[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 42 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS (for himself, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
        Kerrey, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Roberts, and Mr. 
        Helms):
  S. 1957. A bill to provide regulatory assistance to small business 
concerns, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small Business.


                small business regulatory assistance act

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, today I introduce the Small Business 
Regulatory Assistance Act. Joining me as co-sponsors of this 
legislation are Senators Dorgan, Chafee, Leahy, Kerrey, D'Amato, 
Murkowski, Roberts, and Helms.
  Complying with complex and overlapping federal regulations is time-
consuming and costly for any business, but small businesses bear a 
disproportionate burden. Given their limited resources, small 
businesses need all the help they can get when it comes to complying 
with environmental, tax, and workplace safety regulations. Yet small 
businesses rarely turn to the regulatory agencies for assistance, 
either out of fear of punishment or because help isn't available.
  This legislation would use the existing network of Small Business 
Development Centers (SBDCs)--over 950 nationwide and serving 600,000 
businesses annually--to provide small businesses with non-punitive, 
confidential regulatory information and assistance. The SBDC network 
currently offers business expertise to growing firms, yet information 
and assistance needed to comply with EPA, OSHA, and IRS rules is often 
unavailable to these small firms.
  The legislation authorizes SBDCs to develop compliance guidelines in 
conjunction with these federal agencies and then use that information 
to educate small businesses on regulatory compliance. With this 
information, businesses will be able to follow important environmental, 
safety, and tax laws, and the government will spend fewer resources on 
costly enforcement measures.
  This bill is pro-small business and pro-compliance. It will help 
small firms develop practical business solutions to regulatory 
compliance problems.

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