Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community.  For further information on the hearings in question please contact the relevant congressional committee.

HEARING AND MARKUP SCHEDULE

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
9:30 am    Markup
Senate Finance Committee markup of S.___. America’s Healthy Futures Act of 2009, draft comprehensive health care reform legislation
Where:        216 Hart
Webcast:     http://finance.senate.gov/

9:30 am    Hearing
Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Children’s Health hearing on “Promoting and Improving Children’s Health Protections”
Where:        406 Dirksen

10:00 am  Hearing
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight hearing to assess problems with existing federal databases containing information on government contracting.  The session will focus on the goals of the government’s plan to streamline and improve the systems and the General Services Administration  plan to award a contract for a new platform.
Witnesses:   William Woods, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management Team, Government Accountability Office; Adam Hughes, Director, Federal Fiscal Policy, OMB Watch; A.R. Trey Hodgkins III, Vice President, National Security and Procurement Policy, TechAmerica; Vivek Kundra, Administrator, Office of Electronic Government and Information Technology, Office of Management and Budget
Where:        342 Dirksen
Webcast:     http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/

10:00 am  Hearing
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing on “Strengthening and Streamlining Prudential Bank Supervision”
Witnesses:   Hon. Eugene A. Ludwig, Chief Executive Officer, Promontory Financial Group; Hon. Martin N. Baily, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution; Hon. Richard S. Carnell, Associate Professor, Fordham University School of Law; Richard Hillman, Managing Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, GAO
Where:        538 Dirksen
Webcast:     http://banking.senate.gov/public/

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

9:30 am    Markup
Senate Finance Committee markup of S.___. America’s Healthy Futures Act of 2009, draft comprehensive health care reform legislation
Where:        216 Hart
Webcast:     http://finance.senate.gov/

9:30 am    Hearing
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs contracts for health services
Where:        418  Russell
Webcast:     http://veterans.senate.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing
House Small Business Committee hearing on “Expiring Tax Incentives: Examining Their Importance for Small Businesses on the Road to an Economic Recovery”
Where:        2360 Rayburn
Webcast:     http://www.house.gov/smbiz/

10:00 am  Hearing
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on “Credit Rating Agencies and the Next Financial Crisis”
Where:        2154 Rayburn
Webcast:     http://oversight.house.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing
House Financial Services Committee hearing on financial regulatory overhaul:  “Perspectives on the Consumer Financial Protection Agency”
Draft Bill:   H.R. ____, ‘‘Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009,’’ http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/discussion_draft_of_cfpa_bill_092509.pdf
Where:        2128 Rayburn
Webcast:     http://financialservices.house.gov/

11:00 am  Hearing
Senate Special Aging Committee hearing on how successful health systems keep costs low and quality high
Where:        106 Dirksen
Webcast:     http://aging.senate.gov/

2:00 pm    Hearing
House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection hearing on the recent cessation of operations by providers of the Registered Traveler Program and the impact on airports
Where:        311 Cannon
Webcast:     http://hsc.house.gov/

2:00 pm    Hearing
House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises hearing on financial regulatory overhaul relating to credit rating agencies
Where:        2128 Rayburn
Webcast:     http://financialservices.house.gov/

2:30 pm    Hearing
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance hearing on international cooperation to revise financial regulation
Witnesses:   Kathleen L. Casey, Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission; Mark Sobel, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs; Hon. Daniel Tarullo, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Where:        538 Dirksen
Webcast:     http://banking.senate.gov/public/
Thursday, October 1, 2009

TBA          Hearing
Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing on the reauthorization of the finance programs of the Small Business Administration and on the impact of the small business provision in the Economic Recovery Act
Where:        485 Russell
Webcast:     http://sbc.senate.gov/public/

9:00 am    Hearing
House Financial Services Committee hearing on financial regulatory overhaul:  “Federal Reserve Perspectives on the Financial Regulatory Overhaul”
Witness:      Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System
Where:        2128 Rayburn
Webcast:     http://financialservices.house.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing
House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the funding levels of defined benefit pension plans and the rules that apply to investment advice that is provided to participants in defined contribution plans.  For more background on the hearing, go to:  http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=8063.
Where:        1100 Longworth
Webcast:     http://waysandmeans.house.gov/

