WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) released the following statement after the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that President Trump’s regulatory reform efforts have saved Americans $23 billion in FY 2018.

“As Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I have been diligently working with the Administration to identify the impact new regulations have on small businesses, so we can effectively reduce unnecessary costs and burdens. For every new regulation issued, the Administration has eliminated 12, which has resulted in $33 billion in net regulatory savings in the last two years. It’s time we implement a common sense regulatory agenda so that American business owners are able to invest in their American dream without needless regulatory burdens on their shoulders.”

The Committee created an online resource, Regulatory Watch, for small businesses that want to participate in the regulatory development process, but do not have time to monitor federal agencies’ activities. The webpage is updated regularly to highlight proposed regulations that could impact small businesses. Each regulatory proposal is summarized, and a link is provided to a webpage where a small business owner can provide comments to the appropriate federal agency. 

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) released the following statement to recognize October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month:

“Digital technology allows small businesses to sell their products and services all over the world and plays a vital role in our nation’s economy. With 81 percent of small businesses concerned by a potential cyber-attack, but only 63 percent having the most basic cybersecurity measures in place, it’s imperative we are vigilant about leveraging resources to protect small businesses owners and their intellectual property.”

This year, the House Committee on Small Business held several hearings to examine how small business owners are confronting cyber threats from numerous bad actors. In addition to phishing scams and ransomware attacks, one of the most significant cyber threats small business owners face is the theft of intellectual property through cyberespionage. Small businesses are often the most underequipped participants in high-tech supply changes, making them the biggest targets for cyber-attacks. Earlier this year, Chairman Chabot introduced H.R. 4668, the Small Business Advanced Cybersecurity Enhancements Act of 2017 in an effort to help small businesses respond to cyber-attacks more effectively.

Additionally, H.R. 3170, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2017, led by Chairman Chabot, passed the House on May 8, 2018. This legislation would provide cyber certification for Small Business Development Center counselors.

WASHINGTON – This week, President Trump signed S. 791, the Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017, into law. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 2655, which passed the House in July and was led by Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The Small Business Innovation Protection Act will expand intellectual property education and training for small businesses by establishing a partnership between the United States Small Business Administration and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The partnership will leverage existing outreach programs at the agencies to educate more small businesses on domestic and international intellectual property protections. This bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by President Trump on Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) released the following statement:

“With the United States being the largest technology market in the world, intellectual property plays a critical role in protecting creative and innovative products both in the United States and abroad. In fact, America’s intellectual property is worth $6.6 trillion, and intellectual property-intensive industries employ over 45 million Americans. Cyber security protections for small businesses are essential, and I am pleased the President has signed this important legislation. What’s more, I’m proud this new law will utilize existing resources within the federal government to better assist small businesses with intellectual property issues. I thank President Trump for signing this critical piece of legislation into law to protect small businesses and the millions of Americans they employ.”

Additionally, on Thursday, October 11, 2018, H.R. 6758, the Study Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018, or the SUCCESS Act, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. This bipartisan legislation led by Chairman Chabot encourages woman, minority, and veteran entrepreneurship by studying their use of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and investigates ways to increase their access to patents. Further, the bill extends the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s fee setting authority for eight years.

WASHINGTON – This week, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) wrote an op-ed for the Cincinnati Enquirer on how the opioid crisis is affecting small businesses and how the Committee is addressing this important issue.

“... According to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), small business optimism is at a 45-year high. But they have also expressed concern over a new problem: a lack of qualified workers.

“While this may be due to a number of different factors, research today shows that many young, working-age Americans are not working or actively seeking work as a direct result of opioids. As I learned at a recent hearing we held, small business owners are doing their part to combat the crisis, not just for their bottom lines, but to save people’s lives…

“Not surprisingly, the crisis has had a major effect on small businesses. Workers on opioids are less dependable and productive. In 2015, an estimated two million workers were not in the labor force due to opioids. Small businesses, especially those in the construction and manufacturing sectors, have been hit hard as opioid prescription use is typically 5-10 percent higher in these industries.

