[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6307-S6310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND (for himself and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 1156. A bill to amend provisions of law enacted by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 to ensure full 
analysis of potential impacts on small entities of rules proposed by 
certain agencies, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Small 
Business.


 small business advocacy review panel technical amendments act of 1999

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce ``The Small 
Business Advocacy Review Panel Technical Amendments Act of 1999.'' I am 
pleased to be joined by Senator Kerry, the Ranking Member on the Small 
Business Committee, which I chair. Our bill is simple and 
straightforward. It clarifies and amends certain provisions of law 
enacted as part of my ``Red Tape Reduction Act,'' the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. In 1996, this body led the 
way toward enactment of this important law. With a unanimous vote, we 
took a major step to ensure that small businesses are treated fairly by 
federal agencies.
  Like the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which it amended, the Red Tape 
Reduction Act is a remedial statute, designed to redress the fact that 
uniform federal regulations impose disproportionate impacts on small 
entities, including small business, small not-for-profits and small 
governments. A recent study conducted for the Office of Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration documented, yet again, that small 
businesses continue to face higher regulatory compliance costs than 
their big-business counterparts. With the vast majority of businesses 
in this nation being small enterprises, it only makes sense for the 
rulemaking process to ensure that the concerns of such small entities 
get a fair airing early in the development of a federal regulation.
  The bill Senator Kerry and I are introducing focuses on Section 244 
of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 
which amended chapter 6 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known 
as the Regulatory Flexibility Act). As a result, each ``covered 
agency'' is required to convene a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel 
(Panel) to receive advice and comments from small entities. 
Specifically, under section 609(b), each covered agency is to convene a 
Panel of federal employees, representing the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget, the 
Chief Counsel of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, and the 
covered agency promulgating the regulation, to receive input from small 
entities prior to publishing an initial Regulatory Flexibility analysis 
for a proposed rule with a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. The Panel, which convenes for 60 days, 
produces a report containing comments from the small entities and the 
Panel's own recommendations. The report is provided to the head of the 
agency, who reviews the report and, where appropriate, modifies the 
proposed rule, initial regulatory analysis or the decision on whether 
the rule significantly impacts small entities. The Panel report becomes 
a part of the rulemaking record.
  Consistent with the overall purpose of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
and the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, the 
objective of the Panel process is to minimize the adverse impacts and 
increase the benefits to small entities affected by the agency's 
actions. Consequently, the true proof of each Panel's effectiveness in 
reducing the regulatory burden on small entities is not known until the 
agency issues the proposed and final rules. So far, the results are 
encouraging.

  Under current law, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
(OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are the only 
agencies currently covered by the Panel process. Our bill adds the 
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a covered agency. In 1996, the Red 
Tape Reduction Act expressly included the IRS under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act; however, the Treasury Department has interpreted the 
language in the law in a manner that essentially writes them out of the 
law. The Small Business Advocacy Review Panel Technical Amendments Act 
of 1999 clarifies which interpretative rules involving the internal 
revenue code are to be subject to compliance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, for those rules with a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities, the IRS would be required to 
convene a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel.
  If the Treasury Department and the IRS had implemented the Red Tape 
Reduction Act as Congress originally intended, the regulatory burdens 
on small businesses could have been reduced, and small businesses could 
have been saved considerable trouble in fighting unwarranted rulemaking 
actions. For instance, with input from the small business community 
early in the process, the IRS' 1997 temporary regulations on the 
uniform capitalization rules could have had taken into consideration 
the adverse effects that inventory accounting would have on farming 
businesses, and especially nursery growers. Similarly, if the IRS had 
conducted an initial Regulatory Flexibility, it would have learned of 
the enormous problems surrounding its limited partner regulations prior 
to issuing the proposal in January 1997. These regulations, which 
became known as the ``stealth tax regulations,'' would have raised 
self-employment taxes on countless small businesses operated as limited 
partnerships or limited liability companies, and also would have 
imposed burdensome new recordkeeping and collection of information 
requirements.
  Specifically, the bill strikes the language in section 603 of title 5 
that included IRS interpretative rules under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, ``but only to the extent that such interpretative rules impose on 
small entities a collection of information requirement.'' The Treasury 
Department has misconstrued this language in two ways. First, unless 
the IRS imposes a requirement on small businesses to complete a new 
OMB-approved form, the Treasury says Reg Flex does not apply. Second, 
in the limited circumstances where the IRS has acknowledged imposing a 
new reporting requirement, the Treasury has limited its analysis of the 
impact on small businesses to the burden imposed by the form. As a 
result, the Treasury Department and the IRS have turned Reg Flex 
compliance into an unnecessary, second Paperwork Reduction Act.
  To address this problem, our bill revises the critical sentence in 
Section 603 to read as follows:

       In the case of an interpretative rule involving the 
     internal revenue laws of the United States, this chapter 
     applies to interpretative rules (including proposed, 
     temporary and final regulations) published in the Federal 
     Register for codification in the Code of Federal Regulations.

