ADVISORY/House Small Business Committee Democrats to Release Progress Report on Bush Small Business Agenda.

News Editors/Political Writers

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (July 23)

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 22, 2003

Update On Issues Affecting Small Businesses - Taxes, Health Care, Contracting and Regulations

Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, will join her Democratic colleagues to release a progress report on President Bush's Small Business Agenda, which he released in March of 2002.

In his Small Business Agenda, President Bush promised to provide new small business tax incentives, give small business owners the power to offer health care, tear down regulatory barriers, save taxpayer dollars by ensuring full and open competition to government contracts, and provide small businesses with the information they need to succeed.

Now, more than one year later, this report will examine how much progress has been made on each of these small business issues, especially given the continued weak state of our economy and unemployment hovering at a 9-year high.

The approximately 23 million small businesses in this country create 75 percent of all new jobs, account for more than half of our GDP, and represent 99 percent of all employers.

                            When and Where:

When:       Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at 10:00 a.m.

Where:      House Radio and TV Gallery, the Capitol, H-321
            --You must have valid press credentials to gain access--

Who:        Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, Ranking Democrat, House Small
            Business Committee
            Democratic Members of the House Small Business Committee