Capitol Hill

This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: While all eyes in the Senate are on the ongoing immigration debate, the House has a handful of committee hearings of interest. The “changing landscape of patent law” brought on by the American Invents Act and its “effects on small firms” are the focus of a Small Business Committee hearing. Topics covered in other hearings include: small business and pass-through entity tax reform; data centers and the cloud; copyright principles; and Keystone XL and small business job growth.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 13, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Returning to Washington after a state / district work period, Congress picks up the immigration issue with a few hearings. The Joint Economic Committee has a two-part hearing on “Immigration and Its Contribution to Our Economic Strength” with witnesses from Americans for Tax Reform, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Center for Immigration Studies and the American Enterprise Institute. The topic is also picked up in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation as it examines potential reforms suggested by the ‘Gang of Eight’. Meanwhile, other hearings are scheduled to cover support of minority women entrepreneurs, regulatory burdens and health insurance fees on small businesses, and exports to Africa.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 06, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Several hearings on policies that impact entrepreneurial growth are scheduled for the week ahead with the biggest being the Senate Judiciary Committee’s look at potential immigration reform through The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, S.744. Appearing earlier today were representatives from a range of entities including Microsoft, Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Center for Immigration Studies. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano appears before the committee during a hearing of the same title. Other topics covered in hearings throughout the week include: next-generation computing and “big data analytics”, the SBA budget, STEM workforce, small business lending, the state of wireless communications and more.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 22, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
America COMPETES Up for Reauthorization: Created in 2007 during the Bush Administration and reauthorized in 2010 by President Obama, the America COMPETES Act is up for another reauthorization as major provisions are set to expire in 2013. The original law authorized $33.6 billion in appropriations from 2008 - 2010 for programs and activities in physical sciences and engineering research as well as STEM education and more. The reauthorization in 2010 increased the amount to $45.6 billion.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 22, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Global
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Last week, President Obama’s FY 2014 budget was released—with a number of proposals that could affect entrepreneurs and small business owners. This week, that budget gets a closer look during a number of committee hearings. Other topics include: comprehensive immigration reform, entitlement reform proposals, tax fraud and identity theft, regulatory burdens on community banks, patent litigation, antitrust laws, health care reform.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 15, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: With both houses returning to Washington this week from recess, there are a number of hearings scheduled of interest to those interested in the policies that promote entrepreneurship. President Obama’s FY 2014 budget proposal gets a look in the Senate from the Budget and Finance committees. Other topics include: STEM education, the US position on internet governance, JOBS Act update, small business tax reform, regulatory reform and the state of communications in rural communities.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 08, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Both houses of Congress are still in Spring recess and will return next week. While reports differ on exactly how close Republicans and Democrats are to a deal on immigration reform, you can expect to hear a lot about the subject when they return—and in the weeks ahead.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 01, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Both houses of Congress are in Spring recess in observation of the Easter holiday and will return in two weeks.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 25, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: While it is a quiet week in the Senate for entrepreneurship and policy, House committees offer several hearings. Topics include: reducing regulatory burdens, patent litigation, STEM education, health insurance and the impact of health reform on jobs.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 11, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: While most attention on Capitol Hill these days centers on the budget sequester—what it means and who is to blame – there are a number of committee hearings that should be of interest. In particular, the House Judiciary Committee has a busy day planned for Tuesday—with three subcommittee hearings on American competitiveness—and another to follow on Thursday. Topics covered in those and other hearings include: immigration reform, patent litigation, the impact of health care reform on small business, wasteful spending, cyber-security and more.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 04, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Startup 3.0 Introduced: Is the third time really the charm? A bipartisan group—U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), along with Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)—recently introduced Startup Act 3.0, aiming to revitalize the economy by making it easier to start and grow new firms.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 25, 2013; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Clear your schedule for the rest of the week if you plan on tracking all of the relevant congressional committee hearings. The “House side” of Capitol Hill is particularly busy with hearings on the budget and monetary policy with Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke, the impact of e-verity on immigration, broadband stimulus, regulatory hurdles and more.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 25, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Financing Growth: Helping More Americans Help Entrepreneurs: In his State of the Union Address next week, President Obama will shift gears back to job creation after his inauguration speech focused on wider themes. As the debate about how the government can help the economy regain its pre-recession strength enters a new phase, the Kauffman Foundation’s annual “State of Entrepreneurship Address” last week in Washington, DC, focused on how financial constraints have been blocking the success of new and young firms that create most of the net new jobs.
[More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on February 11, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: On the heels of the Kauffman Foundation’s State of Entrepreneurship Address, a couple of Congressional committees are taking a closer look at the economy. The House Small Business Committee is conducting a hearing on The State of the Small Business Economy that will focus on “current economic indicators that measure the health of the economy, with a specific focus on access to capital… (and) general economic concerns that small business owners will face in the coming year.” Meanwhile, the House Budget Committee will explore the Congressional Budget Office’s budget and economic outlook with CBO director Douglas Elmendorf and the Senate Budget Committee will look at the budget and economic outlook over the next 10 years. Other hearings include: comprehensive immigration reform, applications for IT research and development; innovation in education; manufacturing in American; outlook on energy and a review of the government’s approach toward unemployment.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 11, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The House side of Capitol Hill comes to life this week with a few committee hearings of interest. A couple of hearings are set for Tuesday morning, right ahead of the Kauffman Foundation's State of Entrepreneurship Address, with another hearing on American competitiveness on Wednesday.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 04, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
State of Entrepreneurship Address Available via Live Webcast: If you can’t make it to Washington, DC, tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 5) for the Kauffman Foundation’s State of Entrepreneurship Address, don’t worry, it will be streamed live online. The session, scheduled for 12 noon ET at the National Press Club, features remarks from SBA Administrator Karen Mills, Senator Jerry Moran and new Kauffman president and CEO, Tom McDonnell.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 04, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Gun control, pension savings and access to health care are the only topics currently scheduled to be covered in hearings this week. Meanwhile, President Obama will be in Nevada tomorrow to unveil his plans for comprehensive immigration reform—stay tuned for details in next week’s PDE.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 28, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Another relatively quiet week lies ahead on Capitol Hill. Several House committees have their organizational meetings scheduled while the Senate has yet to return. No relevant hearings are scheduled.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 14, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Entrepreneurs and Last Week’s Fiscal Deal: Unless you completely unplugged over the holidays, you know that if Democratic and Republican lawmakers could not bridge their differences on how best to reduce the nation's budget deficit and debt, the Budget Control Act of 2011 mandated a combination of spending cuts and tax increases to take effect January 1, 2013. While Washington kicked the can down the road on budget cuts, the cliff was avoided – but what does the deal mean for American entrepreneurs?