  Coverage of the IRS under the Panel process and the technical changes 
I have just described are strongly supported by the Small Business 
Legislative Council, the National Association for the Self-Employed, 
and many other organizations representing small businesses. Even more 
significantly, these changes have the support of the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy. I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record following 
this statement copies of letters and statements from these small 
business advocates.
  The remaining provisions of our bill address the mechanics of 
convening a Panel and the selection of the small entity representatives 
invited to submit advice and recommendations to the Panel. While these 
provisions are very similar to the legislation introduced in the other 
body (H.R. 1882) by our colleagues Representatives Talent, Velazquez, 
Kelly, Bartlett, and Ewing, Senator Kerry has expressed some specific 
concerns regarding the potential for certain provisions to be 
misconstrued. I have agreed to work with him to address his concerns in 
report language and, if necessary, with minor revisions to the bill 
text.
  Our mutual goal is to ensure that the views of small entities are 
brought forth through the Panel process and taken to heart by the 
``covered agency'' and other federal agencies represented on the 
Panel--in short, to

[[Page S6308]]

continue the success that EPA and OSHA have shown this process has for 
small businesses. I thank the Senator from Massachusetts for his 
support, and ask unanimous consent that the Small Business Advocacy 
Review Panel Technical Amendments Act of 1999 be printed, following 
this statement.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill and additional 
material be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1156

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Advocacy 
     Review Panel Technical Amendments Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (1) A vibrant and growing small business sector is critical 
     to creating jobs in a dynamic economy.
       (2) Small businesses bear a disproportionate share of 
     regulatory costs and burdens.
       (3) Federal agencies must consider the impact of their 
     regulations on small businesses early in the rulemaking 
     process.
       (4) The Small Business Advocacy Review Panel process that 
     was established by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
     Fairness Act of 1996 has been effective in allowing small 
     businesses to participate in rules that are being developed 
     by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational 
     Safety and Health Administration.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
       (1) To provide a forum for the effective participation of 
     small businesses in the Federal regulatory process.
       (2) To clarify and strengthen the Small Business Advocacy 
     Review Panel process.
       (3) To expand the number of Federal agencies that are 
     required to convene Small Business Advocacy Review Panels.

     SEC. 3. ENSURING FULL ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON SMALL 
                   ENTITIES OF RULES PROPOSED BY CERTAIN AGENCIES.