“But some small business owners have taken it upon themselves to fight the epidemic… The Ohio SBDC created a workshop to equip small business employers and employees with the information and tools they need to take a proactive role against the epidemic. The Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation also offers free Drug Free Workplace Training that includes employee education, testing for drug use, and how to respond to an employee’s harmful use of drugs.

“While the opioid crisis is taking a hit on our nation’s small businesses, we at the committee will continue to pursue solutions that work for our nation’s small business owners and their employees. Allen likes to say that "a job is the best antidote," and I’d have to agree – that’s why small businesses like hers are so important to overcoming this terrible epidemic. 

“My hope is that through practical solutions and a little compassion, we can help small businesses find and retain qualified workers, and more importantly, save peoples’ lives.”

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) released the following statement after the United States Department of Labor reported that 134,000 jobs were added in September with unemployment hitting a 49-year low at 3.7 percent. In addition, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported that 37 percent of firms are offering higher compensation in September, which is further underscored by the 2.8 percent wage increase generated in 2017.

"It’s great to see the accelerated growth our economy is undergoing with the continued positive effects of our pro-growth policies in full swing. With unemployment the lowest it’s been since 1969 and over 1.8 million jobs created since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, we’re clearly headed in the right direction. Not only are there more job openings, but a record number of small business owners are increasing wages to attract and retain more employees. This good news will bode well for those seeking employment, and I look forward to seeing this momentum continue.”

October is National Women’s Small Business Month. The Committee on Small Business celebrates all entrepreneurs and wants to take time to recognize the 11.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States, which support almost 9 million jobs. Women-owned businesses generate $1.6 trillion in annual revenue and are starting five times faster than the national average. This is good news for our economic landscape. 

In celebration of National Women’s Small Business Month, Chairman Chabot (R-OH) released the following statement:  

“National Women’s Small Business Month is a time to recognize the achievements and advancements of women entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and leaders. Women owned small businesses comprise about 40 percent of the total businesses in the United States, and this number continues to grow. As the Small Business Committee Chairman, I look forward to seeing continued expansion of woman-owned small businesses, and barriers to entry consistently broken.”

The Committee on Small Business hearing titled, “21^st Century Telecom: Is the FCC Addressing Small Business Concerns?” has been postponed.

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) spoke on the House floor in support of H.R. 6760, the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act, which will greatly benefit America’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups.

Click here to watch the video online.

As Prepared for Delivery:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6760, the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act. 

“As Chairman of the Small Business Committee, I have closely examined the effects the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has had on small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs. 

“From a Small Business Committee hearing that I chaired in July that reviewed the impact of the new law on Main Street companies to the many small business optimism surveys that are published on a monthly basis, the results are in, and they are positive for our nation’s 30 million small businesses. 

“The tax cuts have provided small businesses with the opportunity to invest in their workers, invest in their companies, and invest in their dreams.

“A small business in my district in southern Ohio recently testified that ‘the recent tax reduction in and of itself will have a positive impact on our employees and our business in 2018 and beyond.’

“The shops on Main Street are transforming our communities and neighborhoods with job growth and business expansion. 

“With our economic engine starting to rev, Congress must take the next step in the tax debate, which is making the cuts for the nation’s job creators permanent. 

“H.R. 6760 does just this by providing certainty and stability for small businesses and their employees.    

“Making Section 199a, the small business pass-through provision, stronger, will be a benefit to small businesses from Ohio to the nation’s coasts. 

“I applaud the work of Mr. Davis and all of the Members of the Ways and Means Committee to ensure the nation’s smallest firms are front and center in this important debate. 

“When the nation’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups are thriving, so is our economy. 

“I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6760.”

The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access will meet for a hearing titled, “The Local Impact of Economic Growth.”  The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, September 27, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

The Subcommittee will examine how the recent economic expansion is affecting minority-owned small businesses.  This hearing will have a particular focus on how regulatory and tax changes have renewed small business optimism and benefited small business owners.  