[More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on January 07, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The 113th Congress was sworn into office on Thursday last week. There are 97 new members, but little change from the 112th. The Senate has 13 new members with the Democrats maintaining control -- increasing their edge to 55-45. The House of Representatives has 84 new members with the Republicans maintaining control -- slipping a few seats to outnumber Democrats 233-200.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 07, 2013; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: With the holiday season approaching, almost all eyes in Congress are on the fiscal cliff deadline that is now only two weeks ahead. A recent proposal from House Speaker John Boehner with a couple of key concessions have led to a cautious optimism that a deal will be in place before long. In the meantime, the committee hearings schedule on Capitol Hill is quiet on the entrepreneurship front.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 17, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: As fiscal cliff talks continue amid mutual claims of ‘distrust’ from both parties, other discussions continue on Capitol Hill. The five FCC commissioners are scheduled to appear before the House Committee on Energy & Commerce this week to discuss spectrum auctions and other efforts to meet the soaring demand for wireless broadband services. The auctions were part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 and originated in the House Energy and Commerce Committee as Chairman Walden’s Jumpstarting Opportunity with Broadband Spectrum (JOBS) Act. Other hearings cover the future of NASA, tax incentives to promote energy efficiency and small business recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 10, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Another narrowly focused week lies ahead as the calendar slowly gives way into the final month for Republicans and Democrats to find compromise and avoid a $500 billion mix of tax increases and spending cuts. Leading the way is a Joint Economic Committee hearing on the fiscal cliff itself—scheduled for Thursday. The only other hearing of interest scheduled at this point is on the impact of international tech transfer on American R&D.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 03, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Young Firms & Promoting Innovative Growth: Young firms and their ability to raise capital will be the focus of a discussion in Washington next week at the Brookings Institution.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 26, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Following a quiet week on Capitol Hill due to the Thanksgiving holiday, talks on the fiscal cliff are scheduled to resume this week as lawmakers return to Washington. In addition, there are a number of hearings scheduled on the House side that touch on issues of interest to hard-core followers of the entrepreneurial economy including: music licensing and intellectual property, energy R&D and capital standards.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 26, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Entrepreneurship Key to Poverty Reduction: U2's Bono is the only one championing the cause of startups in the fight for poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth--and it isn't restricted to Africa or emerging economies either. A new study by the Goldwater Institute points to a "strong connection between a state's rate of entrepreneurship and declines in poverty"--put simply, more entrepreneurs equals less poverty.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 19, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Growth & Poverty
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: All eyes "in Washington" are on the fiscal cliff--well, except for those that are examining the details surrounding Benghazi and the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 19, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: After the longest pre-election recess in history, members of Congress return to the status quo in Washington, DC this week for a lame duck session. Very few hearings are currently on the books, but you can expect there to be a lot of discussions over the next month or two about the looming fiscal cliff.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 12, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Global Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The last several weeks of campaigning are finally (and thankfully for most of us) coming to a close with tomorrow’s election. Various polls have the presidential race as too close to call—not surprisingly, both campaigns are predicting victory. You can create and share your own predictions or just follow along tomorrow on CNN’s electoral map. If you are an avid election night junkie like all of us in Washington and want to track the battle to control Congress, we suggest Real Clear Politics maps for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 05, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Congress is in recess with members back in their home states and districts as they focus on campaign work over the next several weeks. They will return to Washington at some point after the November 6 election.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 29, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Congress is in recess with members back in their home states and districts as they focus on campaign work over the next several weeks. They will return to Washington at some point after the November 6 election.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 22, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Congress is in recess with members back in their home states and districts as they focus on campaign work over the next several weeks. They will return to Washington at some point after the November 6 election.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 15, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Congress is in recess with members back in their home states and districts as they focus on campaign work over the next several weeks. They will return to Washington at some point after the November 6 election.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 08, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Congress is in recess with members back in their home states and districts as they focus on campaign work over the next several weeks. They will return to Washington at some point after the November 6 election.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 01, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: As we anticipated last week—well, us and pretty much everyone else who tracks the comings-and-goings of Congress—the House and Senate adjourned for a six-week recess so that they could focus on campaigning ahead of the general election in November. Somewhat comically (and predictably), Democrats called on the GOP majority in the House to postpone the recess while Republicans similarly chided the Democratic majority in the Senate – meanwhile, the media threw up its hands at both. The departure is the earliest pre-election recess since John F. Kennedy faced-off with Richard Nixon in 1960.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 24, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The recent return of Congressional leaders from a 5-week recess won’t be long-lived. With the heated presidential campaign in full-swing, members are focusing their current efforts in Washington on campaign-related events—and trying to figure out how soon they can escape back to their home states and districts to focus on campaigning there. That escape may come as soon as the end of this week. In the meantime, there are a number of hearings that may be of interest to our readers.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 17, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
PCAST Tackles Spectrum Sharing, Advanced Manufacturing: Last week was a busy one for the President’s Council of Advisors on Science & Technology, an advisory group of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers who make policy recommendations “where understanding of science, technology and innovation is key to strengthening our economy.” In two separate reports, PCAST explored approaches to meet the sky-rocketing demand for wireless broadband as well as the necessary steps to provide long-term U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 23, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Last week, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke gave a sobering review of the U.S. economy. This week, a number of Congressional hearings continue to address the underlying issues--like the impact of Dodd-Frank and the 10th anniversary of Sarbanes-Oxley--as well as the potential in cloud computing and commercializing research from the international space station.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 23, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Legislation Stalled on Capitol Hill: Democrats and Republicans in the Senate each lost once last week--entrepreneurs and small business owners lost twice.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 16, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke makes a couple of appearances on Capitol Hill this week to talk about monetary policy and the U.S. economy. Tuesday, Bernanke appears before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs while on Wednesday he addresses the House Committee on Financial Services. Other hearings scheduled include: how mobile apps are moving the economy; a look at the impact of Dodd-Frank on small business; regulatory impediments to job creation and others.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 16, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Washington’s Willingness to Send Job Creators Overseas: As elections approach and there is a lot of debate on which is the best road to a robust economy with more jobs, policymakers should take time to listen to the message of the just-released Kaufman Foundation videos on the benefits of high-skilled immigration. With Washington being unwilling to separate the obviously different issues of high-skilled immigration and how to handle illegal immigrants, a net job gain strategy remains hostage to politics as usual in the nation’s capitol.
[More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on July 16, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Immigration
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Following the Independence Day holiday, members of Congress have a full slate of hearings in the week ahead. Included is a look from the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform at the impact on entrepreneurs of the Supreme Court decision validating the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Other hearings cover topics including: commercializing NASA technologies; mobile payments; renewable energy; regulatory reform and more.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 09, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Startup Act 2.0 Gaining Endorsements: Since the House & Senate each passed identical versions of the Startup Act 2.0, the legislation has picked up a growing list of impressive endorsements. Topping the list is tech giant Google.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 25, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Another week with a lot of activity on the House side. The JOBS Act is the focus of a couple hearings by the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform while other topics include: research universities and technology transfer; international intellectual property enforcement; regulation of mobile payments and the future of video. Also, the pending increase on the capital gains tax is the subject of a joint hearing of the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 25, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The House of Representatives is in a week-long recess and will return to action next Monday. In the meantime, a handful of Senate committees have hearings scheduled that may be of interest to entrepreneurs and those who support them—including a look at competitiveness and collaboration between the U.S. and China on clean energy.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 11, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Startup Act 20 Introduced in House: A few weeks ago, we told you about the Senate version of Startup Act 2.0—sponsored by a bipartisan group of four U.S. Senators. Not to be outdone, the House introduced identical legislation last week thanks to Congressman Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) and Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) along with a group of cosponsors—Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) and Robert Dold (R-Ill.).
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 11, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Agencies Announce 2012 Accelerator Challenge: Faced with another disappointing jobs report—the unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in May—the Obama Administration is looking to a new multi-agency competition to develop regional clusters and create jobs while strengthening advanced manufacturing.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 04, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Headlining the hearings for the week ahead is Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke presenting ‘The Economic Outlook’ to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), chaired by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). Also, SBA Administrator Karen Mills addresses the SBA’s Management of Its Capital Access Programs before the House Committee on Small Business.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 04, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: A fairly slow week on Capitol Hill is punctuated by a Joint Economic Committee hearing on "How the Taxation of Labor and Transfer Payments Affect Growth and Employment." Witnesses for the hearing are: Simon Johnson, entrepreneurship professor from MIT; Richard Rogerson, economics professor from Princeton; and Andrew Biggs, resident scholar at AEI (and former principle deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration).
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 14, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Members of Congress return from a short recess to a handful of committee hearings this week, including a look at how skyrocketing costs on gasoline are impacting small firms by the House Committee on Small Business.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 07, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Another quiet week is in store in the Senate while the House tackles international patent issues, rising energy costs for small business and the impact of the Report on Carcinogens from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Off the Hill, Senators Moran and Warner talk about the Start-up Act at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars while the Cato Institute ponders ‘Is Immigration Good for America?’
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 23, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Congress returns from recess with a number of hearings of interest. The House Committee on Small Business takes a look ahead on “The Tax Outlook for Small Businesses” while other committee hearings target the dwindling capacity for bandwidth, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy technology, equity financing and more. Meanwhile on the Senate side, “Perspectives from the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Creating Jobs and Growing Businesses through Entrepreneurship” leads the way in the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 16, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: It’s another quiet week on Capitol Hill as both houses of Congress are back in their home states and districts from April 2 – 15. Check back next week for an updated list of relevant committee hearings.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 09, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
The JOBS Act: How Business Should Get Done in Washington, DC: The JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act is one small step away from becoming law after its fast passage in Congress and President Obama has given reassurance that he will sign the bill when it gets to his desk this week (probably Thursday). The passage of the JOBS Act last Tuesday during a politically charged time is proof that entrepreneurship promotion is a bipartisan issue. As the clock moves relentlessly toward November, both sides of the aisle found common focus and set out to solve the entrepreneurial access to capital problem. The American public should be proud of how functional Washington was these past few weeks.
[More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on April 02, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Two quiet weeks lie ahead on Capitol Hill as both houses of Congress are back in their home states and districts from April 2 – 15.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 02, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
JOBS Act Set to Sail Through: While the Senate approved the JOBS Act late last week, it attached an amendment that requires House approval before the legislation makes it to President Obama to be signed into law. However, the amendment—which increases investor protections in crowdfunding—is not enough to derail the hugely popular legislation which is expected to sail through the House easily this week.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 26, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: With all eyes on the anticipated House approval of the JOBS Act (the Senate passed a modified version last week 73-26), several hearings are still on our radar screen for the week ahead. Cyber-security gets scrutinized by several subcommittee hearings on the House side while the Senate deals with mobile payments and renewable energy tax incentives among other issues.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 26, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The House returns from a short District work period coincides with an increase in activity in the week ahead. The Small Business Committee looks to entrepreneurs to lead economic recovery while Financial Services examines mobile payments and the future of money. On the Senate side, crowdfunding and SBICs highlight the hearings.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 19, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: It is a quiet week on Capitol Hill. The House is on recess for the week and will return to session next Monday. Meanwhile, there doesn’t seem to be much activity in the Senate committees we track.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 13, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Review of the FY 2013 budgets for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology are among the hearings scheduled on the House side. NIST is also on the agenda for the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation under the context of strengthening U.S. competitiveness through investments in R&D.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 05, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Legislation Introduced Impacting Startups and Small Businesses: Within the last month, ten pieces of legislation have been introduced in Congress that have a direct impact on entrepreneurs and small business owners. Below is a quick look at those bills, along with the sponsoring member.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 27, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Fernandez Stepping Down at EDA: John Fernandez, U.S. Commerce Department Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, will leave his post at the end of the week and return to the private sector.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 27, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Budgets for FY 2013 are starting to get a look on Capitol Hill this week. Two hearings held by the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology are of particular interest. On Tuesday, the budget for the National Science Foundation is being presented. Later in the week, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu walks through the Department of Energy R&D budget.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 27, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
POPVOX Shines Spotlight on Startups: A new startup aimed at engaging the American public in the legislative process is shining a light on a handful of bills that could have a direct impact on entrepreneurship throughout the US.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 13, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Helping Startups Cross the 'Valley of Death': A proposed permanent exemption to capital gains taxes on investments in startups could help new high-growth firms thrive and create jobs. According to a new report from the Kauffman Foundation, an exemption on investments in startups held for at least five years could spur $750 million in additional seed investment and help them survive the ‘Valley of Death’—moving from concept to prototype.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 13, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Tax Code
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policiy: President Obama’s overall proposed budget for FY 2013 is the highlight for a number of hearings in the week ahead, including the Budget Committees on both sides of the Capitol. The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology drills down a bit and takes a look at the dollars for federal research & development. Meanwhile, the House Committee on Energy & Commerce examines employment trends in ‘Where the Jobs Are.’
