Providing for Consideration of H.Res.22,Expressing the Sense of the House That American Small Businesses are Entitled to Small Business Bill of Rights
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. 22, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE THAT AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ENTITLED TO A SMALL BUSINESS BILL OF RIGHTS -- (House of Representatives - April 27, 2005)
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 235 and ask for its immediate consideration.
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 22 calls for a commonsense Small Business Bill of Rights that spells out urgent actions that Congress should take to allow small businesses to thrive.
Ninety percent of all employers in our country are small businesses, and 70 percent of all new jobs created in America are created by these small locally owned businesses. Small businesses, stores, manufacturers, and farms drive the economic engine of many communities across the country. They truly are the backbone of America.
Many obstacles confront a small business owner looking to expand his or her company to provide more jobs and investment.
Frivolous lawsuits are a constant and a costly threat to small businesses across the country. The rising cost of health care has made it difficult and, in many cases, impossible for small business owners to offer health care to their employees. Today, over 60 percent of small business employees do not have health insurance.
Soaring energy costs make it difficult for small manufacturers to produce goods at a competitive price. The cost of natural gas and other feedstocks is taking up a larger and ever-growing share of the budget of manufacturers.
In the 109th Congress, the People's house has already acted on several of the items called for in this resolution. Two weeks ago, we passed legislation to permanently repeal the death tax, a tax that puts a huge burden on small business owners and takes away resources that are vital to families seeking to keep farms and businesses in their family.
Last week, we passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to help reduce the cost of energy. The legislation provides money for clean coal technology that will help coal continue to provide low-cost energy while protecting our environment. Provisions will also open new refineries and new oil reserves into the market. All of these measures will help lower the cost of energy for small businesses.
In February, President Bush signed the Class Action Fairness Act into law. This law is a strong first step in limiting frivolous lawsuits that burden our economy and destroy job growth.
There is still much more to be done. In the past two Congresses, we passed legislation allowing for Association Health Plans. These plans would permit small businesses to join together through trade associations across State lines to gain purchasing power in the health insurance market.
Health insurance is the biggest challenge facing small business today, hands down. Many small business owners want nothing more than to offer affordable health care to all of their workers. These owners know their employees personally and know their employees' spouses and children, making that decision not to offer health coverage an agonizing one. Yet many small business owners make this choice because of the rising cost of health care.
We must pass legislation to allow small businesses to have the same purchasing power as large corporations in the health insurance market.
With millions of small business employees among the uninsured, association health plans are one of the most important things Congress can do for our Nation's workers.
In order for small business to grow and produce more jobs in local economies, we must have pro-growth policies. A national energy policy, association health plans, and legal reform are some of the important steps that will benefit small business owners and their employees alike.
This resolution is an opportunity for Members to show their support of small business to continue moving forward on crucial issues to protect existing jobs and spur economic development. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the rule and the underlying resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This resolution outlines the areas that the 109th Congress needs to highlight for all small businesses.
In previous Congresses we have initiated many areas of small business in terms of trying to help them grow and flourish where they are employing so many Americans. They are the very engine of our Nation's economy and it is time that we start acting on legislation to help them continue to do so.
I thank the gentleman from Florida for bringing the measure to the floor. I urge a "yes" vote on the rule and the underlying resolution.
The material previously referred to by Ms. Matsui is as follows:
Previous Question for H. Res. 235 H. Res. 22--Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that American small businesses are entitled to a Small Business Bill of Rights
Strike all after the resolved clause and insert:
That upon the adoption of this resolution it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House the resolution (H. Res. 22) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that American small businesses are entitled to a Small Business Bill of Rights. The amendments to the resolution and the preamble recommended by the Committee on Small Business now printed in the resolution are considered as adopted. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and preamble, as amended, to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Small Business; (2) the amendments printed in section 2, if offered by the Member designated or a designee, each of which shall be in order without intervention of any point of order or demand for division of the question, shall be considered as read, and shall be separately debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent; and (3) one motion to recommit, which may not contain instructions.
SEC. 2. The amendments referred to the first section of this resolution are as follows:
(1) Amendment by Representative Barrow of Georgia or Representative Moore of Wisconsin.
Amendment to H. Res. 22, as Reported
Offered by Mr. Barrow of Georgia and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin
Page 6, after line 7, insert the following:
(8) Minority business owners have the right to participate fully in the Federal marketplace and to receive the "maximum practicable opportunity" promised them under section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637). To accomplish this, programs aimed at minority business development must be modernized, adequately funded, and supported by the Small Business Administration. This will ensure that the Nation's minority entrepreneurs receive the support they need and rightfully deserve, allowing them to serve as an important catalyst to the economy.
In the fourteenth whereas clause, strike "and" at the end.
After the fourteenth whereas clause, insert the following:
Whereas a business ownership divide exists in this country. Despite the fact that people of color represent 32 percent of the United States population, these individuals own only 15 percent of businesses. These same barriers exist for minority-owned companies attempting to access the Federal marketplace. Today, fewer than 5 percent of Government contracts go to minority businesses. This is due, in large part, to a lack of support by Federal officials for key minority business development programs designed to assist this segment of the business population. Programs once embraced by agencies and administrations have stagnated and been allowed to deteriorate without legislative improvements for nearly 20 years, leaving minority business owners without the assistance they need to reach their full potential; and
(2) Amendment by Representative Sánchez.
Amendment to H. Res. 22, as Reported
Offered by Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of California
In the fourteenth whereas clause, strike "and" at the end.
After the fourteenth whereas clause, insert the following:
Whereas traditional lenders do not make loans to many of the Nation's low-income entrepreneurs, which creates a gap in the capital markets; and
Page 6, after line 7, insert the following:
(8) The right to a strengthened and expanded microloan program under section 7(m) of the Small business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)), which will ensure that low-income small businesses can contribute to the economic development of local communities.
(3) Amendment by Representative Bean of Illinois.
Amendment to H. Res. 22, as Reported
Offered by Ms. Bean of Illinois
Page 6, line 3, insert before the period, "which would be accomplished by restoring funding for the loan program under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a))".
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
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