       Section 609(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(b)(1) Before the publication of an initial regulatory 
     flexibility analysis that a covered agency is required to 
     conduct under this chapter, the head of the covered agency 
     shall--
       ``(A) notify the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
     Business Administration (in this subsection referred to as 
     the `Chief Counsel') in writing;
       ``(B) provide the Chief Counsel with information on the 
     potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities and 
     the type of small entities that might be affected; and
       ``(C) not later than 30 days after complying with 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B)--
       ``(i) with the concurrence of the Chief Counsel, identify 
     affected small entity representatives; and
       ``(ii) transmit to the identified small entity 
     representatives a detailed summary of the information 
     referred to in subparagraph (B) or the information in full, 
     if so requested by the small entity representative, for the 
     purposes of obtaining advice and recommendations about the 
     potential impacts of the draft proposed rule.
       ``(2)(A) Not earlier than 30 days after the covered agency 
     transmits information pursuant to paragraph (1)(C)(ii), the 
     head of the covered agency shall convene a review panel for 
     the draft proposed rule. The panel shall consist solely of 
     full-time Federal employees of the office within the covered 
     agency that will be responsible for carrying out the proposed 
     rule, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the 
     Office of Management and Budget, and the Chief Counsel.
       ``(B) The review panel shall--
       ``(i) review any material the covered agency has prepared 
     in connection with this chapter, including any draft proposed 
     rule;
       ``(ii) collect advice and recommendations from the small 
     entity representatives identified under paragraph (1)(C)(i) 
     on issues related to paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of section 
     603(b) and section 603(c); and
       ``(iii) allow any small entity representative identified 
     under paragraph (1)(C)(i) to make an oral presentation to the 
     panel, if requested.
       ``(C) Not later than 60 days after the date a covered 
     agency convenes a review panel pursuant to this paragraph, 
     the review panel shall report to the head of the covered 
     agency on--
       ``(i) the comments received from the small entity 
     representatives identified under paragraph (1)(C)(i); and
       ``(ii) its findings regarding issues related to paragraphs 
     (3), (4), and (5) of section 603(b) and section 603(c).
       ``(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the head 
     of the covered agency shall print in the Federal Register the 
     report of the review panel under paragraph (2)(C), including 
     any written comments submitted by the small entity 
     representatives and any appendices cited in the report, as 
     soon as practicable, but not later than--
       ``(i) 180 days after the date the head of the covered 
     agency receives the report; or
       ``(ii) the date of the publication of the notice of 
     proposed rulemaking for the proposed rule.
       ``(B) The report of the review panel printed in the Federal 
     Register shall not include any confidential business 
     information submitted by any small entity representative.
       ``(4) Where appropriate, the covered agency shall modify 
     the draft proposed rule, the initial regulatory flexibility 
     analysis for the draft proposed rule, or the decision on 
     whether an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is 
     required for the draft proposed rule.''.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 609(d) of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(d) For the purposes of this section--
       ``(1) the term `covered agency' means the Environmental 
     Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health 
     Administration of the Department of Labor, and the Internal 
     Revenue Service of the Department of the Treasury; and
       ``(2) the term `small entity representative' means a small 
     entity, or an individual or organization that represents the 
     interests of 1 or more small entities.''.

     SEC. 5. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION REQUIREMENT.

       (a) Definition.--Section 601 of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5) by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (6) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     period; and
       (3) by striking paragraphs (7) and (8).
       (b) Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis.--The fourth 
     sentence of section 603 of title 5, United States Code, is 
     amended to read as follows: ``In the case of an 
     interpretative rule involving the internal revenue laws of 
     the United States, this chapter applies to interpretative 
     rules (including proposed, temporary, and final regulations) 
     published in the Federal Register for codification in the 
     Code of Federal Regulations.''.

     SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect upon the expiration of the 90-
     day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
                                  ____



                           Small Business Legislative Council,

                                     Washington, DC, May 24, 1999.
     Hon. Kit Bond,
     Chairman, Committee on Small Business, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: On behalf of the Small Business 
     Legislative Council (SBLC), I would like to offer our strong 
     support for your legislation to expand the Small Business 
     Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) to encompass 
     more of the activities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
       As you know, there is nothing more annoying to the small 
     business community than when the IRS issues a proposed rule 
     and it is obvious the authors have little or no understanding 
     of the business practices of the small businesses to be 
     covered by the rule.
       OSHA and the EPA have also been identified in the past as 
     agencies guilty of acting without a solid understanding of an 
     industry. Thanks to your leadership, the 104th Congress fixed 
     the problem in the case of EPA and OSHA by enacting SBREFA. 
     Those two agencies must go out and collect information on 
     small business before they finish development of a proposed 
     rule. The law requires the OSHA and EPA to increase small 
     business participation in agency rulemaking activities by 
     convening a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel for a 
     proposed rule with a significant economic impact on small 
     entities. For such rules, the agencies must notify SBA's 
     Chief Counsel of Advocacy that the rule is under development 
     and provide sufficient information so that the Chief Counsel 
     can identify affected small entities and gather advice and 
     comments on the effects of the proposed rule. A Small 
     Business Advocacy Review Panel, comprising Federal government 
     employees from the agency, the Office of Advocacy, and OMB, 
     must be convened to review the proposed rule and to collect 
     comments from small businesses. Within 60 days, the panel 
     must issue a report of the comments received from small 
     entities and the panel's findings, which become part of the 
     public record.
       As we have said many times before, we believe your ``red 
     tape cutting'' law, SBREFA, is one of the most significant 
     small business laws of all time. As you know first hand, for 
     a variety of reasons, the IRS was not included. This omission 
     should be corrected. If there is one agency with ongoing 
     rulemaking responsibilities that have an impact on small 
     business, it is the IRS.
       In addition, the other provisions of SBREFA apply only to 
     the IRS when the interpretative rule of the IRS will ``impose 
     on small entities a collection of information requirement.'' 
     We already know the IRS has embraced an extraordinarily 
     narrow interpretation of that phrase. We should take this 
     opportunity to amend SBREFA to ensure the IRS complies with 
     SBREFA any time it issues an interpetative regulation.
       As you know, the SBLC is a permanent, independent coalition 
     of eighty trade and professional associations that share a 
     common commitment to the future of small business. Our 
     members represent the interests of small businesses in such 
     diverse economic sectors as manufacturing, retailing, 
     distribution, professional and technical services, 
     construction, transportation, tourism and agriculture. Our 
     policies are developed through a consensus among our 
     membership. Individual associations may express their

