American competitiveness. They also offered compelling evidence of a need to reform various parts of the initiative.

"SBIR is the largest government-wide research and development program, and it has helped turn some of the nation’s best ideas into tangible market realities," said Rep. Nydia Velázquez [D-N.Y.], chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business. "Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs are still not getting the access to the R&D funds they need. That puts them at great disadvantage and robs our economy of the type of innovation we require most."

The SBIR was created by Congress in 1982, and is scheduled to sunset on Sept. 30, 2008. Throughout its history, the program has used small firms to help federal agencies meet their R&D goals. It has also fostered considerable technological innovation and prompted the commercialization of resulting products and services. However, as technology and national priorities change, the initiative is failing to keep pace.

"Even in a challenging economy, SBIR has helped small firms create jobs and wealth. We must continue to strengthen this program and align its focus with today’s technological realities," said Velázquez.

When the SBIR Reauthorization Act of 2000 was passed, technologies such as wireless communications, high definition television and hybrid cars were still in relative infancy. While that law made several modifications, the program is in need of further modernization. Witnesses also pointed to a need for increasing SBIR grants; suggested streamlining the application process; and called for greater flexibility to allow participating firms to leverage private-sector funds.

"One sure way to keep the American economy on the right track is to reform this initiative with an emphasis on providing resources for economically viable technologies," Velázquez noted. "We should increase competition within SBIR, ensure that awards go to projects that will produce the greatest return for taxpayers, and do everything possible to help today’s small firms bring forth tomorrow’s goods and services."

Click link for video clips of today's full committee hearing.

For the list of witnesses and their testimonies, click here.

Velázquez: President Bush’s Final State of the Union Speech Falls Short on Proposals to Help Small Firms Spur the Economy

President George W. Bush delivered his final State of the Union address last night, and spoke about the bipartisan economic stimulus plan that Democrats negotiated on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs and working families. The $147 billion stimulus package is meant to spur the lagging economy, and includes short-term provisions to help small businesses. These include a one-year doubling of the capital expensing limit from $125,000 to $250,000, and an opportunity to write off 50 percent of depreciation for certain equipment purchases in 2008.

All are steps in the right direction, Velázquez observed, but President Bush needed to have spoken about long-term support for the 26.8 million small firms that comprise the economic engine of the United States. He mentioned small businesses only once, and those who tuned into his speech were left wondering if the final 50 weeks of his administration will be just like his first seven years—full of empty promises.

"The president has missed yet another opportunity to address the long-term concerns of small-business owners," said Velázquez. "In the face of a recession, it is clear that it is Democrats who will do whatever is necessary to help American entrepreneurs."

Several of the top concerns of small firms were particularly suspect in their absence from the president’s speech. He failed to adequately broach such items as health care, energy costs and the need for affordable capital.

"Everyone is feeling the credit crunch and rising costs, but entrepreneurs are being hit particularly hard," Velázquez noted. "That harms their ability to grow their businesses, and robs the economy of their full contributions.

"The president said we should empower people to grow the economy. Unfortunately, his State of the Union address failed to lay out a vision to do that."

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. House Committee on Small Business, U.S. Small Business Administration, The White House [photo]

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Kerry, Snowe Lead Push for Energy Efficiency Funding for Small Businesses

Yesterday, Sens. John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Olympia Snowe [R-Maine], chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, urged the Bush administration to invest more resources to help small businesses become more energy efficient and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Although small businesses represent half of the nation’s economy and are responsible for half of the country’s energy consumption, the government spends less than two percent of the ENERGY STAR® program’s $50 million annual budget reaching out to help small businesses. Sens. Joe Lieberman [I/D-Conn.], Mary Landrieu [D-La.], Maria Cantwell [D-Wash.], Norm Coleman [R-Minn.], and Jon Tester [D-Mont.] joined Kerry and Snowe in calling for a larger commitment to helping small firms.

“There’s no greater threat to the Earth than global climate change, but by leaving small businesses out of the solution, the Bush administration shows they’re not serious about tackling the problem,” said Kerry. “Small businesses can lead the way toward a cleaner, greener future, so the least the federal government can do is dedicate $2 million -- just 4 percent -- of ENERGY STAR® funds to help entrepreneurs reduce their energy costs and foster green innovation.”

“As the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and as a longstanding steward of the environment,” said Sen. Snowe, “I am alarmed by the administration's lack of commitment to promoting small-business energy efficiency.

“According to a National Small Business Association [NSBA] survey, 40 percent of small businesses are still not familiar with the ENERGY STAR® product label and technical support programs that are available. And at a Committee hearing last year, the Environmental Protection Agency testified that it has only two full-time employees devoted to the ENERGY STAR® for Small Business program. I am pleased to join my bipartisan colleagues in urging the Administration to properly fund the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® small-business program.”

In a letter sent to the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], which implements the ENERGY STAR® program, the senators urged the Bush administration to increase funding for the ENERGY STAR® small-business program to $2 million a year, in order to provide technical assistance and resources necessary to small businesses.