Workplace Preparedness: How Small Businesses Can Prepare for H1N1 Influenza

A presentation sponsored by the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs of the Office of Small Business Assistance, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

September 30, 2009, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

U.S. Department of Labor, FPB Auditorium

Panel Discussion Featuring:
Dr. Rosemary Sokas, Director
OSHA Office of Occupational Medicine

Tina Jones, Director
OSHA Office of Science and Technology Assessment

Kenneth Schoultz, Regional Industrial Hygienist
Virginia Department of Health, Emergency Response & Preparedness Programs

Rachel Abbey, Program Manager
Montgomery County Maryland Advanced Practice Center
Department of Health and Human Services

Jeff Allende, Vice President of Human Resources
Richmond Cold Storage

Session Overview:
• The panel will examine the latest guidance on workplace preparedness for H1N1(swine flu). Work practice and engineering controls will be explored.
• Local health department representatives will address the impact of H1N1 in their communities and discuss their planning efforts.
• Participants will receive tools, resources and strategies for reducing the risk of exposure to pandemic influenza (H1N1) in the workplace.

RSVP with Russell Jones  (jones.russell@dol.gov; (202) 693-2532) or Charlene Crawford (crawford.charlene@dol.gov; (202) 693-2165).

Earlier this year, employers who are retirement plan administrators received relief from the minimum distribution requirements for 2009. The law generally requires an employer’s pension plan to make a distribution to a plan participant the year the participant reaches age 70½.  The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008  waived the required minimum distributions for 2009 for certain retirement plans.

The Internal Revenue Service has just issued guidance Notice 2009-82 , implementing this provision. Notice 2009-82 provides two sample plan amendments that plan sponsors may adopt or use to amend their plans to either stop or continue 2009 required minimum distributions. Also, both sample amendments allow the employer to offer direct rollover options of certain 2009 required minimum distributions.

—Dillon Taylor, Assistant Chief Cousel

Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community.  For further information on the hearings in question please contact the relevant congressional committee.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Senate Finance Committee markup of its version of draft comprehensive health care revision legislation.

Webcast:   http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearings.htm

Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee roundtable discussion on “Small Business Contracting: Ensuring Opportunities for America’s Small Businesses”

Webcast:  http://sbc.senate.gov/public/

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

9:30 am    Hearing

House Financial Services Committee hearings on the Administration’s Proposals for Financial Regulatory Reform

Witness:      Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury

Where:        2128 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://financialservices.house.gov/

10:00 am  Markup

House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider a motion to instruct the chairman to transmit to the Committee on Rules additional recommended amendments for consideration in connection with H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

Where:        2123 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://energycommerce.house.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Education and Labor Committee hearing on pending legislation, H.R. 3017, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009

Where:        2175 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://edlabor.house.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation hearing on “the Federal Aviation Administration’s Call to Action on Airline Safety and Pilot Training”

Witnesses:   Randolph Babbitt, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; John Michael Loftus, families of Continental Connection Flight 3407; Capt. John Prater, President, Air Line Pilots Association, International; Roger Cohen, President, Regional Airline Association; James C. May, President and CEO, Air Transport Association; Tim Brady, past President, Aviation Accreditation Board International, University Aviation Association, and dean, School of Technology, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Jeffrey Skiles, Vice President, Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations

Where:        2167 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://transportation.house.gov/

1:00 pm    Hearing

House Small Business Committee hearing on “The Impact of Financial Regulatory Restructuring on Small Businesses and Community Lenders”

Witnesses:   Panel 1:  Robert R. Harris, Managing Director, Harris, Cotherman, Jones, Price and Associates, Vero Beach, Fla., and vice chairman, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Trevor Loy, General Partner, FlyWheel Ventures, Santa Fe, N.M., representing National Venture Capital Association; David T. Hirschmann, President and CEO, Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Mike Anderson, Essential Mortgage Co., Baton Rouge, La., representing National Association of Mortgage Brokers; J. Douglas Robinson, Chairman and CEO, Utica National Insurance Group, New Hartford, N.Y., representing Property Casualty Insurers Association of America ;

