NSBA Unveils 2010 Small Business Stars
NSBA recently announced the 2010 Small Business Stars, 10 of the most influential, small-business friendly members of Congress, their staff, members of the Administration and the media. The awardees exemplified the kind of leadership small business needs and deserves.
While each of the Stars have made a significant contribution, two stand out as the most tireless, committed individuals advocating for the small-business community: The Chair and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
Senator Mary Landrieu
Having only assumed the chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee last year, Sen. Mary Landrieu quickly has established herself as a strong and vocal advocate for America’s small businesses. Whether fighting for the inclusion of small business in credit-card reform, eliminating the self-employment tax on health insurance, urging increased lending through SBA or standing firm against efforts to allow businesses majority owned by large venture capital (VC) firms unlimited access to the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program, Landrieu has shown us that perhaps bipartisanship for the good of the cause isn’t dead just yet.
Senator Olympia Snowe
In her continued leadership role with the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Sen. Olympia Snowe’s collaborative efforts with Landrieu, and her predecessor, Sen. John Kerry have been instrumental in many key pieces of legislation. Her drive to keep health care reform affordable, provide an easier path for small-business retirement savings through SIMPLE cafeteria plans, and myriad other bills to strengthen the state of small businesses in the U.S. has earned her a reputation for getting the job done and being a tireless advocate for small business.
Since 1937, NSBA has advocated on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs. A staunchly nonpartisan organization, NSBA reaches more than 150,000 small businesses nationwide and is proud to be the nation’s first small-business advocacy organization.
For more information, visit nsba.biz.