Recently in the Action Alert Category

Before Congress went on August recess, important small business legislation was left unresolved. Despite WIPP's efforts to rally support for the bill, Democrats and Republicans were unable to agree on the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297) before the break.

This morning, the Senate voted for cloture - a procedure where the Senators vote to limit debate on the Small Business Jobs Bill H.R. 5297. If cloture is achieved, the bill would have been set for a final vote. In order to achieve cloture, sixty (60) votes must be achieved.

Today, only fifty-eight (58) Senators voted for cloture. What this means is that the debate for the bill will continue.

WIPP continues to express support for this bill. This bill contains a number of provisions that stand to benefit small businesses, such as:

·         Restoring parity to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) small business contracting program

·         Addressing contract bundling and subcontracting in federal procurement

·         Increasing loan limits and available capital for small businesses

·         Providing tax incentives for small business owners

·         Repealing the 1099 reporting requirement enacted after the healthcare law

We need your help in expressing your support for this bill. Contact your Senators and tell them to support this bill!

To read WIPP's latest letter of support for this bill, please click here.

If you are a government contractor or want to be, you need to be aware of a problem with just one word that has thrown federal contracting into chaos. The difference in the small business law is over "shall" vs. "may."  That one word means that if you are a company located in a HUBZone, your program gets preference with respect to contracting.  And if you are a contractor in any of the socio-economic small business contracting programs, it spells "trouble" for you.  The issue is referred to as the parity in federal agencies, Capitol Hill and the White House.  Shaking your head?  Here's the background.

What is "parity" with respect to federal procurement?

Parity is the concept that all of the small business programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) are equal to one another, with no one program will having precedence over the other. This policy, which was intended by original drafters of the law, has been upset by a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision. This decision found that the HUBZone program has precedence over all of the small business programs, due to the way the law was originally drafted.  WIPP, along with the SBA and the Obama Administration, and many other organizations, support changing the law to fix this problem.

What is the impact to you?

-          HUBZone contractors will have preference over other small business contracts.

-          The Court's reading of the Act could re-direct to HUBZone firms tens of billions in federal procurement dollars.

-          This could cause a flood of protests in any non-HUBZone procurement, paralyzing the procurement process.  

-          Render the new women's procurement program expected to be finalized this year dead on arrival.

What Can You Do To Help?

Now more than ever, legislation action is needed to restore parity to the SBA small business programs. Call or write to your Senators and Representatives and ask them to support passage of S.3190 and H.R. 3729. You can write directly to your Congressional Delegate by clicking here. You can find their phone numbers on www.senate.gov; or www.house.gov.  Click on the Senator/Representative you are trying to reach.

TAKE ACTION TODAY - HOUSE VOTE IS SET FOR SUNDAY!

With the US House of Representatives set to vote on Healthcare on Sunday, it is imperative that we make sure the voice of women small business owners is heard! Please complete the following ACTION ALERT now, urging members of Congress to act on much needed small business healthcare reforms.

TAKE ACTION NOW by writing your Congressional Representatives today to ask for their support on key healthcare reforms that will greatly benefit small business.

While the future of comprehensive healthcare reform is uncertain, small business owners need access to more insurance plans and better insurance rates. We are asking Congress to move forward with reforms small businesses need even if it does not move forward with a major overhaul of the healthcare system.

Click here to learn more about what these crucial small business healthcare reforms include and to contact your Congressional Representatives to move these reforms forward!

Please contact Angelin Barrios at abarrios@wipp.org with any questions.

WIPP CALL TO ACTION - TELL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES YOUR VIEW ON HEALTHCARE REFORM

Write your Congressional Representatives (both House and Senate) today expressing your support of key principles critical to healthcare reform. A 2009 WIPP member poll showed that 72% of women business owners believe health care reform is needed in order to be successful. 

Key components of healthcare reform that WIPP vigorously supports:  

- Creation of a private nationwide insurance purchasing pool for small businesses;

- Tax credits for small businesses that offer healthcare to their employees;

- Rating reform and the elimination of health status for benefits rating;

- A simplified enrollment process; and

- An individual requirement for health insurance coverage.

WIPP vigorously opposes:

- An employer mandate that includes small businesses; and

- The taxation of employee health benefits.

HOW TO TAKE ACTION

Click here to go to WIPP's Take Action page. We've made it easy; it will only take you a few moments to email your U.S. Senators and Representatives expressing key components of healthcare reform that you support, and those that you oppose.  

Contact Megan Markoff, WIPP Small Business Policy Analyst, with any questions.

Thank you for taking quick action on this bill.