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 13, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Watch the 2012 State of Entrepreneurship Address: At the 2012 State of Entrepreneurship Address, held February 9, 2012, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation interim president and CEO Benno C. Schmidt, along with National Governors Association (NGA) leaders Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and Delaware Governor Jack Markell, called for state and local government policy changes to foster entrepreneurship and accelerate economic growth.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 13, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Growth & Poverty
CBO Projects Sluggish Recovery Through 2013: Expect more-of-the-same when it comes to the performance of the US economy for the next two years—with slow economic growth and unemployment rates remaining over eight percent.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 06, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
State of Entrepreneurship Address: A Roadmap for State Growth: Heading into what promises to be a heated general election year, the Kauffman Foundation has turned the focus of its third annual State of Entrepreneurship Address back to the state and local level. Later this week at the National Press Club, Benno Schmidt, the Foundation’s interim president, will present “A Roadmap for State Growth,” touching on a number of proposed recommendations regarding state and local laws and regulations—that won’t break policymakers’ budgets.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 06, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Improving the Environment for Entrepreneurship: A couple months ago, Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) were joined by Steve Case, AOL co-founder and CEO of Revolution LLC, as they introduced the Startup Act—based largely off research and recommendations released by the Kauffman Foundation.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 06, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Hearings and other meetings heat up during the week ahead on both sides of the U.S. Capitol. A roundtable discussion on “Developing & Strengthening High-growth Entrepreneurship,” including PDE’s Jonathan Ortmans, leads the way in the Senate while the House Budget Committee hears from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on “The State of the US Economy.” Meanwhile, off the Hill, Steve Case of the Startup America Partnership joins Sen. Jerry Moran and Sen. Mark Warner to talk about the Startup Act and ‘Improving the Environment for Entrepreneurship.’
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 30, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Winners of EDAs i6 Challenge Visit Capitol Hill: The last we heard from the i6 Challenge, the Economic Development Administration was looking for comments on the "X Prize-style" competition designed to help additional cities develop economic blueprints for the future. Last week, four of the six winners of the competition were featured at a hearing on Capitol Hill to provide members of Congress with a look at how federal funds are impacting regional economic growth.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 23, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Things are starting to pick up on Capitol Hill as the House of Representatives is set to reconvene tomorrow (Nov. 17). Relevant hearings are already scheduled for several committees, including Financial Services, Armed Services and Oversight & Government Reform. The Senate will reconvene next Monday, January 23.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 23, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
SBA's Mills Elevated to Cabinet-level in Proposed Reorganization: SBA Administrator Karen Mills has been tapped by President Obama to join his Cabinet as part of a larger plan to consolidate the Small Business Administration and several other federal agencies with overlapping responsibilities. The move for Mills is effective immediately, but the reorganization plan requires the backing of Congress.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 16, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Things are starting to pick up on Capitol Hill as the House of Representatives is set to reconvene tomorrow (Nov. 17). Relevant hearings are already scheduled for several committees, including Financial Services, Armed Services and Oversight & Government Reform. The Senate will reconvene next Monday, January 23.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 16, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
A Year for Entrepreneurs: Welcome to 2012 – a year which, without any official proclamation, will likely be an excellent year for entrepreneurs. In so many respects, advocates in 2011 for startups and entrepreneurs could not have done better in setting up 2012. Better data, more relevant policy and legislation, streamlined programming and more widespread public support should give all reason to be optimistic that more people will take a risk, unleash an idea and make a job. And we should expect even more new developments that will shape even better entrepreneurship ecosystems across the world.
[More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on January 09, 2012; Comments (0); Category: General Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: No hearings scheduled for the week ahead. The House of Representatives is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, January 17 with the Senate scheduled for Monday, January 23.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 09, 2012; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: All eyes on Capitol Hill are focused on the struggle over the future of payroll tax cuts two weeks before they are set to expire. No committee hearings are scheduled for the week ahead.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 19, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: As Congress nears the end-of-year holiday recess (which may or may not technically happen), all eyes are on the payroll tax deal negotiations and the expiration of the latest temporary spending bill. Meanwhile, several hearings are happening on Capitol Hill and of interest to PDE followers, including a look at the possible expansion of top-level domains through ICANN.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 12, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: With the House & Senate both in Washington this week, several hearings are scheduled that caught our attention, including a review by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs on outstanding proposals to spur job growth through capital formation.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 28, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
'Learn to Earn Act' Introduced: While hundreds of US colleges, universities and high schools were celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week/USA, a new bill was introduced to Congress that encourages participation in entrepreneurship education programs. Sponsored by Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa, the 'Learn to Earn Act of 2011' seeks to create incentives for states and local school districts to implement high-quality entrepreneurship programs in communities all across the country.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 21, 2011; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill Education
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: There are no hearings scheduled this week as Members of Congress are in recess for the Thanksgiving holiday.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 21, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: With Election Day 2011 behind us, members of Congress start to settle back into their routines in Washington. With the rest of DC focused on Global Entrepreneurship Week, a handful of committee hearings are scheduled that somewhat address the policy environment to promote entrepreneurial growth.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 14, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Bills Pass House, Offer More Funding Options: Last week, we told you in our weekly 'This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy' post that the House was examining a couple of bills “intended to make it easier for startups and other companies to raise capital.”
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 07, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
New Firms & Disruptive Technology: As countries get richer, they become more heavily dependent on home-grown innovation -- as opposed to simply expanding existing activities or borrowing good ideas from abroad -- to maintain their growth. And since new firms play an absolutely vital role in the innovation process, removing barriers to entrepreneurship becomes increasingly important to maintaining economic dynamism and prosperity.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 07, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: While Washington, DC, has plenty going on during Global Entrepreneurship Week from November 14 – 20, Capitol Hill is fairly quiet during the week leading up to it. The House is in recess for the week—observing Election Day from their home districts—while Senate committees have a very light load of hearings.

Be sure to check back next week during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 07, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Washington DC's Huge Celebration of Startups for Global Entrepreneurship Week: Regardless of whether American policymakers can ever fix domestic policy to boost entrepreneurship—as in making a Startup Visa happen or removing other barriers that slow the birth of new high growth firms—the nation’s capital will be alive with startup fever next week (November 14 – 18) as Global Entrepreneurship Week takes center stage around the world.
[More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on November 07, 2011; Comments (3); Category: Capitol Hill Global
Legislation Introduced to Improve SOX Requirements for Small Businesses: Rep. Ben Quayle from Arizona’s third district recently introduced H.R. 2941, the Startup Expansion and Investment Act, which will allow shareholders of public companies with market valuations below $1 billion to opt out of regulations within section 404 for the first 10 years after going public. The costs for complying with the requirements of this section of Sarbanes-Oxley can exceed $1 million for new companies and can cost them up to $20 million in loss of valuation.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 26, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (September 26 - 30): Updated: Monday, September 26 // 7:52 pm

While the original House and Senate calendars called for recess for this week, members of the Senate remained in Washington to work on a funding bill that would avert a government shutdown at the end of this week. It passed a six-week bill by a 79-12 vote and also passed a one-week continuing resolution to give the House until October 4 to act.

The House remains on recess (for the time being) and was not scheduled to reconvene until Monday. It had approved its version of a continuing resolution on Friday that cut an environmental loan program run by the Energy Department that Democrats called a job creator. The Senate had rejected that measure on Friday.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 26, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy May 23: The House is back in session with a full slate of hearings throughout the week. And while there is little going on in the Senate, the Joint Economic Committee will discuss “Driving Innovation and Job Growth through the Life Sciences Industry.”
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 23, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Huckabee and Trump Aren’t Running. So What Does that Mean for the Presidential Race?: In the last few days, two big names have announced they aren’t going to run for President. So what bearing does that have on the race for the White House in 2012? Here are five ways these non-announcements will have an impact on the race.