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access held a hearing to examine how the recent economic expansion is affecting minority-owned small businesses. The hearing focused on how regulatory and tax changes have renewed small business optimism and benefited small business owners. 

“This morning we had an excellent panel to discuss how the recent surge in economic growth, and the policies enacted this Congress, have impacted minority-owned small businesses. By hearing their stories, we hope to further understand how Congress can continue to promote pro-growth policies to help small businesses of all industries and backgrounds. Minority-owned small businesses are growing faster than the national average, and their impact will continue to grow even greater in the years to come,” said Subcommittee Chairman Dave Brat (R-VA).

Entrepreneurs Experiences in Economic Growth

“Small business owner takes risks unlike almost any other component of our economy,” said Mansour Azimipour, Founder and President of A&K Development Corp. “In Orange County, Virginia where I am a business owner, we have about 900 employers. Over 90% of them employ less than 20 people. But that represents nearly 30% of the entire workforce. At the local level, the financial stability of community and sensitivity to the impact of rules and regulations are helping create an environment that encourages investments by small business owners. In the last 24 months, we have 85 new starts up companies.”

“Today’s hearing is focused on the local impact of public policies made in Washington,” said Brenda Jones Barwick, President and CEO of Jones Public Relations, Inc. “It is my experience that it makes all the difference in the world. Tax policy, for example, affects every business in America. Recognizing small businesses as entities that need different rules and regulations than large companies is key to our success. My company is organized as an S Corp and I have recognized a substantial benefit in the new lower tax rate. This change has allowed me to pay bonuses, hire more personnel and increase salaries up to 10% for all employees.”

“While it has been challenging recently to find qualified labor to hire and provide to clients, Green JobWorks is being proactive and setting ourselves apart as an industry leader by developing a process to attract workers in a competitive market,” said Larry Lopez, President of Green JobWorks LLC. “This process and my company’s recent growth are in large part attributable to the impact of policies such as H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”

To read the full witness testimony click here and to watch the full hearing click here.

The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce will meet for a hearing titled, “Troubled Skies: The Aviation Workforce Shortage's Impact on Small Businesses.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

The purpose of this Subcommittee hearing is to examine the pilot and mechanic shortage in the aviation industry, in the context of small businesses.  A confluence of factors has led to a widening gap between pilots and aviation mechanics leaving and entering the workforce.  While the shortage has been widely documented and covered by business experts and journalists, the impact to small businesses operating as part of this pipeline remain unexamined.  The hearing will allow the Subcommittee to receive testimony on the negative effects of this aviation workforce shortage on small businesses across the country and identify potential solutions that may help reverse this decline.       

Attachments
1. Hearing Notice
2. Witness List
3. Hearing Memo 
4. Opening Statement

Witnesses
Mr. Brett Levanto
Vice President of Communications
Aeronautical Repair Station Association
Alexandria, VA
Testimony
Disclosure 

Mr. Martin Lenss
Airport Director
The Eastern Iowa Airport
Cedar Rapids, IA
Testimony
Disclosure

Ms. Sarah Oberman Bartush
Chief Marketing Officer & Director of Business Development
CI Jets
Camarillo, CA 
Testimony
Disclosure

Mr. Kenneth Witcher, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Aeronautics
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL
*Testifying on behalf of the Aerospace Industries Association
Testimony
Disclosure

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce held a hearing to examine the pilot and mechanic shortage in the aviation industry, specifically within small businesses. While the shortage has been widely documented, the impact to small firms operating as part of this pipeline remains unexamined.

“With airlines growing and their need for pilots and mechanics ever increasing, small businesses are particularly vulnerable to losing their workforce at a faster rate than their competitors. The point of this hearing is to hear the stories of those who have boots on the ground, and to also inform those who are entering the workforce that aviation is a viable option for their future. Our economy needs pilots and mechanics and our witnesses are here to tell you that they are hiring people like you, right now,” said Subcommittee Chairman Steve Knight (R-CA).