Panel 2:  Austin Roberts, CEO, Bank of Lancaster, Kilmarnock, Va., representing American Bankers Association; James D. MacPhee, CEO, Kalamazoo County State Bank, Schoolcraft, Mich., representing Independent Community Bankers of America; Bill Hampel, Senior Vice President for Research and Policy Analysis and Chief Economist, Credit Union National Association; Dawn Donovan, CEO, Price Chopper Employees Federal Credit Union, Schenectady, N.Y., representing National Association of Federal Credit Unions; John Moloney, President and CEO, Moloney Securities Co. Inc, Manchester, Mo., representing Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association

Where:        2360 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://www.house.gov/smbiz/

2:00 pm    Hearing

House Financial Services Committee hearings on Federal Regulators Perspectives on Financial Regulatory Overhaul

Witnesses:   Sheila C. Bair, Chairwoman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; John C. Dugan, Comptroller of the Currency; John E. Bowman, Acting Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Joseph A. Smith Jr., Commissioner of Banks, State of North Carolina, representing Conference of State Bank Supervisors

Where:        2128 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://financialservices.house.gov/

Thursday, September 24, 2009

9:30 am    Hearing

Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee oversight hearing on “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act: One Year Later”

Where:        538 Dirksen

Webcast:     http://banking.senate.gov/public/

10:00 am  Hearing

Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing on “Minority Entrepreneurship: Evaluating Small Business Resources and Programs”

Where:        485 Russell

Webcast:     http://sbc.senate.gov/public/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on “Credit Rating Agencies and the Next Financial Crisis”

Where:        2154 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://oversight.house.gov/

1:00 pm    Hearing

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing on pending legislation concerning veterans’ employment, small business, education, benefits and rights bills

Where:        334 Cannon

Webcast:     http://veterans.house.gov/

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano joined Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen Mills and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza Division Deputy Director Daniel Jernigan to announce a preparedness guide to assist small businesses in planning for the H1N1 flu on September 14.

 “Small businesses play an essential role in our national effort to prepare for all disasters and emergencies—including the H1N1 flu,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This guide will help America’s small businesses maintain continuity of operations and resiliency as the fall flu season approaches.”

 “Small Business owners should take the time to create a plan, talk with their employees and make sure they are prepared for flu season,” added Administrator Mills. “For countless small businesses, having even one or two employees out for a few days has the potential to negatively impact operations and their bottom line. A thoughtful plan will help keep employees and their families healthy, as well as protect small businesses and local economies.”

 Outbreaks of H1N1 flu are occurring now across the country and will likely coincide with the return of seasonal flu this fall and winter. The preparedness guide offers small business employers tools and information to help them plan for and respond flexibly to varying levels of severity of an H1N1 outbreak—which may lead to increased absenteeism, and, if the outbreak becomes more severe, may include restricted service capabilities and supply chain disruptions. Additional preparations may be necessary if a more serious outbreak evolves during the fall and winter.

 Employers are encouraged to put strategies in place now to protect their employees and their businesses in advance of the fall flu season. Included in the preparedness guide are tips on how to write a continuity of operations plan, steps for keeping employees healthy, frequently asked questions about the 2009 H1N1 flu and a list of additional resources that employers can access online. 

For more information and to view the preparedness guide, visit www.flu.gov.

Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community.  For further information on the hearings in question please contact the relevant congressional committee.

Tuesday, September 15. 2009

1:00 pm    Hearing

House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on preparing for the 2009 pandemic flu season

Witness:      Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Where:        2123 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://energycommerce.house.gov/

2:30 pm    Hearing

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on how the greenhouse gas trading program might affect costs and price volatility in the energy sector

                 Where:        366 Dirksen

                 Webcast:     http://energy.senate.gov/public/

2:30 pm    Hearing

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security hearing on aviation safety, the Hudson River Collision and air operations safety in congested space

                 Witneses:    Christopher Hart, National Transportation Safety Board; Rick Day, Operations, Federal Aviation Administration; James Coyne, National Air Transportation Association; Edward Kragh, certified professional controller, Newark Tower (represents National Air Traffic Controllers Association on the FAA New York Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Airspace Task Force )