[More]; Posted by: Cameron Cushman; on May 20, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Digesting DC
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy May 16: Members of the House are back in their districts for the week. Meanwhile, a handful of hearings is lined up in the Senate, including a progress report on the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 16, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy May 09: Legislation to reauthorize and modernize the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs gets marked up in a committee hearing on the House side while mobile phones come under review in the Senate.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 09, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy May 02: As major media outlets continue to show wall-to-wall coverage of the death of Osama bin Laden, Congress carries on with a relatively light collection of hearings that are of interest to followers of the entrepreneurial economy.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 02, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This is not the American Dream: Americans are more dependent on the federal government than ever before. According to USA Today, 18.3 percent of the nation’s total personal income was a payment from the government for Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, unemployment benefits and other programs in 2010. Much of this increase has come since 2008, mainly due to the expansion of healthcare and federal programs generally. Americans got an average of $7,427 in benefits last year, up from $4,763 in 2000. USA Today even breaks the data out by state, with New York leading the list.
[More]; Posted by: Cameron Cushman; on April 28, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Digesting DC
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy Apr. 18: Two quiet weeks lie ahead on Capitol Hill as members of Congress are mostly back in their states / districts for Spring Recess from April 18 – 29.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 18, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy Apr. 11: A look at upcoming Congressional committee hearings on Capitol Hill, including a few on taxes and job growth.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 11, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy Apr. 4: SBA programs get an examination during a Senate hearing, while several hearings are on tap on the House side, including the second in a series for the House Committee on Small Business regarding reauthorization of SBIR and STTR.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 04, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy Mar. 21: Both houses of Congress are out of town for a State / District Work Period. However, a few field hearings are scheduled on the House side dealing with energy & education and how they relate to job growth.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 21, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy Mar. 15: A few hearings in the Senate focused on federal R&D and clean energy and jobs are in store for the remainder of the week, while the House looks at the SBA budget, SBIR and other issues.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 15, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy Mar. 7: A heavier schedule for the House than the Senate in the week ahead, including hearings on immigration & jobs, the rising cost of employer-based health care, and the tax system’s impact on job creation.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 07, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy Feb. 28: A number of hearings are scheduled for the week ahead in both houses of Congress, including testimony by Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Energy Chu and Secretary of Treasury Geithner.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 28, 2011; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Feb. 21): Following two heavy weeks of hearings on both sides of Capitol Hill, Congress is back in their states / districts for the Presidents’ Day Work Period.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 21, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Obama Unveils FY 2012 Budget: The White House sent President Obama's proposed budget for FY 2012 to Congress earlier today--weighing in at $3.7 trillion. With Republicans looking to poke holes in the plan, Jack Lew, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will appear at several congressional hearings throughout the week to defend it. In advance of those hearings, Lew appeared on the White House website with a quick overview of what the budget hopes to accomplish.

[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 14, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Growth & Poverty
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Feb. 14): The steady stream of congressional hearings continues, featuring a review of President Obama’s proposed FY 2012 budget by a number of committees, including the Budget Committees on both sides of the Capitol.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 14, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Feb. 08): A slew of hearings in the House are scheduled for this week, with action in the following committees: Budget; Education & the Workforce; Financial Services; Judiciary; Oversight & Government Reform; Small Business; and, Ways & Means.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 08, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Jan. 31): Members of Congress are back home for a State Work Period / Constituent Work Week.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 31, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
What the President Should Say Tomorrow: Dear Mr. President, the nation's entrepreneurs are counting on you tomorrow night. Want to use your State of the Union speech to lay out a plan for real economic growth? Here's what you should say.
[More]; Posted by: Cameron Cushman; on January 24, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Digesting DC
A Look Back at Innovation Daily (Jan. 10 - 16): Each day, Innovation Daily checks the pulse of global innovation-- courtesy of Innovation America. Here, we take a look at a handful of relevant stories it compiled last week:
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 17, 2011; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The recently convened 112th Congress slowly rolls into action while Washington continues to deal with the aftershocks of the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 17, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Jan. 10): The 112th Congress officially convened in Washington last week. As the Republicans rise to majority status in the House, they assume control of Congressional committee chairmanships relevant to innovation and entrepreneurship policy, including:
[More]; Posted by: Anonymous; on January 10, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Jan. 03): Congress is back in session on Wednesday, January 5, with a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 03, 2011; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Dec. 20): There are no relevant Congressional hearings or meetings currently scheduled for the week ahead in Washington.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 20, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
So How Did They Do?: Last spring I profiled several entrepreneurs who were running for office. So now that the midterm elections are behind us and all the races have been decided, how did our entrepreneurs do?
[More]; Posted by: Cameron Cushman; on December 17, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Digesting DC
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Dec. 13): There are no relevant Congressional hearings or meetings scheduled for the week ahead in Washington.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 13, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Graves to Chair House Small Business Committee: Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO), who had served as the ranking minority member of the House Small Business Committee, will assume the chairmanship when Republicans formally take control of the House in January. Graves released the following statement after being selected by his colleagues:
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 09, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Dec. 06): A couple of meetings and hearings are scheduled in the Senate for the week ahead in Washington, DC, including:
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 06, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Nov. 29): Congress has returned from the Thanksgiving week recess with several meetings and hearings scheduled.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 29, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Nov. 15): Congress will be in session this week – returning to the 18th lame duck session since 1935 – then will go back into recess for Thanksgiving week. In the meantime, several hearings in the House and Senate (below) may be of interest.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 15, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Nov. 8): After an election night that predictably returned the Republicans to the majority in the House while Democrats hung on to a slim margin in the Senate, members will look to return to Washington for official business next week. Stay tuned for congressional hearings and other events related to innovation and entrepreneurship.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 08, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
DC Plans for Global Entrepreneurship Week: This month, millions of people around the globe will participate in the world’s largest celebration of entrepreneurship. As thousands of events take place in more than 100 countries during Global Entrepreneurship Week, Washington, DC, is planning on making its mark through a number of policy events.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 01, 2010; Comments (0); Category: General Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Oct. 25): Both houses of Congress are home campaigning for the upcoming elections.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 25, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Oct. 18): Both houses of Congress are home campaigning for the upcoming elections.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 18, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Oct. 11): Both houses of Congress are home campaigning for the upcoming elections.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 11, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: No relevant hearings are scheduled for this week.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 04, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (Sept. 27): With everyone in Washington focused on the upcoming elections, last week and the one ahead have been busy as members eye an October return to their home states for some last-minute campaigning. Here is a look at some relevant hearings for the week ahead.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 27, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
By George, I Think You've Got... a Bailout?: Long overdue assistance for America's small business owners? Or just another ill-conceived bailout?

In Washington, the answer to that question depends on which side of the aisle you sit. Outside Washington, it likely depends on whether or not your business sees a slice of a $30 billion fund intended to ease credit and stimulate lending to small businesses.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 20, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill Growth & Poverty
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (100920): Almost everyone in Washington focused on the upcoming elections, which means that there is a lot of hustle and bustle as members eye an October return to their districts / states for some last-minute campaigning. Here is a look at some relevant hearings for the week ahead.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 20, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
When Politicians Can't Be Entrepreneurial, Entrepreneurs Must Be Political: Guest post by Byron Kennard

Is DC defunct? It sure seems that way. Just about everybody is bemoaning Washington’s dysfunctional political system. According to a recent Rasmussen Poll, 73 percent of respondents consider the system “broken.” Only 15 percent think it workable. Fifteen percent?! Louis XVI had higher public approval ratings on the day the Bastille fell. What’s next? A guillotine installed on Lafayette Square?
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 20, 2010; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill Energy
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The US House and Senate return this week from their Summer Work Period. As of now, the following hearings are scheduled for this week... although more may be added as the day progresses. Stay tuned for updates.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 13, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Does Silicon Valley Need a DC Lobby?: LinkedIn founder and venture capitalist Reid Hoffman was reported by The Hill saying that entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley could benefit from a stronger lobbying presence in Washington D.C. because their concerns are often ignored in favor of older interests.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 08, 2010; Comments (2); Category: General Growth & Poverty Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: There are no hearings scheduled for this week as the House and Senate are in recess for their Summer Work Periods. Both are scheduled to reconvene on September 13, 2010.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 08, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Small Business – Small Office – Big Deal: Until late 2008, Tom Sullivan served as the Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration. While he is now back in the private sector, he is still championing the cause of entrepreneurs and small business owners everywhere.

In a recent blog post on AmericaSpeakOn.org, Sullivan reflects on the President’s recess appointment of his successor:
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 30, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General
This Week in Entrpreneurship Policy: There are no hearings scheduled for this week as the House and Senate are in recess for their Summer Work Periods. Both are scheduled to reconvene on September 13, 2010.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 30, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
The Regulatory Flexibility Act at 30: On September 21, 2010, the Small Business Administrations’ Office of Advocacy will be hosting a symposium on Regulatory Flexibility for Small Business. The event will highlight the 30 years of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) and will examine the role that the RFA plays in ensuring policy decisions that create a healthy environment for small business growth and development.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 27, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill Red Tape
This Week in Entrpreneurship Policy: There are no hearings scheduled for this week as the House and Senate are in recess for their Summer Work Periods. Both are scheduled to reconvene on September 13, 2010.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 25, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board Revived: Eliminated by the previous administration, the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) will soon reemerge. The U.S. Department of Energy announced recently plans to reestablished SEAB under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Serving as an independent advisory committee to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the twelve-member board is comprised of scientists, business executives, academics and former government officials.

