http://www.sba.gov/advo/ http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_regalerts.html#tax On May 8, 2008, the Department of Treasury Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) published a proposed rule that would amend its distilled spirits plant regulations. TTB issued the proposed rule in response to comments submitted by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States regarding a proposed rule published by TTB in November 1998. Comments on the proposed rule are due by November 5, 2008. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/sbqei0802.pdf The U.S. economy grew an annualized 1.9 percent in the second quarter of 2008, which was stronger than both of the previous two quarters. Unemployment rate in June rose to 5.5 percent, its highest point since July 2004. These and other trends are discussed in the latest update of the Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs330tot.pdf Mixing employer and non-employer data has a direct bearing on small business study results, according to researchers at the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The working paper "Do Business Definition Decisions Distort Small Business Research Results", closely examines the differences between employer and non-employer businesses and the relation those differences have to research results. http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-21.html Mixing employer and non-employer data has a direct bearing on small business study results, according to researchers at the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The working paper "Do Business Definition Decisions Distort Small Business Research Results", closely examines the differences between employer and non-employer businesses and the relation those differences have to research results. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/far08_0807.html On August 7, 2008, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed a comment letter with the Federal Acquisition Council (FAR), Civilian Agency Acquisition Council, and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils), in response to their notice of proposed rulemaking entitled, "Employment Eligibility Verification". http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/doj08_0806.html On August 6, 2008, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed a comment letter with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/test08_0730.html On July 30, 2008, Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M. Sullivan testified before the House Small Business Committee, Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care and Trade hearing on "Regulatory Burdens on Small Firms: What Rules Need Reforms?" http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-20.html The Office of Advocacy is committed to the long-term success of its Regulatory Review and Reform (r3) initiative, according to testimony by Chief Counsel for Advocacy Thomas M. Sullivan. He testified at the House Small Business Committee, Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care and Trade hearing on “Regulatory Burdens on Small Firms: What Rules Need Reforms?” http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_regalerts.html#gen On July 1, 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) simultaneously issued three proposed rules relating to the use of credit ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. The proposed rules would reduce the way the Commission's own rules refer to and rely upon credit ratings. Comments are due September 5, 2008. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/hud08_0611.html On June 11, 2008, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy filed comments on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed regulations on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA): Proposed Rule to Simplify and Improve the Process of Obtaining Mortgages and Reduce Consumer Settlement Costs. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/dhs08_0425.html On April 25, 2008, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on DHS' Supplemental Proposed Rule on Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter (“No-Match” rule). Advocacy’s letter recommends that DHS consider alternatives that will reduce the costs and impacts of the rule on small entities. http://www.sba.gov/advo/r3/r3_nominations08.html#10 On February, 28, 2008, Advocacy announced the 2008 Top 10 Rules for Review and Reform. The Top 10 are drawn from over 80 rules nominated by small business owners and their representatives as part of the Regulatory Review and Reform (r3) initiative. The 2008 Top 10 Rules for Review and Reform are listed in the Report on the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), FY 2007. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/flex/07regflx.html The FY 2007 annual report to the Congress and the President on implementation of the RFA and Executive Order 13272 features a special section on Advocacy’s r3 initiative including information about the top ten r3 nominations for 2008. In FY 2007, Advocacy involvement in agency rulemakings helped secure $2.6 billion in first-year cost savings and $285 million in recurring annual savings for small entities http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-04.html The Office of Advocacy today announced the 2008 Top 10 Rules for Review and Reform. The Top 10 are drawn from over 80 rules nominated by small business owners and their representatives as part of the Regulatory Review and Reform (r3) initiative. The recommendations have been transmitted to the appropriate federal agencies for their action. http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/sec08_0225.html On February 25, 2008, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) sent a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission applauding its proposed rule Internal Control Over Financial Reporting In Exchange Act; Periodic Reports of Non-Accelerated Filers. In the rule the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a one-year extension of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for smaller public companies and is commencing a study on the impact of Section 404 on these entities.