Witness Testimony: Addressing the Aviation Workforce Shortage First-Hand

“Recruiting and retaining the next generation of aviation professionals is the most pressing strategic challenge facing the aviation maintenance community,” said Brett Levanto, Vice President of Communications for Aeronautical Repair Station Association. “Indeed, technical skills development is a long-term threat to the health of every industry dependent on design, construction and maintenance capabilities. For aviation businesses – large and small – the development, production, operation and maintenance of the world’s safest transportation system depends on a skilled, dedicated and knowledgeable workforce that is personally invested for the long term.”

“Despite the growing passenger levels we have been experiencing in Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, many other small communities around the country have been less fortunate,” said Martin Lenss, Airport Director of Eastern Iowa Airport. “Between July 2013 and July 2018, 37 airports in the continental U.S. lost all commercial air service. In addition, 26 communities lost 75 percent of their air service. These, and numerous other data points, tell us we have a real and growing pilot supply issue that threatens to leave more communities with fewer commercial airline options. The most at-risk in facing this challenge are the regional airlines and the communities across the U.S. they serve.”

“There may never be a better time to become a commercial pilot and pursue a career in aviation,” said Sarah Oberman Bartush, CMO of Channel Islands Aviation, Inc. “The pilot shortage has only just begun, and it is already creating hardship on small businesses like mine. Something must be done to bring light to this situation and to encourage the airlines to work with both the charter operators and flight schools rather than just constantly swooping up their talent.”

“The aviation technician shortage could be just as disruptive as the pilot shortage for small business,” said Kenneth Witcher, Dean of the College of Aeronautics Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “Small repair shops, who need skilled labor, will find themselves unable to compete for the dwindling supply of experienced technicians due to increased wages offered by the larger Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organizations. These smaller shops typically do not have the resources/capability to provide the on-the-job training necessary for workers just entering the industry. If these manufactures are unable to recruit a skilled workforce, it could have a ripple effect impacting the large aircraft manufacturing companies globally.”

WASHINGTON – Today, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) released the following statement after the House passed nine bipartisan bills, ranging from legislation making it easier for small businesses to access capital to expanding contracting opportunities.

“I am pleased the House passed these nine common-sense, bipartisan bills to help America’s 30 million small businesses and those they employ. These bills will ensure small businesses’ have access to capital, making it easier for them to thrive and grow. I thank the Committee Members on both sides of the aisle for their hard work and continued bipartisan commitment to putting American entrepreneurs first.”

H.R. 6348, “Small Business Access to Capital and Efficiency (ACE) Act” – introduced by Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) and Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA)

H.R. 6348 reduces burdens and conflicting regulations for small businesses by updating the Small Business Administration’s 504/Certified Development Company Loan Program’s commercial real estate appraisal threshold.

H.R. 6347, “7(a) Real Estate Harmonization Act” – introduced by Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Rep. John Curtis (R-UT)

H.R. 6347 updates SBA’s 7(a) Loan Program’s commercial real estate appraisal threshold.

H.R. 6330, “Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018” – introduced by Rep. Steve Knight (R-CA) and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

H.R. 6330 modifies SBA’s size calculation to provide small businesses with more time to be considered “small” for the purposes of SBA’s small business programs.

H.R. 6369, “Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2018” – introduced by Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL)

H.R. 6369 increases the size of sole source contract awards for women owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, and socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses, and implements a new eligibility determination process to ensure sole source awards are made to eligible firms.

H.R. 6367, “Incentivizing Fairness in Subcontracting Act” – introduced by Rep. Al Lawson (D-FL) and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS)

H.R. 6367 allows large prime contractors to take credit for subcontracting to small businesses at lower tiers, provided that prime contractors keep records substantiating subcontracting credit claimed at lower tiers, and creates a new dispute process for small subcontractors to bring nonpayment issues to the agency’s small business advocate (Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization).

H.R.  6382, “Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act of 2018” – introduced by Rep. Alma Adams (D- NC) and Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH)

H.R. 6382 requires the SBA to report federal spending made through designated “best-in-class” vehicles, and to report on the dollars spent through these vehicles awarded to small businesses.