[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 16, 2010; Comments (2); Category: Energy Environment Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrpreneurship Policy: There are no hearings scheduled for this week as the House and Senate are in recess for their Summer Work Periods. Both are scheduled to reconvene on September 13, 2010.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 16, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrpreneurship Policy: There are no hearings scheduled for this week as the House and Senate are in recess for their Summer Work Periods. Both are scheduled to reconvene on September 13, 2010.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 09, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Uncertainty About the Economy Among Bloggers: What are leading economics bloggers thinking lately? The Kauffman Foundation has once again collected the views of more than 200 of these specialized bloggers in a mid-July survey.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 09, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Growth & Poverty Workforce
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: No hearings are scheduled for the House of Representatives as it is in recess for the Summer District Work Period until September 10. Meanwhile, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will consider legislation calling on the SBA to increase entrepreneurial training and counseling for veterans.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 03, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Dodd-Frank Signed Into Law: Last week President Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act into law. Concerns that the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will result in a flood of federal mandates detrimental to startups and small businesses were alleviated slightly by a handful of protections.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 02, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Red Tape
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Tuesday, July 20, 2010House Science and Technology Committee - Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight"Building a Science of Economics for the Real World" Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2318 10:00AM - 12:00PMWitnesses: Dr. Robert M. Solow, MIT; Dr. Sidney G. Winter, University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Scott E. Page, University of...
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 18, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
The Importance of Start Ups: When it comes to U.S. job growth, startup companies aren’t everything. They’re the only thing.That is the key message from a recently released Kauffman Foundation report entitled "The Importance of Startups in Job Creation and Job Destruction." The findings echo testimony given earlier this month before... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 07, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: No Hearings: The House and Senate have adjourned for the week-long recess for their Independence Day Work Period. They will return to Washington for legislative business on July 12.
[More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 05, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Where Will the Jobs Come From?: PDE staff were on hand for a Kauffman Foundation briefing at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on June 22. Our report of the event follows:While the job creation discussion usually defaults to a debate between big and small companies, often ignored are... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 25, 2010; Comments (3); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 Where Will the Jobs Come From?2226 Rayburn House Office Building12:00 noon While the American employment situation has begun to improve in recent weeks, the unemployment rate still hovers near 10 percent and millions of people remain unemployed, with long-term unemployment at an all-time... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 21, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Thursday, June 10, 2010House Committee on Science and Technology - Subcommittee on Research & Science Education - Hearing"From the Lab Bench to the Marketplace: Improving Technology Transfer"2318 Rayburn House Office Building10:00AM - 12:00PMWitnesses: • Dr. Thomas W. Peterson, Assistant Director, Directorate for Engineering, National Science... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 07, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
COMPETES Bill Passed in the House: Last Friday, on a third try, the House of Representatives passed with a 262-150 vote the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act (H.R. 5116), ending a heavy House debate over concerns about the fiscal challenges that the act represents. The act, aiming to support U.S. competitiveness through... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on June 02, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (May 24 - 28): Wednesday, May 26Joint Economic Committee"Avoiding a Lost Generation: How to Minimize the Impact of the Great Recession on Young Workers" Dr. Harry Holzer Professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Georgetown University Washington, DC Mr. David R. Jones President and Chief Executive Officer, Community Service Society New York, NY Mr. Stephen M. Wing Director of... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 24, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (May 17-21, 2010): Monday, May 17, 2010 House Small Business Committee - Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Field Hearing "Access to Capital for Small Businesses" The hearing will examine the current credit conditions for Pennsylvania small businesses. Witnesses will offer testimony on expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs and spurring... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 17, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
COMPETES Removed from Consideration: On Thursday, May 13 the House of Representatives voted to recommit the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 on a 292-126 vote. In response, House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) requested House leadership to pull the bill (H.R. 5116) from consideration.... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on May 17, 2010; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (May 10-14, 2010): WEDNESDAY, May 12, 2010 House Small Business Committee - Hearing “Small Businesses and Broadband: An Engine for Economic Growth and Job Creation” The Committee will hear from small businesses on how broadband is helping to grow the economy and create new jobs. 2360 Rayburn House Office Building 1:00 PM [more info] [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 10, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
States Providing Funding / Incentives for Entrepreneurs: [HT to Innovation Daily] A recent piece on Forbes.com, “States that Truly Bet on Small Business," offers a glimpse at a Spinal Tap-esque list (it goes to 11) of states that strongly promote entrepreneurship through funding programs. Which states -- and programs -- make the list? Ohio: Ohio Third... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 05, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (May 3-7, 2010): Wednesday, May 5, 2010House Small Business Committee - Hearing“Tax Initiatives that Promote Small Business Growth”The Committee will analyze how targeted tax provisions aimed at small firms can maintain the economic recovery and encourage small business expansion.2360 Rayburn House Office Building 1:00 PM[more info] Wednesday, May... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 03, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Bringing Change to Washington, Through Attrition: When Barack Obama was still a presidential candidate, he promised to change the way Washington worked. He was swept to power on this mantra of change accompanied by seemingly insurmountable majorities in both houses of Congress. But due to a multitude of factors, major membership... [More]; Posted by: Cameron Cushman; on May 03, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill General Digesting DC
Washington Rolls Out Red Carpet for Global Entrepreneurship: This afternoon, President Obama addressed the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship organized by the Department of State and the Department of Commerce following his promise in Cairo last June. The event is designed to promote entrepreneurship in Africa, the Middle East, and South, Central and Southeast... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on April 26, 2010; Comments (5); Category: Capitol Hill Global
COMPETES Introduced in the House: Last Friday, the House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced HR 5116, America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.COMPETES was originally signed into law in 2007 after receiving broad bipartisan support. It was based on recommendations from the National Academies’ report Rising... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 26, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (April 26-30): Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2010 Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship - Hearing “Connecting Main Street to the World: Federal Efforts to Expand Small Business Internet Access” Russell Senate Office Building, SR-428A Witness Panel 1: * Jonathan Adalstein Administrator Rural Utilities Services * Julius Genachowski Chairman Federal Communications Commission ... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 26, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (April 19-23): Monday, April 19, 2010, House Small Business Committee - Subcommittee on Finance and Tax - Field Hearing “Access to Capital for Small Businesses” The field hearing will examine the current credit conditions for Florida small businesses. Witnesses will offer testimony on expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 19, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (April 12-16): Wednesday, Apr. 14, 2010House Science and Technology Committee - Subcommittee on Research & Science Education - MarkupNational Science Foundation programs10:00 AM - 12:00 PMRayburn House Office Building, Rm 2318[more info][audio] Wednesday, Apr. 14, 2010 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee - HearingHearings to examine reviewing the... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 12, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
An Economist for the Court?: Last week, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement kicking off one of Washington's favorite pastimes -- speculating on potential Supreme Court nominees, their political leanings and whether or not the opposing party will turn the confirmation process into a bloodbath. Tim Kane, senior fellow... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 12, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (April 5-10, 2010): There are no relevant hearings this week, but here is one for next week:Wednesday, Apr 14, 2010 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee - HearingHearings to examine reviewing the national broadband planWitness: The Honorable Julius Genachowski, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission 2:30 PMRussell Senate... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 05, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (March 29 - April 2): Congress is currently in recess. The Senate will reconvene on April 5 and the House on April 12. [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 29, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Proposed Bill Would Hurt Angel Investors and Entrepreneurs: Kauffman Foundation Vice President Robert Litan argues in an opinion piece published in the Huffington Post that proposed 'protections' for angel investors in Section 926 of the comprehensive financial reform bill outlined by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Senator Dodd are unnecessary and will hurt America's... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 27, 2010; Comments (4); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (March 22-26, 2010): Tuesday, Mar. 23, 2010Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation"Reviewing the National Broadband Plan"2:30 pmRussell Senate Office Building, Rm 253 [more info] Wed, Mar. 24, 2010House Science and Technology Committee - Subcommittee on Technology & Innovation - Hearing Supporting Innovation in the 21st Century Economy10:30AM - 12:30PMRayburn... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 22, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Business Incubators and Job Creation: A House Committee on Small Business hearing earlier this week covered the topic of "Business Incubators and Their Role in Job Creation." Testifying before the committee was Dr. Robert Strom, Director of Research & Policy at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, who called the newfound... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 19, 2010; Comments (12); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (March 15 - 19): Tuesday, March 16, 2010House Science & Technology Committee -- Subcommittee on Research and Science Education - Hearing"Broadening Participation in STEM"10:00 a.m.2318 Rayburn House Office Building[more info]Tuesday, March 16, 2010 House Appropriations Committee - Full Committee – Hearing"FY 2011 Budget and Economic Outlook"10:00 am2359 Rayburn House... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 15, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (March 8-12, 2010): Wednesday, March 10, 2010 House Science and Technology Committee- Subcommittee on Research & Science Education - Hearing "The National Science Foundation’s FY 2011 Budget Request" 10:00AM - 12:00PM Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2318 [more info] Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee - Hearing "Advancing American innovation... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 08, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy (March 1-5, 2010): Tuesday, March 02, 2010Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee - Subcommittee on Economic Policy - Hearing"Restoring Credit to Main Street: Proposals to Fix Small Business Borrowing and Lending Problems"9:30 a.m.538 Dirsken Senate Office Building[more info] Wednesday, March 3, 2010 House... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 01, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Senators Introduce "Start-Up Visa" Legislation: On Wednesday, February 24, 2010, Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., introduced legislation to drive job creation and increase America's global competitiveness by helping immigrant entrepreneurs obtain visas to the U.S. The “StartUp Visa Act of 2010” would allow an immigrant entrepreneur to receive... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 25, 2010; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill Immigration
