http://www.sba.gov/advo/ http://www.sba.gov/advo/july_09.pdf The July issue of The Small Business Advocate examines the economic recoveries from two previous recessions to pinpoint the likely source of future job growth. The issue also reports on important regulatory and legislative issues. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/fasb_iasb09_0630.html On June 30, 2009, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed a comment letter on a Discussion Paper issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), "Leases: Preliminary Views." http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_regalerts.html#pro This rule proposes to revise FAR 52.232-10 to permit contracting officers to use their judgment regarding the amount of payment withhold to apply under fixed-price architecture-engineer contracts (based on an assessment of the contractor's performance under the contract) so that the withhold amount will be applied at the level necessary to protect the Government's interests. This is in contrast to the current requirement that contracting officers withhold 10 percent on all payments. The rule also makes several related editorial changes including one that clarifies that the contractor will be paid any unpaid balance due to include withheld amounts at the successful completion of the design work. This case originated from a recommendation in the Small Business Administration's Regulatory Review and Reform (r3) initiative. Comments are due by July 6, 2009. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/epa09_0623.html On June 23, 2009, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discussing Advocacy’s concerns with EPA’s proposed rule, “Proposed Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act.” http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/epa09_0609.html On June 9, 2009, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discussing Advocacy’s views on EPA’s proposed rule, "Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases". http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_regalerts.html#fin On May 5, 2009, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System issued a proposed rule to amend Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). On December 18, 2008 the Board adopted a final rule amending Regulation Z’s provisions that apply to open-end (not home-secured) credit plans. In order to clarify the rule and facilitate compliance, the Board proposes to amend specific portions of the regulations and official staff commentary. Comments are due on July 6, 2009. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/sbl_08study.pdf The growth of small and microbusiness lending remained positive during the first half of 2008, although the expansion was slower than in the previous year, according to the latest edition of the Office of Advocacy’s annual study of lending to small firms. This new report, Small Business and Micro Business Lending in the United States for Data Years 2007-2008, gives a detailed account of small business lending overall, plus state-by-state totals and totals for individual lenders. http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/09-10.html The growth of small and microbusiness lending remained positive during the first half of 2008, although the expansion was slower than in the previous year, according to the latest edition of the Office of Advocacy’s annual study of lending to small firms. This new report, Small Business and Micro Business Lending in the United States for Data Years 2007-2008, gives a detailed account of small business lending overall, plus state-by-state totals and totals for individual lenders. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_regalerts.html#env On March 27, 2009, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a proposed rule on Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; Regional Fishery Management Councils; Operations. The proposed rule addresses the administration and operations of the regional fishery management councils. In addition, the proposal would make changes to the regulations requiring Councils to provide procedures for proposed regulations, clarifying restrictions on lobbying, and clarifying timing in the Council nomination process. Comments are due on July 6, 2009. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/sbqei0901.pdf The economic recession deepened in the first quarter of 2009, with real gross domestic product falling by an annualized 6.1 percent. Moreover, the unemployment rate rose to 8.5 percent. These and other trends are discussed in the new update to the Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business for the first quarter of 2009. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs344tot.pdf A strong dollar (making imports cheaper and exporting more difficult) appears to have little effect on the survival rate of small retailers, according to a study, Effects of International Competition on Small Wholesale and Retail Trade Firms, released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The study covers 15 years of data, from 1990 through 2005, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics of U.S. Businesses and other sources. http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/09-09.html A strong dollar (making imports cheaper and exporting more difficult) appears to have little effect on the survival rate of small retailers, according to a study, Effects of International Competition on Small Wholesale and Retail Trade Firms, released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The study covers 15 years of data, from 1990 through 2005, from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics of U.S. Businesses and other sources. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/cpsc09_0427.html On April 27, 2009, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed a comment letter with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) concerning a notice of inquiry published in the Federal Register on tracking labels for children’s products under section 103 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/eeoc09_0424.html On April 24, 2009, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed a comment letter with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Regulations Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/test09_0423.pdf On April 23, 2009, Acting Chief Counsel for Advocacy Shawne Carter McGibbon testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity regarding Advocacy Findings on Veteran Business Demographics. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs343.pdf The effective federal income tax rate faced by small businesses varies by the legal form of organization, according to a report, Effective Federal Income Tax Rates Faced by Small Businesses in the United States, issued by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Average rates range from 13.3 percent for sole proprietorships to 26.9 percent for S corporations. The effective federal income tax rate is the actual amount of taxes paid by a firm as a percent of its net income. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs341tot.pdf Self-employed women are able to spend more time with their children and families, compared to their wage-and-salary earning counterparts, according to a study released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.