May 20, 2004
Revamped Legislative Action Center Helps NASE Members Get Involved
The NASE unveiled a revamped Web - based
Legislative Action Center, home of the
association’s advocacy and grassroots
efforts, this week. Found at
Advocacy.NASE.org, the Web site
received a face-lift to more fully integrate
it with other association communication
efforts. Members and visitors to the site
will discover easier navigation to locate
the NASE priority legislative issues, how to
contact Members of Congress, and ways to get
involved in the NASE advocacy efforts.
“Advocacy is one of the greatest benefits of
being an NASE Member,” said NASE President
Robert Hughes. “The new Web site presents
legislation, as well as its potential impact
on the micro-business owner, and how that
owner can have an effect on the whether the
legislation passes, in an easy to
understand, fast, concise way.”
The NASE advocacy staff in Washington, D.C.,
follows small business public policy, and
uses the leverage of the association’s
250,000 Members to influence the outcome of
legislation. Access to affordable health
coverage and tax equity for small business
are the association’s main legislative
priorities for 2004.
“The NASE does not donate money to political
candidates and does not have a political
action committee,” said Hughes. “Our
effectiveness as an advocacy organization is
directly linked to Member participation –
whether Members write to their legislators,
tell the NASE their micro-business story,
subscribe to the Washington Watch
e-newsletter, or become an NASE
micro-business crusader. The new Web site
makes all of these activities easier and
more inviting.”
E-mailed weekly and archived online, the
Washington Watch e-newsletter helps Members
stay current on the government’s activities
that affect small business. “Tell Your
Micro-Business Story” gives Members the
chance to speak out on a number of topics
such as healthcare, technology and taxes. It
also gives the NASE legislative advocacy
staff the opportunity to understand - on a
personal level - how key legislative issues
are affecting businesses and their bottom
line. By allowing the NASE to tell these
stories to legislators, micro-business
owners can play a vital role in illustrating
the real life consequences and affects of
issues they debate on a daily basis.
An NASE “Micro-Business Crusader” is a
small-business owner concerned about issues
faced by the self-employed and willing to
express these concerns and opinions to their
Members of Congress.
When visitors type their zip code into the
Legislative Action Center, they are taken
directly to the vote history and contact
information of their local and national
legislators. The LAC also offers them the
opportunity to send a pre-written letter to
those representatives, or to compose one of
their own.
Access the Legislative Action Center from
the association homepage,
www.NASE.org, by clicking on the
“Your Congress” channel on the top
navigational bar, or go directly to
Advocacy.NASE.org.
Small Business Week
Honors Entrepreneurial Spirit and Drive
National Small Business Week kicked off
Wednesday in Orlando, Florida, celebrating
the tremendous contribution of the
self-employed and micro-business owners to
the national and global economy. As a
sponsor of the
U.S. Small Business
Administration’s Expo ‘04, the NASE
recognizes these individuals’
entrepreneurial drive and spirit.
“With 16 million self-employed and 4 million
micro-business firms of fewer than ten
employees, Americans owe a debt of gratitude
to entrepreneurs,” said Robert Hughes,
president of the NASE. “It isn’t just the Microsofts and General Electrics whose
actions steer the economy, but the millions
of hard-working micro-businesses producing,
buying, hiring, and growing.”
In addition to focusing on the contributions
of America’s small businesses, Expo ’04 also
provides entrepreneurs with education,
networking and procurement opportunities.
For a complete list of events, visit
www.sba.gov.
To show the NASE’s support of micro-business
owners and the importance of taking time to
recognize them, seven lucky NASE Members won
free tickets to attend the Small Business
Week Expo ’04 at the Orange County
Convention Center. They will take part in
the business seminars and matchmaking, as
well as have the opportunity to roam a huge
expo floor.
The agenda also includes a special breakfast
recognizing women in business – an event the
NASE serves as an honorary co-chair of – as
well as the awarding of the National Small
Business Person of the Year.
The NASE knows that recognizing small
business’s contributions does not end after
one week. That’s why the association strives
to offer valuable resources and cost-saving
benefits year-round. The NASE offers over
100 value-added benefits and a powerful
voice in Washington, D.C., on federal
legislation affecting small business. Read
more about the NASE at
www.NASE.org.
Small Business Committee Hears Concerns of Women Entrepreneurs
The House Small Business Committee heard
from several women entrepreneurs and small
business trade associations last week on
challenges and legislative proposals
affecting women micro-business owners. The
hearing, “Women’s Entrepreneurship: Success
and Challenges” addressed policy advances
for this fast-growing segment of the small
business population, and recommended ways
Congress can continue to support the growth
of women entrepreneurs.
To read the statements of Chairman Don
Manzullo (R-IL), Ranking Member Nydia
Velázquez (D-NY) and the witnesses,
visit
www.house.gov/smbiz.
|