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: The recurring snowstorms last week and the President's Day work period combined for a quiet couple weeks on Capitol Hill -- no relevant hearings or meetings are currently scheduled. [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 15, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Skepticism about Obama’s Small Business Lending Plan: An article in today’s Washington Independent, “Obama’s Small Business Lending Plan Meets Skepticism,” lays out concerns with the President’s plan to make $30 billion in repaid TARP funds available for small banks to lend to small businesses. “There’s little indication that these banks need the money — or that... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 15, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Highlights from House Science and Technology Agenda: On January 19, Rep. Bart Gordon announced the 2010 legislative agenda for the House Committee on Science and Technology. Innovation and energy and STEM education lead the priorities list.As part of its effort to maintain U.S. competitiveness through innovation, the Committee plans to work on... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 10, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill Education Technology Transfer
A Look at Obama's Plan for Small Business: Within the past week President Obama outlined several proposals to help small business create jobs: $30 billion of federal bailout funds redirected to community banks to lend to small business Tax credits for new hires and wage increases Elimination of capital-gains tax on investments in small business Tax incentives... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 08, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Senate Asks SBA to Implement FAST Partnership: Last week, Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) co-signed a letter from the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee to Karen Mills, SBA Administrator, requesting that the SBA swiftly implement the allocated funds for the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership. FAST provides... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 26, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Wednesday, January 27, 2010House Committee Science and Technology - Hearing"The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E): Assessing theAgency’s Progress and Promise in Transforming the U.S. EnergyInnovation System"10:00 AM - 12:00 PMRayburn House Office Building, Room 2318 [more info] Thursday, January 28, 2010 Senate Committee... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 25, 2010; Comments (-2); Category: Capitol Hill
The State of Start-ups: When President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address is still unclear. However, with 80 percent of the population believing that new economic growth and jobs will come from entrepreneurs, discussion around what his address should include in terms of policies that... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on January 18, 2010; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill Global Health Care Immigration Tax Code
Science Park Legislation Introduced in the House: On Jan 12th, U.S. Representatives Gabrielle Giffords (D -AZ) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced “The Science Parks Research and Innovative New Technologies Act” (SPRINT Act - H.R.4413). The legislation would authorize the Department of Commerce to establish a $7.5 million competitive grants program for feasibility... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 14, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
Obama's Social Innovation Fund: The Corporation for National and Community Service will receive public feedback on their draft Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) until the end of this week.SIF is a new public-private initiative created by the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 14, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Hearing This Week: The following hearing details were announced after our Monday newsletter. It will take place in Palo Alto, CA. Friday, January 15, 2010House Committee on Foreign Affairs – Hearing“The Impact of U.S. Export Controls on National Security, Science and Technological Leadership”10:30 a.m. (Pacific Time)Arrillaga Alumni Center,... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 14, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: No Hearings: A couple of hearings are scheduled down the road to examine aviation security, but there still isn't much happening on the entrepreneurship front on Capitol Hill -- no relevant hearings or meetings are currently scheduled. [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on January 11, 2010; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: No Hearings: As Congress prepares for the holiday, no relevant hearings or meetings have been scheduled. [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 21, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Thursday December 17, 2009 Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship - Committee HearingMark Up of "The Small Business Export Enhancement and International Trade Act of 2009" and "The Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009"12:00 pmRussell Senate Office Building, Room 485 [more... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 14, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Bailout Funds for Small Businesses: In a speech at the Brookings Institution last Tuesday, President Obama proposed creating incentives for small businesses to hire more workers as part of recent efforts to boost job creation. "There is only so much government can do," Obama said. "Job creation will ultimately depend... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 14, 2009; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill General
Small Business Size Standards Under Revision: After 25 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is considering revising the definitions of “small business”. The current broad definition of small business covers businesses with 500 or fewer employees, but the exact definition depends on the type of industry. Comments for the three... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 08, 2009; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill
The Week Ahead in Entrepreneurship Policy: Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009 Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - Economic Policy Subcommittee - Hearing"Weathering the Storm: Creating Jobs in the Recession"03:00 pmDirksen Senate Office Building, Rm 538 [more info] Wednesday, Dec 9, 2009Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation - Hearing"Research Parks and Job Creation:... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 07, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Entrepreneurship Recommendations at the Obama Jobs Summit: At yesterday’s White House “Jobs Summit”, Kauffman Foundation president and CEO Carl Schramm laid out five strategies to boost entrepreneurship and create jobs. Schramm, an economist, author on entrepreneurship and former entrepreneur, joined about 130 business leaders, economists and CEOs from across the United States... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 04, 2009; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill Workforce
Small Businesses’ Views on Health Care: A Dallas Morning News article recently argued that in Texas, where fewer than 50 percent of private-sector employers offer health insurance, some small firms say they would be more competitive if they dropped coverage and paid the fine that is stipulated in the House bill.... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on December 04, 2009; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill Health Care
The Week Ahead in Entrepreneurship Policy: Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Senate Energy and Natural Resources - Full Committee HearingHearings to examine policy options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.10:00 amDirksen Senate Office Building, Rm 366 [more info] [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 30, 2009; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill Energy
The Strategy for Energy Innovation: PDE staff attended a meeting on “Innovation and the Strategy for Renewable Energy” at the Woodrow Wilson Center. Our report of the event follows:The Tuesday Innovation Policy Discussion Group of the Woodrow Wilson and MIT hosted last week a meeting with Henry Kelly, Principal Deputy... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 24, 2009; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: No Hearings: As Congress prepares for the long holiday weekend (and with all eyes onthe looming health care debate), no relevant hearings or meetings havebeen scheduled. The Senate next meets on November 30 & the House ofRepresentatives next meets December 1. [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 23, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
President Obama Proclaims Support During Global Entrepreneurship Week: As Global Entrepreneurship Week comes to a close in the US and 88 countries around the world, U.S. President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation supporting those efforts, proclaiming November 16 - 22 to be a national Entrepreneurship Week. In doing so, Obama called "upon... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 20, 2009; Comments (3); Category: Capitol Hill General Global
Sarbanes-Oxley Exemption for Small Businesses: On Wednesday November 4th, the House Financial Services Committee approved legislation that would permanently exempt some small businesses from having to comply with provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The amendment would exempt companies with a market cap of less than $75 million from having to... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 10, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee - Hearing"Hearings to examine increasing health costs facing small businesses."02:30 pmDirksen Senate Office Building, Rooom 430 [more info] Wednesday, November 4, 2009House Small Business Committee - Hearing"Small Businesses and the Estate Tax: Identifying Reforms... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on November 02, 2009; Comments (-7); Category: Capitol Hill
A New Extension for SBA Programs: On Monday, the Senate unanimously passed legislation (S.1929) to temporarily extend all the Small Business Administration (SBA) programs, which include the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The legislation will extend these programs through April 30, 2010.On her statement... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 28, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
A Stimulus for Entrepreneurship: Last week, PDE reported on several measures under discussion in Washington that would put entrepreneurs at the forefront of recovery efforts. Some of these measures are moving quickly. On Friday, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair, Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., introduced a bill... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 26, 2009; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Entrepreneurs’ Perspective on Healthcare Reform: PDE staff attended a U.S. Senate hearing entitled “Reform Done Right: Sensible Health Care Solutions for America’s Small Businesses" held by the Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. Our report of the event follows:On Oct. 20th, policymakers examined the impact of the current healthcare system... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 26, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 House Science and Technology Committee - Technology and Innovation Subcommittee – Hearing "Developing Research Priorities at DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate"2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2318 (WEBCAST)[more info]Tuesday, October 27-29, 2009 Senate Environment and Public Works... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 26, 2009; Comments (-1); Category: Capitol Hill
The Jobless Economic Recovery: The New America Foundation organized a symposium on “The Jobs Deficit: The Challenge of Putting America Back to Work.” Our report of the event follows:The New America Foundation event gathered a large crowd of economic and political analysts, policymakers and public opinion leaders, who considered... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 23, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General
A Shift in Mandate: Federal Bailout Funds for Small Businesses: It seems like some policymakers have decided to invest directly in the most powerful job creators, small businesses. The Washington Post unveiled this morning that there are a few plans under discussion in Washington to boost job creation and the recovery by making bailout funds... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 15, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General
Health Care Reform: Don’t Shortchange our Growth Drivers: On the heels of the Senate Finance Committee’s long-awaited vote on its health care bill, I thought it would be helpful to once more comment on its effect on our entrepreneurs. The status quo in healthcare undermines entrepreneurship: small businesses are paying a higher cost... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on October 13, 2009; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill Health Care
New Office for Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Last week, the U.S. government took a bold move in favor of entrepreneurs. At the Inc. 500/5000 conference, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke announced the formation of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as well as a National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Secretary... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on October 01, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General
