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Washington Watch
January 14, 2004
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Applications Being Accepted
for the 2004 Women’s Advisory Council
The NASE is now accepting applications for the second
Women’s Advisory Council, a talented group of members
to direct the association’s response to the growing
number of women entrepreneurs entering the ranks of
the self-employed today. According to original NASE
research, start-ups of women-owned businesses have
grown by double digits annually from 2000-2003,
significantly outpacing growth in the 1990s and
out-numbering men-owned start-ups by nearly a 2-to-1
ratio in 2003.
Last year’s inaugural Council embraced the challenge
of directing the focus of the NASE women’s initiative,
developing ideas for benefits, advocacy issues and
ways to make the Association more visible to women
entrepreneurs. At a meeting in Washington, D.C., in
October, the Council also discussed their experiences
as micro-business owners with the
Department of Labor, the
National
Women’s Business Council and the
National Association of Women Business Owners.
NASE Members from all over the country and with
varying degrees of business experience are encouraged
to apply for the Women’s Advisory Council. Acting as a
focus group, the Council will work closely with NASE
President Robert Hughes, the NASE Board of Directors,
and Association staff to offer valuable insight about
new benefits and programs.
To participate on the NASE Women’s Advisory Council
you must be:
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An NASE female Member in good standing
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An NASE Member for 6 months or longer
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A micro-business owner and operator (business with 10
or less employees)
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Willing to commit to participating for a one-year
period
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Enthusiastic about the NASE
Council members will be asked to attend one meeting,
participate in telephone conference calls every six to
eight weeks and respond to e-mail communications as
necessary.
For more information,
click here,
or email
womensadvisorycouncil@nase.org. Log on to MyNASE
to apply today.
NASE Partners with National
Association of Women Business Owners for their “Public
Policy Days”
Learn about policy issues important to women
entrepreneurs at the National Association of Women Business
Owners’ annual “Public Policy Days” conference in
Washington, D.C., February 29th – March 2, 2004. Hear from
today’s policy makers, and learn how to strengthen local
lobbying efforts and connections with your network of peers.
NASE Director of Government Affairs Kristie Darien will be a
guest expert at a panel discussion on March 1. As a special
offer to NASE Members, attend the event at the NAWBO member
price! Just write “NASE” on the registration form in place
of a NAWBO member number.
For more information, or to register, visit
www.nawbo.org
or download this
informational brochure.
News Brief: SBA 7(a) Loans
Resumed
U.S. Small Business Administration
7(a) loans - temporarily suspended last week -
have been resumed. A shut down in the loan program,
the SBA's most basic and frequently used loan type,
occurred because federal government funding has yet to
be approved for 2004. The NASE is watching this
situation closely, and will alert Members if a shut
down is expected again. For more information about the
loan program, a loan application or loan payment,
contact the SBA at
www.sba.gov or call 1-800-U-ASK-SBA.
News Brief: Small Business
Legislative Council Endorses H.R. 1873
Through the efforts of the NASE, more public policy
watchdogs are realizing the importance of eliminating
the self-employment tax on health insurance premiums
for sole proprietors. The
Small
Business Legislative Council (SBLC), a group of
small business professional and trade associations,
has named the passage of
H.R. 1873, the Self-Employed Health Care
Affordability Act, as one of their top priorities for
2004. H.R. 1873 would allow sole proprietors to deduct
the cost of their health insurance premiums as an
ordinary business expense before calculating how much
self-employment tax they owe on earnings. Help the
NASE and SBLC pass H.R. 1873 – write your Members of
Congress about the burden of paying 15.3 percent in
self-employment tax on increasing health coverage
costs. Visit the NASE
Legislative Action Center.
Do any of these issues affect you? Do you want to be
proactive in helping the micro-business community? Visit the
NASE Legislative Action Center and be a
Micro-Business Crusader.
Members of Congress appreciate hearing from their constituents.
Letting your members know how you feel on an issue puts strength
behind the NASE’s legislative agenda.
For more information about any of the articles in
Washington Watch, contact Maureen Petron, NASE public
affairs manager, at (202) 466-2100 or
mpetron@nase.org.
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