H.R. 6316, “Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2018” – Introduced by Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC)

H.R. 6316 allows the SBA Office of Advocacy to examine the role of small business in international economies and to represent small business views before foreign governments and international entities.

H.R. 6368, “Encouraging Small Business Innovators Act” – introduced by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC)

H.R. 6368 makes a series of changes to the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, making them easier for small firms to use.

S. 791, “Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017” – introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Senator James Risch (R-ID)

S. 791 will expand intellectual property education and training for small businesses. It is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 2655, which passed the House in July.

The Committee on Small Business will meet for a hearing titled, “Now Hiring: How the Opioid Epidemic Affects Small Businesses.”  The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, September 13, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

The hearing will explore the effects of the opioid crisis on small businesses.  Specifically, the hearing will examine the decline in the labor force participation rate due to the epidemic and the challenges that small businesses experience in finding qualified workers as a result. 

The Committee on Small Business will meet for a hearing titled, “Surveying Storms: A Deeper Dive into SBA’s Disaster Response.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

This hearing will examine the United States Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster response.  Members of the Committee will hear directly from the SBA regarding the agency’s actions during the 2017 storm season and SBA’s disaster response moving forward.      

The Committee on Small Business will meet for a hearing titled, “The Tax Law's Impact on Main Street.”  The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

The hearing will examine how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has affected small businesses.  Members of the Committee will hear directly from small business owners regarding the impact the law has had on their operations and their outlook moving forward.   

The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy, and Trade will meet for a joint hearing titled, “Investing in Rural America.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

Access to capital is one of the key ingredients for small business success. Early stage funding such as venture capital can help small businesses expand and hire more individuals in their community. However, venture capital is predominately awarded to businesses in larger cities on the coasts. Various groups, including public-private partnerships, trade associations, and university based organizations, have emerged to help identify opportunities for private investors that support growing rural small businesses across the United States. This hearing will examine venture capital’s role in helping small business to access capital, and provide success stories of organizations that provide resources to small businesses in rural America.

The Committee on Small Business will hold a markup of legislation to amend the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act.  The markup will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  The items that will be marked up include:

• H.R. 6348, “Small Business Access to Capital and Efficiency Act”
• H.R. 6347, “7(a) Real Estate Harmonization Act”
• H.R. 6330, “Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018”
• H.R. 6369, “Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2018”
  - H.R. 6369 Amendment 1 Schneider
• H.R. 6367, “Incentivizing Fairness in Subcontracting Act of 2018”
  - H.R. 6367 Amendment 1 Kelly 
• H.R. 6382, “Clarity on Small Business Participation in Category Management Act of 2018”
  - H.R. 6382 Amendment 1 Murphy
• H.R. 6316, “Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2018”
• H.R. 6368, “Encouraging Small Business Innovators Act”

The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will meet for a hearing titled, “Achieving Government-Wide Verification of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.”  The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

This hearing will examine the progress of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) in harmonizing definitions related to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs).  The hearing will also examine SBA’s readiness to assume the remaining verification functions from the VA’s Center for Verification and Evaluation and the benefits of extending verification of SDVOSBs government-wide.

The Committee on Small Business will meet for a hearing titled, “Innovation Nation: How Small Businesses in the Digital Technology Industry Use Intellectual Property.”  The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Digital technology allows small businesses to sell their products and services all over the world. Not only does digital technology benefit small businesses by lowering their operating costs, developing market automation, and improving customer relationships, but small businesses can expand by entering the digital technology industry themselves. More than just taking advantage of digital tools to improve a pre-existing small business, small businesses are becoming the digital tools, and small businesses in the digital technology industry continue to emerge. While each company is unique, these small businesses have developed first and foremost because of their utilization of technology. As a result of their unique innovations, small businesses create intellectual property, but in turn face challenges in protecting their ideas.  This hearing will examine how small business owners in the digital technology industry utilize intellectual property and the issues they face when navigating the intellectual property processes.