Rockstar Entrepreneurs Don't Come to Washington: If you have ever been around somebody trying to start or grow abusiness, you know that entrepreneurs don’t have time for much else,especially not for going to Washington to help keep policymakers up todate on how to encourage high growth entrepreneurship in America—nothurt it. When... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on September 28, 2009; Comments (6); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Tuesday, September 29, 2009Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship - Hearing“Reform Done Right: Sensible Health Care Solutions for America’s Small Businesses.”Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 562 [more info] Wednesday, September 30, 2009 House Committee on Science and Technology - Energy and Environment Subcommittee –... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 28, 2009; Comments (-16); Category: Capitol Hill
An Emerging National Innovation Strategy: While President Obama has said a lot of the right things about innovation and entrepreneurship, a number have pointed to a disconnect between those words and the actions and policies emerging from the Administration. Earlier today, the president again addressed the topic from Hudson Valley... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 21, 2009; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill Education Energy Environment Health Care Immigration Intellectual Property Physical Infrastructure Red Tape Technology Transfer Workforce
Fernandez confirmed at EDA: President Obama's selection to head the Economic Development Administration, John Fernandez, was confirmed yesterday by the U.S. Senate. The following is a press release issued by the Commerce Department: JOHN R. FERNANDEZ CONFIRMED AS U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTWASHINGTON -- U.S. Commerce Secretary... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 11, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Entrepreneurs As a Solution to Policy Challenges: In the past few months, we have highlighted through articles and factsheets how public policy can make the path easier for entrepreneurship and innovation. With the Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship, we hope to emphasize not only how policies can foster entrepreneurs, but also how entrepreneurship can directly be part of... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on September 07, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Education Energy Environment General Global Health Care Immigration Intellectual Property Liability Litigation Physical Infrastructure Red Tape Tax Code Technology Transfer Workforce
SBA Expands Microloan Program: The Small BusinessAdministration (SBA) has expanded its Microloan program as Recovery Act fundsare making their way into access to capital programs for small businesses. Theincreased funds -- an additional $50 million for loans and $24 million for technical assistance from the the American Recovery and... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on September 01, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
FCC Examining Wireless Innovation: The FCC is pointing to innovation in wireless communications as a major driver for near-term ecomic recovery and long-term growth. On Thursday August 27, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved a sweeping investigation into the wireless industry. The move is being broadly reported as... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 31, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
SBA Introduces YouTube Channel: The Small Business Administration recently launched it's own YouTube channel, joining an increasing number of federal agencies that are taking advantage of the popular video-sharing platform to reach a larger audience.The channel will carry a variety of content aimed at helping support entrepreneurs and small... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on August 28, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Chicago: A Systems Approach to K-12 STEM Education: On Thursday, June 30, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Research and Science Education Subcommittee held a hearing to examine how the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in an urban K-12 system can work together to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on August 05, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Education
Request for GAO Study on Trade Policies to Help Small Firms: Gene Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), was asked last Monday for a study on the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee’s (TPCC) progress in implementing an effective government-wide strategy to promote exporting for small businesses. The request came from Senate Committee... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on August 05, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Press Conference on the Health Insurance Reform: Yesterday at a press conference at the Capitol, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu, D-La., Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., discussed the effects skyrocketing health care costs on small businesses and... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on July 31, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Health Care
Exploring Women's Participation in STEM Education: In a hearing last week, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Research and Science Education Subcommittee examined current research findings, best practices, and the role of federal agencies in increasing the interest of girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in primary and... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on July 27, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 House Science and Technology Committee - Full Committee MarkupThe Committee will meet to consider the following measures or for other purposes:H.R. 3246, Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009H.R. 3165, Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009H.R. 3029, To establish a... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on July 27, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
A Seemingly Simple Concept: Cost Matters: Until late 2008, Tom Sullivan served as the Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration. While he is now back in the private sector, he is still championing the cause of entrepreneurs and small business owners everywhere. In a recent blog post... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 20, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Health Care
The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit: Last week, the House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on "Helping Small Business Innovators through the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit." Led by the Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology, members listened to the experience of technology entrepreneurs in utilizing this tool, commonly known... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 20, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Economy Will Revive with Help from Entrepreneurs: Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy recently released its annual report The Small Business Economy. In an accompanying letter to the President, the report affirms that “the economy will revive, with help from America’s entrepreneurs.” This new edition documents the effects of the 2008 recession on... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 20, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
TARP Funds for Small Businesses?: The Obama Administration revealed last week that an initiative to redirect some of the $700 billion TARP funds away from banks and towards helping small businesses is on the table. Although no amounts have been specified, this new initiative would represent a significant shift... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 20, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Update on SBIR Reauthorization: Late on Monday (07/13/2009), the Senate passed S. 1233 via unanimous consent. This bill would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through 2023 and change the eligibility criterion for VC-backed firms. This bill would let the National... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 16, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
SBA Funding on the Rise: Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which incorporates a $22 million increase for the Small Business Administration (SBA) over the President’s request. The bill allocates a total of $697 million in funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 14, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
House Approves SBIR Reauthorization: On July 8, 2009 the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009 by a vote of 386-41. This legislation would reauthorize through 2011 the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 13, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
Obama Announces Choice to Head EDA: President Obama announced on Monday his nomination of John Fernandez to head the Economic Development Administration as the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Most recently, Fernandez worked for the Indianapolis-based law firm ofKrieg Devault, advising private and governmental organizations oneconomic development, public... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 08, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Wednesday, July 8, 2009House Small Business Committee - Hearing"The Looming Challenge for Small Medical Practices: The Future Physician Shortage and How Health Care Reforms Can Address the Problem"10:00 AM2360 Rayburn House Office Building [more info] Wednesday, July 8, 2009 House Science and Technology Committee -... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 06, 2009; Comments (-15); Category: Capitol Hill
Cap-and-Trade Moves to the Senate: Recently, the House of Representatives narrowly voted (219 to 212) in favor of the gargantuan H. R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, sponsored by Representatives Henry Waxman of California and Edward Markey of Massachusetts. At the heart of this over 1,200-page legislation... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on July 01, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Energy
Bills to Stimulate Innovation Advance: On Wednesday June 24, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a markup on H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009. This Act reauthorizes and revises the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) program, which stimulates development of commercial... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 25, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Senate Committee Votes to Reauthorize SBIR-STTR: In a closed session late last week, the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship unanimously passed two bills to reauthorize and improve a number of Small Business Administration (SBA) programs. PDE staff covered a roundtable discussion on these issues earlier in June.... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 22, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: Below, we highlight some hearings and events on policy areas that intersect with entrepreneurship. Monday, June 22, 2009Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship - Field Hearing“Missed Opportunities: The ARRA and the NIH/SBIR exclusion” 1:00 PM ETStella B. Warner Montgomery County Council Office Bldg, 7th... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 22, 2009; Comments (-55); Category: Capitol Hill
More Recommendations Supporting VC-Backed Firm Access to SBIR-STTR: PDE staff were on hand last week for a hearing of the House Committee on Small Business taking yet another look at the reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs. Our report of the hearing--Legislative Initiatives to Strengthen and Modernize the SBIR and STTR Programs--follows:This... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 21, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
New SBA Program Starts Today: Small businesses needing assistance with making payments on existing debts have a new option starting today -- the American Recovery Capital (ARC) program from the Small Business Administration (SBA). This new emergency lending program aims to help businesses that have not missed a payment yet... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 15, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Cap and Trade Not Enough: PDE staff were on hand earlier this week for a panel discussion held by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) on Capitol Hill. Our report of the event--Is Cap and Trade Enough? Why Reducing Emissions Depends on Technology Innovation Panel Discussion--follows:The Information Technology and... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 12, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Energy
Entrepreneurial Development: PDE staff were on hand earlier this week for a roundtable held by the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Our report of the event--Entrepreneurial Development: Investing in Small Businesses to Strengthen Our Economy--follows:In preparation for the reauthorization of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 12, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
A Bill on the Future of SBIR: The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship introduced this week a legislation to reauthorize the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program along with the Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR), which were scheduled to expire at the end of July... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on June 12, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Trade Opportunities for Small Businesses: The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu, (D-La), introduced a bill to help increase small business trade opportunities. S.1196, The Small Business International Trade Enhancements Act of 2009 improves the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of International Trade to help small... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 09, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