Sens. Kerry and Snowe successfully secured provisions to aid small firms in becoming more energy efficient in the energy bill that the Senate will vote on in the near future. The provisions will:
* Require the Small Business Administration [SBA] to implement within 90 days an energy efficiency program that was mandated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005;
* Establish an audit program to increase energy efficiency, using Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs];
* Promote financing agreements between small businesses and utility companies to increase energy efficiency;
* Create a telecommuting pilot program at the SBA responsible for educational materials and outreach to small businesses on the benefits of telecommuting;
* Allow small businesses conducting energy efficiency or renewable energy research and development to be given priority consideration in the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs; and
* Establish loans for small firms to invest in use of renewable sources of energy in their business.

***

The full text of the letter to EPA Administrator Steve Johnson follows:

January 2, 2008

The Honorable Stephen L. Johnson
Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Administrator Johnson:

The issue of climate change has moved front and center in the national dialogue about our environment, our security, and our economy. CEOs from several Fortune 500 companies are bringing big business into the discussion, joining with environmental groups and urging the federal government to pass legislation and require significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. We believe that small businesses, which represent 50 percent of the nation’s economy, have just as big a stake in contributing to climate change solutions.

This year, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has paid particular attention to the effects of climate change and escalating fuel costs on small businesses, and the role America’s entrepreneurs can play in affecting change in these areas. Our committee has already devoted two hearings during the 110th Congress to these subjects.

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Small Business Association, 75 percent of small businesses believe that energy efficiency can make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, only 33 percent of those had successfully invested in energy efficiency programs for their businesses. In fact, only 60 percent of the respondents to the survey reported being familiar with the ENERGY STAR® for Small Business program at the Environmental Protection Agency.

We need to significantly improve energy efficiency investment by small businesses. To that end, we worked to include provisions in the Clean Energy Act of 2006 that take great strides in this direction. These provisions promote financing agreements between small businesses and utility companies to increase energy efficiency; allow small businesses conducting energy efficiency or renewable energy research and development to be given priority consideration in the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program; and establish loans for small firms to invest in use of renewable sources of energy in their business.

The 26 million small businesses in the United States comprise 99.7 percent of all domestic employer firms, and consume approximately half of all the commercial and industrial energy in the United States. In each of the last five years, the ENERGY STAR® program has received approximately $50 million in annual funding.

Regrettably, of this $50 million appropriation, less than two percent has been allocated to the ENERGY STAR® for Small Business program, which is responsible for reaching the entire small-business community. Clearly, this inadequate percentage grossly underestimates the critically important role small businesses could play in improving our nation’s energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint.

We believe that the time has come for small businesses to play a leading role in combating climate change and reducing our carbon footprint in the future. To achieve these results, we urge the administration to fund the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® for Small Business program at a minimum of $2 million annually. This would provide small businesses with the funding, technical assistance, and resources necessary to improve small-business energy efficiency.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry
Olympia J. Snowe
Joseph Lieberman
Mary Landrieu
Maria Cantwell
Norm Coleman
Jon Tester


GoodBiz113's take: Bravo! As the issue of climate change finally takes center stage -- environmentally, economically, socially and geopolitically -- we applaud Sen. John Kerry's Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship for its bold move to press the EPA and Bush administration for ENERGY STAR® program funding that incentivizes America's 26.8 million small businesses to do our fair share in optimizing global energy resources.

SOURCES: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Sens. Kerry and Harkin Secure Additional Small-Business Research Funding for Inclusion in Rep. Murtha's Defense Bill

In a victory for small-business innovation, this week, $85 million in additional funding for the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program was signed into law. Sens. John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Tom Harkin [D-Iowa] pushed for this funding to be included in the final version of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act [H.R. 3222], which Congressman John Murtha [D-Pa., pictured] secured in the House bill. The funding will allow the military to increase the use of small, high-tech businesses to help the military develop the best technologies, diversify the supply base, and reduce costs.

“Investing in small-business research pays off, both for our national security and our economic security,” noted Sen. Kerry, chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “In my home state of Massachusetts, which has received the second-most SBIR grants in the country, small businesses are helping the military cut shipbuilding costs and develop more effective unmanned transportation systems. This increased funding will help ensure that our troops have access to the best technology America has to offer.”

“This partnership between small businesses and the Department of Defense allows Iowa’s innovative technology market to support our national security endeavors,” explained Sen. Harkin, a senior member of Kerry's committee. “In past years, local businesses have helped our military members by equipping them with improved sonar capabilities and developing technologies to reduce flight-deck noise and protect against hearing loss. I am eager to see how the Iowa workforce puts these newly secured funds to good use in developing cutting-edge technologies in the coming years.”

The additional funding will be used to support the transition of SBIR technologies at the DoD: $20 million will be allocated to the Army’s Future Combat Systems; $40 million for the Navy’s surface ship and submarine development activities; and $25 million for the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Kerry and Harkin, working with Sen. Olympia Snowe [R-Maine], ranking member of the committee, will be working on comprehensive legislation to renew the small-business research program next year.

On Oct. 1, 2007, the Senate passed an amendment to temporarily extend the SBIR program through 2010 and prevent a shutdown or funding delays when the program expires in September 2008. The Senate also passed an amendment to extend a DoD pilot program that helps firms transition their projects to the marketplace.

