HR 203, S.2483-follow-up

[Natalie Roy <NatalieRoy@compuserve.com>]

As a follow-up to my earlier message about HR 203 and S. 2483,  and to
respond to the numerous requests for information we have received here at
NPPR on this subject last week and today--there will be a Capitol Hill
Roundtable discussion on Thursday (August 1)  to discuss these bills as
well as other issues.  Senator John Kerry  (MA), Chair of the Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship  and Senator Christopher Bond (MO) the
ranking member, are organizing the meeting.  

Thursday's Roundtable discussion is a public meeting.  Invited participants
will be discussing the role of the SBDC network in the context of small
business regulatory compliance and entrepreuneur education. The Roundtable
discussion will begin at 2 p.m.,Thursday in room 428A of the Russell Senate
Office Building .  If we get additional information we will of course be
happy to share it with the P2 network. 

ORIGINAL MESSAGE
NPPR folks:
Many of you are familiar with the various pieces of legislation in the past
6 years that would provide Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) with
funding to offer regulatory environmental assistance to small businesses. 
This legislation has again resurfaced.  It passed the House in the form of
HR 203, and a companion bill was introduced in the Senate.  There are
actually two companion bills in the Senate now, one of which is S. 2483,
and has numerous co-sponsors.  This bill (2483) is surprisingly similar to
the original small business legislation filed years ago--H.R. 96--which
would potentially duplicate existing P2 and SBAP programs.  Many of us
submitted comments and participated in numerous meetings about this
contentious issue. While tracking the main bill (203), we were shocked to
see the alternative bill quietly going through the process on the hill. 
NPPR has long been supportive of working out a collective solution that
shares resources amongst all environmental assistance providers, so we can
leverage more resources and support for P2 nationwide.

Please take the time to provide your thoughts on S. 2483, both on this
listserve, as well as to your Congressional delegation.  You can access the
legislation by going to http://thomas.loc.gov
Thanks, Natalie Roy, NPPR

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