[[Page S6309]]

     own views. For your information, a list of our members is 
     enclosed.
       As always, we appreciate your outstanding leadership on 
     behalf of small business.
           Sincerely,
                                                      David Gorin,
     Chairman.
                                  ____


           Members of the Small Business Legislative Council

       ACIL
       Air Conditioning Contractors of America
       Alliance for Affordable Services
       Alliance for American Innovation
       Alliance of Independent Store Owners and Professionals
       American Animal Hospital Association
       American Association of Equine Practitioners
       American Bus Association
       American Consulting Engineers Council
       American Machine Tool Distributors Association
       American Nursery and Landscape Association
       American Road & Transportation Builders Association
       American Society of Interior Designers
       American Society of Travel Agents, Inc.
       American Subcontractors Association
       American Textile Machinery Association
       American Trucking Associations, Inc.
       Architectural Precast Association
       Associated Equipment Distributors
       Associated Landscape Contractors of America
       Association of Small Business Development Centers
       Association of Sales and Marketing Companies
       Automotive Recyclers Association
       Automotive Service Association
       Bowling Proprietors Association of America
       Building Service Contractors Association International
       Business Advertising Council
       CBA
       Council of Fleet Specialists
       Council of Growing Companies
       Direct Selling Association
       Electronics Representatives Association
       Florists' Transworld Delivery Association
       Health Industry Representatives Association
       Helicopter Association International
       Independent Bankers Association of America
       Independent Medical Distributors Association
       International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses
       International Formalwear Association
       International Franchise Association
       Machinery Dealers National Association
       Mail Advertising Service Association
       Manufacturers Agents for the Food Service Industry
       Manufacturers Agents National Association
       Manufacturers Representatives of America, Inc.
       National Association for the Self-Employed
       National Association of Home Builders
       National Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling 
     Contractors
       National Association of Realtors
       National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds
       National Association of Small Business Investment Companies
       National Association of the Remodeling Industry
       National Chimney Sweep Guild
       National Community Pharmacists Association
       National Electrical Contractors Association
       National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives 
     Association
       National Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
       National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association
       National Moving and Storage Association
       National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association
       National Paperbox Association
       National Society of Accountants
       National Tooling and Machining Association
       National Tour Association
       National Wood Flooring Association
       Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small 
     Telephone Companies
       Petroleum Marketers Association of America
       Printing Industries of America, Inc.
       Professional Lawn Care Association of America
       Promotional Products Association International
       The Retailer's Bakery Association
       Saturation Mailers Coalition
       Small Business Council of America, Inc.
       Small Business Exporters Association
       Small Business Technology Coalition
       SMC Business Councils
       Society of American Florists
       Turfgrass Producers International
       Tire Association of North America
       United Motorcoach Association
                                  ____

                                               Office of Advocacy,


                           U.S. Small Business Administration,

                                     Washington, DC, May 26, 1999.
     Hon. Kit Bond,
     Chairman, Committee on Small Business, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Bond: This is in response to your request for 
     my views as to whether the Small Business Regulatory 
     Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) should be amended 
     to include more activities of the Internal Revenue Service 
     (IRS).
       The proposed amendments to SBREFA are constructive. In 
     particular, applying the requirement that IRS convene Small 
     Business Advocacy Review Panels to consider the impact of 
     proposed rules involving the internal revenue laws is a goal 
     that certainly would give small businesses a stronger voice 
     in a process that affects them so dramatically.
       The panel process has applied since 1996 to the 
     Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational 
     Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A panel, comprising 
     the administrator of EPA or OSHA, the Chief Counsel for 
     Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, and the 
     director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
     collects comments from representatives of small entities. 
     Then the panel issues a report on the comments and the 
     panel's findings within 60 days. This process has been 
     extremely helpful in identifying the likely impact of major 
     rules on small entities, yet its tight timetable has assured 
     that needed rules are not delayed unduly.
       Tax regulations impose the most widespread burdens on small 
     business. Therefore, it is important to have small business 
     input at the earliest possible stage of rulemaking. This 
     amendment builds on an existing panel process that is working 
     well. The panel process would bring a new level of scrutiny 
     to tax regulations, some of which have added immensely to 
     small entity burdens in the past.
       At the same time, I am mindful that this expansion will add 
     significantly to the workload of both the Office of Advocacy 
     and the IRS, and I hope suitable staffing adjustments to 
     accommodate this important added work will be made.
       Thank you for soliciting my views.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Jere W. Glover,
                                       Chief Counsel for Advocacy.