Sources: Library of Congress, OpenCongress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Kerry, Levin Extend Small Business Innovation Program

Late yesterday, the Senate passed the Department of Defense authorization bill, with provisions secured by Sens. John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Carl Levin [D-Mich., pictured] to extend the Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program through 2010, and to increase the transition and commercialization of products developed by small firms that participate in the program.

Kerry is the chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Levin chairs the Committee on Armed Services. The SBIR program is set to expire on September 30, 2008.

“The SBIR program is critical to our national security and our country’s competitiveness in a global economy,” said Kerry. “Technologies developed through the program are helping to keep our troops safe on the battleground, improving our health care, and expanding our ability to combat global warming.

“We need to keep this program strong, avoid any contracting delays or shut-downs, and provide more resources to rapidly transition the most promising technologies into weapons systems or on the market quickly. I thank Sen. Levin and all the members of the Armed Services Committee for their leadership on these amendments and their support of this program.”

“The SBIR program creates jobs, increases our capacity for technological innovation and boosts our international competitiveness,” explained Levin, who also serves on Kerry's committee. “The program has demonstrated that federal agencies can work with small businesses to develop and commercialize technologies in a cost-effective way.”

The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship will be working on legislation to reauthorize the SBIR program next year. Kerry and Levin worked to include this extension as part of the defense bill to prevent a shut-down or delay of this important research and development program when it expires next year. Eight years ago, the program shut down because the program was not renewed in a timely way. This temporary extension will provide time that lawmakers need to develop bipartisan legislation that will be signed into law.

The Senate also passed an amendment to build upon a pilot program that Sens. Kerry and Olympia Snowe [R-Maine] created in 2005 to help firms transition their projects into commercialized products. The amendment, sponsored by Kerry and Snowe, and supported by Levin, extends the pilot program through 2012 to help small firms bring their products and innovations into the marketplace.

Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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Kerry-Snowe Bill Provisions Help Small Businesses Increase Energy Efficiency

Today, as the Senate debated a comprehensive energy bill, Senators John Kerry [D-Mass.] and Olympia J. Snowe [R-Maine] introduced legislation to press the Bush Administration to take action to help small businesses increase their energy efficiency.

The bipartisan bill also holds the Bush administration accountable for failing to implement an energy-efficiency assistance program enacted into law in 2005, and provides tools that will help small businesses reduce their dependency on fossil fuels.

As GoodBiz113 previously reported, in March, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a hearing that revealed the federal government needs to play a more aggressive role in assisting small businesses in becoming more energy efficient.

Then, in April, Kerry and Snowe wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], seeking details on the Bush administration’s progress in implementing the ENERGY STAR Small Business Program. They also wrote to the Small Business Administration [SBA], asking for information about how the agency has implemented the energy-efficiency program mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 [EPAct].

“Improving energy efficiency isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for the bottom line,” declared Kerry, chairman of the committee.

“Many small businesses want to be part of the solution to addressing climate change -- one of our generation’s greatest challenges," he noted. "But we need leadership from this administration to promote and provide resources to help small firms that want to take the next step and reduce their energy use and costs. I am working to get provisions passed in the energy bill that will help small businesses achieve this goal.”

“As the ranking Republican on the Small Business Committee and as a longstanding steward of the environment," Snowe noted, "I firmly believe that small businesses have a pivotal role to play in forging a solution to global climate change and rising energy prices.

“According to a recent survey conducted by the National Small Business Association, 75 percent of small businesses believe that energy efficiency can make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And, yet, only 33 percent of those respondents had successfully invested in energy-efficiency programs for their businesses. Our measure will help to incentivize small businesses to make a smaller carbon ‘footprint.’”

The Kerry-Snowe bill:

* Requires the [SBA] to implement, within 90 days, an energy efficiency program that was mandated in EPAct -- passed in 2005 to ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable and reliable energy;

* Establishes an audit program to increase energy efficiency, using Small Business Development Centers [SBDCs];

* Promotes financing agreements between small businesses and utility companies to increase energy efficiency;

* Creates a telecommuting pilot program at the SBA, responsible for educational materials and outreach to small businesses on the benefits of telecommuting;

* Allows small businesses conducting energy-efficiency or renewable-energy research and development to be given priority consideration in the SBA-administered Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] and Small Business Technology Transfer [STTR] programs; and

* Establishes loans for small firms to invest in use of renewable sources of energy in their business.

GoodBiz113's take: Despite myopic, misguided and purely nonsensical arguments to the contrary, climate change is real. We're pleased that Sens. Kerry and Snowe are leading this bipartisan effort to simultaneously hold America's 26 million small businesses accountable and incentivize us to do our part to help reverse the far-reaching and devastating effects of global warming.

Sources: Library of Congress, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
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If every U.S. home replaced five regular lightbulbs with energy-efficient compact flu0rescent bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road for a year. You can make a difference -- in your home and in your workplace. Add your voice at StopGlobalWarming.org, and shop for solar and renewable-energy items at Gaiam.com!