                 Where:        253 Russell

                 Webcast:     http://commerce.senate.gov/public/

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

TBA         Nominations Vote

Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee vote on the nominations of Winslow Lorenzo Sargeant to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration (SBA); and Peggy E. Gustafson to be Inspector General, SBA

                 Where:        428A Russell

                 Webcast:     http://sbc.senate.gov/public/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade hearing on “The Economic Impact of Auto Dealer Closings on Rural Communities”

Where:        2360  Rayburn

Webcast:     http://www.house.gov/smbiz/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation hearing on “The Hudson River Airspace and Management of Uncontrolled Airspace Corridors”

Where:        2167 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://transportation.house.gov/

Thursday, September 17, 2009

8:00 am    Hearing

House Armed Services Defense Acquisition Reform Panel hearing on “The Department of Defense and Industry: Does DOD Effectively Manage its Industrial Base and Match its Acquisition Strategies to the Marketplace?”

Witnesses:   Stan Soloway, Professional Services Council; Richard K. Sylvester, Acquisition Policy, Aerospace Industries Association; Robin “Pug” Gutridge, Cherokee Information Services, and Chairman, TechAmerica; David Madland, American Worker Project, Center for American Progress

Where:        2237 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://armedservices.house.gov/

1:30 pm    Hearing

House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management hearing on “Doing Business With the Government: The Record and Goals For Small, Minority and Disadvantaged Businesses”

Where:        2167 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://transportation.house.gov/

2:30 pm    Hearing

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery hearing to assess problems with existing federal databases that contain information on government contracting. The session will focus on the goals of the government’s plan to streamline and improve the systems and the General Services Administration’s plan to award a contract for a new platform for integrating contract-related information.  Subcommittee chairwoman Mary Landrieu to preside.

                 Where:        342 Dirksen

                 Webcast:     http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

TBA         Markup

House Financial Services Committee mark up of H.R. 3126, Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009, legislation that would create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency

Where:        2128 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://financialservices.house.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Education and Labor Committee hearing on pending legislation, H.R. 3017, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009

Where:        2175 Rayburn

Webcast:         http://edlabor.house.gov/

            Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community.  For further information on the hearings in question please contact the relevant congressional committee.

Wednesday, September 9. 2009

10:00 am  Hearing

House Natural Resources Committee Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee hearing on H.R.2227, “The American Conservation and Clean Energy Independence Act”

Where:        1334 Longworth

Webcast:     http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties hearing on the reauthorization of certain sections of the USA Patriot Act (PL 107-56)

                 Bill:             H.R. ___, USA Patriot Act Reauthorization

                 Where:        2141 Rayburn

                 Webcast:     http://judiciary.house.gov/

1:00 pm    Hearing

House Small Business Committee hearing on The Challenges of the 2009-H1N1 Influenza and its Potential Impact on Small Businesses and Healthcare Providers”

Where:        2360 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://www.house.gov/smbiz/

Thursday, September 10, 2009

10:00 am  Hearing

House Transportation and Infrastructure hearing on hazardous materials safety in the United States, focusing on how well the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is doing in regulating hazardous materials

Where:        2167 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://transportation.house.gov/

10:00 am  Hearing

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet hearing on broadband provisions in the economic stimulus law (Public Law 111-5)

Where:        2123 Rayburn

Webcast:     http://energycommerce.house.gov/        

10:00 am  Hearing

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection oversight hearing on the Consumer Product Safety Commission

                 Where:        2322 Rayburn

                 Webcast:     http://energycommerce.house.gov/        

10:00 am  Hearing

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on stimulus spending, transparency and fraud prevention

Witnesses:   Robert L. Nabors II, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget; Jon D. Leibowitz, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission; Earl E. Devaney,  Chairman, Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board; J. Christopher Mihm, Managing Director, Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office

Where:        342 Dirksen

Webcast:     http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/

Friday, September 11, 2009

10:00 am  Hearing

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing on pending legislation

Bills:            H.R. 3258, Drinking Water System Security Act of 2009

                    H.R. 2868, Chemical Facility Antiterrorism Act of 2009

Where: http://energycommerce.house.gov/