House Approves Two Bills for Inter-Agency Coordination in S&T: The science and technology bills are moving along the legislative process. The House of Representatives approved yesterday two bills that originated in the Committee on Science and Technology and that share the common theme of interagency coordination and knowledge-sharing.H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 09, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Excellence in Economic Development: Secretary Locke (left) with PDE's Jonathan Ortmans at a previous meeting discussing entrepreneurship as a means of economic development Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the seven winners of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Excellence in Economic Development Awards 2009. “Excellence Award winners exemplify the... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 08, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Legislative Initiatives to Modernize & Strengthen SBIR and STTR: PDE staff were on hand last week for a hearing held by the House Small Business Subcommitte on Contracting and Technology. Our report of the hearing--Legislative Initiatives to Strengthen and Modernize the SBIR and STTR Programs--follows:The reauthorization of the Small Business and Innovation Research (SBIR)... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 08, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Focus of Roundtable Discussion: PDE staff were on hand earlier this week for a roundtable held by the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Our report of the roundtable--SBIR and STTR Reauthorization: Ensuring a Strong Future for Small Business in Federal Research and Development--follows:The U.S. Senate Committee on Small... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on June 05, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
House Gives Vote of Confidence to Entrepreneurs: As part of an effort to get our economy back on track by unleashing entrepreneurship, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill designed to provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with new and expanded assistance. H.R. 2352, the Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on June 01, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
NAS Study on SBIR Adds Hope for the VC Industry: As the deadline for the reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program approaches, evidence is mounting on both sides of the debate that has been pushing the decision about the future of SBIR back since March. This time, a new study supports the... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on May 29, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
More VC Leadership at the SBA: Last Thursday, President Obama announced his nomination for the position of Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration. The nominee, Winslow Sargeant, is a managing director in the technology practice at Wisconsin-based venture firm Venture Investors LLC. The first thing that comes to... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on May 27, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
This Week in Entrepreneurship Policy: There are no hearings scheduled for this week as Congress is in recess. The next meeting of the Senate is June 1, 2009; the House next meets June 2, 2009. [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 26, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Increased Credit Card Protections Sought for Small Firms: Entrepreneurship data has consistently shown that a large portion of small businesses rely on credit cards as one of their largest sources of financing (see for example, the Kauffman Firm Survey). According to the National Small Business Association (NSBA), the number of small businesses reporting... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 18, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
The Week Ahead in Entrepreneurship Policy: Monday, May 18, 2009 House Energy and Commerce - Full Committee Markup"American Clean Energy And Security Act Of 2009 Markup"01:00 PM2123 Rayburn House Office Building[more info] Tuesday, May 19, 2009 Senate Appropriations - Energy and Water Development Subcommittee - Hearing"Hearings to examine funding and oversight... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 18, 2009; Comments (-13); Category: Capitol Hill
Senate Hearing Addresses Small Business Financing: PDE staff were on hand earlier this week for a hearing of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Our report of the hearing--Small Busniess Financing: Progress Report on Recovery Act Implementation and Alternative Sources of Financing--follows: In her first appearance before the U.S. Senate... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 15, 2009; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Economic Stimulus and Small Business: What do the new economic stimulus measures mean for America’s small business owners? A new e-book from MyVenturePad.com takes a closer look.The report provides three perspectives on what the changing world of Washington may mean for small business owners. With billions of dollars in new... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 14, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Education Energy Health Care Tax Code Workforce
Agencies Encouraged to Use Recovery Funds on Innovative Small Businesses: United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu, D-La., wrote on Thursday (05/07/2009) to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and National Science Foundation Director Arden Bement, urging them... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on May 08, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
New Bills to Support Green and Women’s Entrepreneurship: The House Small Business Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade Subcommittee approved a series of bills last Thursday (04/30) to authorize and expand several Small Business Administration programs.Some of these new bills have an interesting focus on "green entrepreneurs." For example, a bill sponsored by Rep.... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 06, 2009; Comments (2); Category: Capitol Hill Environment
The Week Ahead in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 House Science & Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight – Hearing "Follow the Money Part II: Government and Public Resources for Recovery Act Oversight"2:00p.m. – 4:00p.m. 2318 Rayburn House Office Building (WEBCAST)[more info]Wednesday, May 6, 2009House Small Business Committee -... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on May 04, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Improving Collaboration and Efficiency in Science Programs: Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology approved three bipartisan bills which share the common themes of strengthening inter-agency coordination processes andmaking government smarter. There was no major disagreement in today’s full committee markup; the bill with all proposed amendments was moved to the... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 29, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Education Workforce
The First 100 Days: Facing a country reeling from the Great Depression and demanding immediate action, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt pushed through a remarkable number of new programs during the first 'First Hundred Days.' Since then, it has become a milestone for every president and this week, I take... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on April 27, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General
Small Businesses Leery of Obama’s Agenda: A new survey sponsored the City Business Journals Network finds that many small business owners are wary of the economic policies of the new Obama Administration.The survey was based on interviews with 301 business owners (42% Republicans, 34% Independent, and 16% Democrats) across the US.Of... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 27, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Health Care
The Week Ahead in Entrepreneurship Policy: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 -- Committee HearingHouse Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment"Pushing the Efficiency Envelope: R&D for High-Performance Buildings, Industries and Consumers"Time -- 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. Location -- 2318 Rayburn House Office Building[more info] Wednesday, April 29, 2009 --... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 27, 2009; Comments (-32); Category: Capitol Hill Education Energy Environment Global Technology Transfer
We're from the Government and We're Here to Help: On a recent appearance on MSNBC, Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee chair Mary Landrieu talked about easing the flow of credit and other efforts in Washington to help small businesses. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 10, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
House Republican Budget Plan: For several weeks, Republicans in the US House of Representatives have been soundly criticizing President Obama’s proposed FY2010 budget as fiscally irresponsible. But, without a detailed budget plan of their own, Republicans were unable to present a comprehensive alternative. Last week, House Republicans unveiled their... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on April 06, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
The Week Ahead in Entrepreneurship Policy: April 1, 2009 - Committee HearingSenate Small Business and EntrepreneurshipHearings to examine the nomination of Karen Gordon Mills, of Maine, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.Time -- 09:30 a.m. April 1, 2009 - Committee HearingHouse Ways and MeansFull Committee, hearing on Health Reform in... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 30, 2009; Comments (-4); Category: Capitol Hill
SBIR Lives to Fight Another Day: Well, it wasn't a long-term reauthorization that many wanted, but the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program was extended recently through July 31, 2009. The Continuing Resolution keeping SBIR afloat expired on March 20 and while the House and Senate differed over the length of... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 27, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Expanding Equity Investment in Small Businesses: PDE staff were on hand earlier today at the House Small Business Committee hearing on the impact of the current financial crisis on investment in small businesses and steps to expand equity investments. Our report of the hearing follows: In today’s hearing for the... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 26, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
HUBZone Program Under Fire: PDE staff were on hand yesterday at the House Small Business Committee hearing on oversight of the Small Business Administration and its programs. Not surprisingly, recent reports of fraud in the HUBZones program dominated discussion. Our report of the hearing follows: The future of... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 26, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Proposed SBA Budget Focus of Hearing: PDE staff were on hand yesterday to cover the fairly routine Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee hearing on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 for the Small Business Administration. Our report follows:Over the last eight years the agency has seen a 28 percent... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 26, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
New Programs to Support Small Business Lending: The Obama Administration seems to be warming up to an important fact: entrepreneurs will be the real drivers of new job creation and economic recovery. The latest evidence comes from last Monday’s White House announcement of a series of measures to help address the credit... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 23, 2009; Comments (1); Category: Capitol Hill
Next PDE Briefing to Address Immigration & Innovation: The next PDE briefing on Capitol Hill will look at the much-discussed and debated issue of what to do about foreign talent as we try to jumpstart the economy. Innovation, Immigration & the Knowledge Economy is scheduled for Monday, April 6 from 11:15 am -... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 22, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Immigration
Patent Reform Debates Gear Up: Congress has been grappling with patent reform for nearly a decade. Several reform bills have passed in past Congresses, but none have made it into law. A new series of debates is set to begin anew in the 111th Congress. Last week, the leadership of... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on March 16, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Intellectual Property
Innovation at Risk: My essay today takes a look at the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program. In all likelihood it will continue, but a reauthorization still hasn't happened. Here is the lead: One of the few effective government programs to support innovation is at risk. The language... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on March 16, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill Technology Transfer
Obama, Jindal Pay Lip Service to Entrepreneurs: Last night, President Barack Obama delivered a State of the Union-like address to a joint session of Congress where he tempered his doom-and-gloom message while outlining his plans for the economy. And while the stimulus package that he's promoting as the answer to our financial... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 25, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
SBIR at Risk?: While many Federal technology and innovation-related programs will be seeing an infusion of new economic stimulus funds, one of Washington’s more effective technology support tools--the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program--may be at risk in the coming months. The SBIR program, which helps steer Federal... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 23, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Three Views on the Economic Stimulus Plans: As Congress continues to move forward with the 2009 economic stimulus package, a number of think tanks are offering their views on what makes sense both for economic stimulus, but also for building a more competitive American economy over the long term.The Information Technology and... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 02, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
GAO’s High Risk Series: 2009: At the beginning of each Congress, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) publishes its listing of Federal programs and efforts that are at “high risk” for waste, mismanagement, and abuse. This listing is designed to shine a light on these problems areas, and to help drive... [More]; Posted by: Mark Marich; on February 02, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill
Stimulating Entrepreneurship: Everyone, everywhere is focused on the stimulus package being debated on Capitol Hill. My latest essay suggests policymakers can and should do more to leverage the role ofentrepreneurs in stimulating our economy, but they must do socarefully.Here is the lead: Congress is considering the American... [More]; Posted by: Jonathan Ortmans; on January 26, 2009; Comments (0); Category: Capitol Hill General

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