Garrett Gazette - September 17, 2007
Dear Friends:
Last week, the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy kicked off a new initiative for weeding out outdated, ineffective, duplicative, or simply overly burdensome federal regulations. The Regulatory Review & Reform Initiative (R3) will be used to identify and address existing federal regulations that need reform. And, the Office of Advocacy is inviting small businesses across the nation to help with this important project.
Small businesses are the backbone of our national economy and it's simply unconscionable that federal regulations often don't offer the flexibility that they require, opting instead for a cookie cutter approach that fits big business resources much better. It's an important issue to me and, in fact, I recently was successful in getting an amendment passed to the Financial Services Appropriations Act to delay the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley regulations for small businesses. They need, at least, more time to comply with those onerous regulations.
It's estimated that the current cumulative federal regulatory burden on small businesses is more than $1.1 trillion. This represents about 9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, adding up to $10,172 per household. This is a fivefold increase since 1979, just before the Regulatory Flexibility Act was passed.
Under that Act, the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy was charged with looking at federal regulations and determining if they were outdated, outmoded, obsolete, or unduly burdensome to small businesses. The office has made some progress, but they've only been able to review about 1300 regulations, with thousands more still left unreviewed.
As a small business interest, you may encounter federal regulatory hurdles on a daily basis and you've probably wondered many times what you can do about them. I know that I hear from small businesses frequently asking that very question. Through the R3 program, you can suggest to the Office of Advocacy which regulations should be reviewed and fixed through an online process. You can go to the Office of Advocacy's website (www.sba.gov/advo/r3) for more information about how you can participate.
The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2007, so please take a moment to check out the R3 website today.
Sincerely,
Scott Garrett
Member of Congress
ISSUE OF THE WEEK: CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION TODAY
Today is the 220th anniversary of the signing of our Constitution. Only three months later, on December 18th, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the Constitution and the document was well on its way to paving the way to preserving liberty for generations of Americans and to setting an example for freedom-loving people around the globe.
In honor of this historic day, I have introduced a resolution to commemorate this momentous event:
HOUSE RESOLUTION 646
Celebrating the 220th Anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America, and for other purposes.
Whereas the Constitution of the United States of America was formally signed on September 17, 1787, by thirty-nine delegates from twelve States;
Whereas the Constitution of the United State s was subsequently ratified by each of the original thirteen States;
Whereas the Constitution of the United States was drafted in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for citizens of the United States;
Whereas the liberties enjoyed by the citizens of the United State s today are rooted in this cherished document that gave birth to this Nation;
Whereas the Constitution of the United States serves as the foundation for citizens of the United State s to accomplish a level of prosperity, security, justice, and freedom unsurpassed by any other country;
Whereas the Constitution of the United State s is a model for establishing freedom in other nations;
Whereas the Members of the House of Representatives take an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United State s; and
Whereas September 17, 2007, is the 220th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United State s: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) celebrates the 220th Anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America;
(2) honors the efforts of the forty-two delegates who attended the majority of the Constitutional Convention meetings and the thirty-nine signers of the Constitution of the United State s;
(3) acknowledges the significance of the ideals established by the Constitution of the United State s, including the principle of a limited federal government with a system of checks and balances between the three branches;
(4) recognizes the Constitution of the United State s as the source responsible for our Nation's ability to withstand calamity and preserve national stability, or as Thomas Jefferson wrote: `Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution.'; and
(5) encourages the citizens of the United States of America, who have the privilege to share in the freedoms recognized in the Constitution of the United State s, to join with the House of Representatives in this historic celebration.
CONGRESSMAN SCOTT GARRETT'S OFFICE COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU:
Congressman Garrett's staff will be holding Mobile Constituent Service Hours in a number of Fifth District towns this week. The Congressman's Constituent Service Officers are trained to act as your liaisons with Federal agencies. But, it's not always easy to make it out to one of the Congressman's district offices - in Paramus and Newton - to meet with one of them, especially when you are dealing with government red tape. These Mobile Constituent Service Hours sessions bring the Congressman's office to you. So, if you are having trouble with a Federal program, such as Medicare, veterans benefits, Social Security, or more, please feel free to come by. And, please bring copies of any relevant paperwork with you to facilitate their work.
Tuesday, September 18th
Blairstown
10:00 am to noon
Municipal Building, 106 Route 94
Tuesday, September 18th
Hillsdale
10:00 am to noon
Borough Hall, 380 Hillsdale Avenue
Tuesday, September 18th
Westwood
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Borough Hall, 101 Washington Avenue
Wednesday, September 19th
Sandyston
10:00 am to noon
Town Hall, 133 Route 645
Wednesday, September 19th
Allendale
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Borough Hall, 500 W. Crescent Avenue
Thursday, September 20th
Bloomingdale
10:00 am to noon
Council Chambers, 101 Hamburg Pike
Thursday, September 20th
Dumont
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Borough Hall, 50 Washington Avenue
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