The Small Business Jobs Bill: Returning Floridians to Work
Florida, maybe more than any other state, relies on the health of its small businesses. We are the fourth largest state in the country with nearly 2 million small businesses, representing millions of jobs for Florida's families.
But due to the current economic environment, many of Florida's small businesses can't grow and rehire workers because they do not have access to the capital they need to survive, let alone thrive. Businesses with perfectly sound balance sheets are frozen because small business lending is too tight or too expensive.
I am asking Congress to address this problem by cutting taxes and fees small business owners have to pay when securing credit, and by encouraging smaller, community banks to make more loans. Later this week, the Senate is likely to vote on a proposal I introduced with Senator Mary Landireu (D-LA) that will encourage community banks to work with small business owners so they have the financing they need to make the types of investments that can grow their operations, resulting in job growth. The package will also cut taxes for small business owners.
This bill is going to help those small businesses, but it is not going to cure the problem overnight. It is an important step in the right direction.
Growing Florida's Export Opportunities
Another element of the Small Business Jobs bill is export promotion. Many of Florida's jobs are tied to exports. Last week, I visited Electric Supply, Inc. in Tampa. This family-owned company has not made a single layoff, despite our poor economy. This is owed in large part to their exports to Latin America and the Caribbean. The more Florida companies that broaden their business to include exports, the more jobs we will keep here at home.
That is why I have asked my colleagues to include export promotions funding in the Small Business Jobs bill. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that for every dollar we invest in export promotion, fifty-seven are returned to our economy. My proposal will provide training to small businesses on how they can market and sell their goods overseas.
Finding Job and Business Opportunities
Our office is providing information for both employers and job seekers about how to access information and assistance on job and business opportunities. Click here to access our Business Resources Page. Job seekers can learn more about job fairs, workforce training, and entrepreneurial opportunities on our Job Fairs homepage.
Upcoming Events:
Workforce Connection Counties Job Fair – Thursday, August 19, 2010
WorkNet Pinellas Professional Mixer - Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Fort Lauderdale Career Fair in Partnership with the AARP -Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Senate Urges BP to "Buy Local"
More than 100 days have passed since the tragic Deepwater Horizon disaster began, claiming the lives of eleven rig workers and causing untold damage to the environment and Gulf Coast state economies. Since then, lackluster efforts at containing the oil and slow claims payments have rightly resulted in frustration of many Gulf Coast residents.
While I am thankful the wellhead has finally been capped, now is not the time for complacency. Much work remains including continuing to search for and clean up the oil we can find, determine where the rest of the oil has gone and the potential threat of dispersed oil resurfacing, and ensure speedy payment of claims for those who have lost money due to mistakes of BP and others. Click here to read my letter to Kenneth Feinberg, Administrator of BP's compensation fund.
Florida will feel the economic impact of the BP oil spill for some time. Last week, I worked with my colleagues to encourage BP to give priority consideration to local Gulf businesses when they purchase products and services related to the Gulf oil spill cleanup.
It is important for BP to work with local communities to help ease the economic and environmental impacts of the oil spill on the people of the Gulf Coast. Local businesses have been hit hard by this disaster and they are eager to help clean up the spill. By buying local, BP will be lessening the economic downturn caused by the spill. BP should look to all of the fishermen, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and other community members to assist in the ongoing cleanup effort.
Casework Corner
As your senator, one of my primary goals is to make sure Floridians are well served by Federal agencies. From time to time, I will share accounts of how our office has helped a Floridian.
Recently, an elderly constituent contacted our office after having numerous items stolen including her Medicare card during a robbery. The woman was due to travel out of state to visit relatives for an extended summer vacation and was concerned about replacing her Medicare card before leaving the state. She contacted our office for assistance to determine the correct agency to contact for a replacement Medicare card.
A caseworker from our office contacted the Social Security Administration to assist the woman in ordering a new card. Our office requested an expedited Medicare card to ensure the woman would receive it before traveling out of state and have it in the event she needed to access her medical care or her prescription drug benefit during her travels.
If you are experiencing a problem with a federal agency, please contact our Orlando Regional Office by calling (407) 254-2573 to speak with a member of the Casework Department. The toll-free number for Florida residents is (866) 630-7106. To find out more about how my office can help you, go to my website at http://lemieux.senate.gov or stop by one of our scheduled Community Office Hours in your area.
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