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, as Ranking Democrat on the Committee on 
Small Business, I join Committee Chairman Bond in introducing the Small 
Business Advocacy Review Panel Technical Amendments Act of 1999. While 
there are a few minor points that Chairman Bond and I have agreed to 
work out before the Committee considers the bill, we both agree that 
this is an important piece of legislation which should be enacted 
promptly to facilitate the Small Business Enforcement Fairness Act 
process. This process enables small entity representatives to 
participate in rulemakings by the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and, 
under this bill, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the Department 
of Treasury.
  This bill improves and enhances the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, which has not only reduced regulatory 
burdens that otherwise would have been placed on small businesses, but 
also has begun to institute a fundamental change in the way Federal 
agencies promulgate rules that could have ``a substantial economic 
impact on a substantial number of small businesses.'' Federal agencies 
are required under existing law to form so-called SBREFA panels in 
conjunction with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in 
the Office of Management and Budget, and with small entities, or their 
representatives. These SBREFA panels are charged with creating flexible 
regulatory options that would allow small businesses to continue to 
operate without sacrificing the environmental, or health and safety 
goals of the proposed rule.
  These panels have been highly effective in saving small businesses 
regulatory compliance costs. To date, seventeen (17) Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act panels have been convened by the 
EPA, and three (3) by the OSHA. According to SBA's Office of Advocacy, 
since the law's enactment in 1996, the EPA SBREFA panels have saved 
small businesses almost $1 billion, and the OSHA SBREFA panels have 
saved small businesses about $2 billion.
  While the process has obviously worked well to date, there are a few 
technical changes that we are proposing to help the process work even 
better. These changes were recommended by selected small entity 
representatives who have experience with the SBREFA panel process, and 
who testified at a joint hearing held by the House Small Business 
Committee's Subcommittees on Regulatory Reform and Paperwork Reduction, 
and Government Programs and Oversight on March 11, 1999.
  Let me take a minute to describe the provisions of the bill.

[[Page S6310]]

  This bill would lengthen by thirty (30) days the time that small 
entity representatives have to review the usually technical and 
voluminous materials to be considered during panel deliberations. For 
those small businessmen and women who would like to participate but do 
not have a great deal of time to review technical data, the bill 
requires OSHA, EPA and IRS to prepare detailed summaries of background 
data and information.
  The bill would also allow a small entity representative, if he or she 
so chooses to, make an oral presentation to the panel.
  Many small entities have expressed their interest in reviewing the 
panel report before the rule is proposed, and this bill would require 
the panel report to be printed in the Federal Register either as soon 
as practicable or with the proposed rule, but in no case, later than 
six (6) months after the rule is proposed.
  Moreover, the bill would add certain rules issued by Internal Revenue 
Service to the panel requirements of SBREFA. Many small businesses 
complain that they are overwhelmed with the large burdens that the IRS 
places on them. It is the goal of this bill to hold the IRS accountable 
for the interpretative rules they issue that have a major impact on 
small business concerns, and to open up the rulemaking process so small 
entities can participate.
  This new authority would significantly increase the workload of SBA's 
Office of Advocacy, the Federal office charged with monitoring agency 
compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act, including SBREFA. 
Chairman Bond and I agree that it is important that the Office of 
Advocacy have adequate resources to fulfill the new responsibilities 
mandated by this bill. Therefore, we plan to send a letter jointly to 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and State Chairman and 
Ranking Member Senators Gregg and Hollings requesting them to approve 
additional funding for the Office of Advocacy to handle these 
additional responsibilities under the law.
  I am proud to support this legislation. I believe it will result in 
significant savings for small businesses and will improve the mechanism 
for their voices to be heard.
  Finally, I would like to thank Chairman Bond and his staff for their 
efforts working with me and my staff to produce this important bill.
                                 ______