Welcome

About SBCRR

The Small Business Coalition for Regulatory Relief (SBCRR) is a coalition made up of small businesses and supporting organizations that are interested in federal regulatory developments.  SBCRR provides coalition members with regular updates on regulatory proposals and opportunities for small business to provide input that can positively impact final agency decisions.

About Us

Tom Sullivan, an attorney with the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP runs the Small Business Coalition for Regulatory Relief (SBCRR).  Tom's work in regulatory policy started in 1994 when he worked in EPA's Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations.  Tom left government to join the National Federation of Independent Business as their first Regulatory Policy Counsel.  Tom helped launch NFIB's Small Business Legal Center before being asked by President George Bush to head the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration.  As Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Tom testified before Congress more than 30 times and was involved in more than 100 regulatory and legislative matters.

Wake-up call on how regulation impacts small business

The Travelers Institute has launched a small business advocacy project designed to identify regulatory barriers that challenge economic growth.  The public policy division of Travelers wants to raise awareness of the importance of small business to the U.S. economy and to promote an atmosphere that facilitates small business success.  In addition to hosting small business roundtables across the country, Travelers published this white paper that shows how regulations impact small business.  The project will stimulate discussion at local, state, and federal levels on how to improve the regulatory climate for entrepreneurial growth.  For more on the Travelers Institute, visit www.travelers.com/about-us/travelers-institute.

Click here to access the white paper

Every Day is Earth Day for Small Business
by Tom Sullivan

Earth Day will be celebrated this weekend and throughout next week, which makes this a good time to recognize how small business owners protect the environment all year long.

Right now, we are counting on the power of small business as job creators to lift America’s economy.  One particular small business sector is expected to do some heavy lifting this year: home remodeling. 

Click here to read full article

House Committee to hold hearing on RFA: Tom Sullivan to testify

Today, the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law will hold a hearing on amending the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Testimony that will be presented by Tom Sullivan is supportive of legislation to improve the Regulatory Flexibility Act so that small business can benefit from regulatory relief.

Click here read the testimony:

Recent Articles by Tom Sullivan

Senate Can Help Entrepreneurs by Voting to Confirm the Small Business Advocate
October 12, 2011

There is no shortage of options Washington is considering to help small business these days. This week, the American Jobs Act started its legislative journey when the Senate began consideration of the measure. Also this week, the President’s jobs council released its recommendations to help the economy. Options like the President’s jobs bill carry a $447 billion price tag and many of the recommendations from the jobs council will take several months to implement. One thing Congress can do right away, without a large price tag, is to confirm Dr. Winslow Sargeant as Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee votes on the Chief Counsel’s nomination on Tuesday and hopefully the full Senate will take up Dr. Sargeant’s nomination shortly thereafter. Click here to continue reading.

White House Adopts Small Business Crusade Against Over-Burdensome Regulation
January 19, 2011

Yesterday, President Obama issued an Executive Order and two Memorandums designed to remove regulatory barriers that stifle economic growth.  The announcement came as welcome news for small businesses that are disproportionately impacted by federal mandates.

The total cost of complying with federal regulations is over $1.75 trillion.  Small firms shoulder a 36 percent higher cost to comply with those regulations than their larger business counterparts.  The per employee cost of compliance for firms with under 20 employees is more than the price of a new car (federal regulations cost $10,585 per employee per year and the price of a 2010 Nissan Versa is $9,990). Click here to continue reading.

Small Business, Their Watchdog, and a New Congress
November 9, 2010

Small business is a hot topic in Washington.  In September, Congress created a $30 billion small business lending program intended to jump-start business expansion.  Republicans and Democrats then left Washington and campaigned on how their respective approaches would help small business.  Finally, 80% of the pro small business candidates endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) won their elections.

While candidates were telling voters how they would fight for small business, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was already engaged in battle.  Dr. Winslow Sargeant’s first 3-months as the federal government’s small business watchdog tells a story that the new Congress will certainly want to hear. Click here to continue reading.

Do as I do, Not as I Say!?
September 22, 2010

Friday’s action by President Obama to appoint Elizabeth Warren as his assistant in the White House and as an advisor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was extraordinary for several reasons, not the least of which was the 180 degrees reversal from positions by congressional leadership and the President since Wall Street reform became a legislative hot-button issue fifteen months ago.

When the President launched his push for financial re-regulation, he made creation of a new agency, charged with protecting consumers from harmful financial products and services, the cornerstone of his legislative initiative.  Paramount to the future success of this new agency, according to President Obama, was its absolute independence from political influence. Click here to continue reading. 

Small Business - Small Office - Big Problem
August 20, 2010  

Yesterday President Obama announced the recess appointment for a little-known position, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Winslow Sargeant will be travelling from Madison, Wisconsin to Washington, DC to assume the role.

What is truly amazing about this appointment has less to do with the controversy of a non-lawyer appointed as Chief Counsel and more to do with the Office of Advocacy's unique role in government and its grave responsibility to fight for the little guy. Click here to continue reading. 

To read more articles by Tom Sullivan, please visit AmericanSpeakOn.org

Read our latest newsletter


May 26, 2011, Edition of Latest Small Business Regulatory Roundup

Featured Article

For Small Businesses, Recession Isn't Over
July 6, 2011
Wall Street Journal reports on the continued recession for small business
Click here to read the full article

GOP says meny labeling rules hurt small businesses
June 14, 2011
Small businesses urged to comment to FDA on calorie labeling rule that will impact small restaurants
Click here to read the full article

Other Relevant Articles

EPA Rejects Additional Lead-Paint Rule
July 18, 2011
Small business convinces EPA to scale back final regulation
Click here to read the full article

Repeal withholding of small-business payments
OpEd by House Small Business Committee Chairman- calling for repeal of 3% withholding tax on small business
Click here to read the full article

National Small Business Week is Here!
May 16, 2011
White House releases small business agenda - highlights Office of Advocacy's efforts to reduce red tape
Click here to read the full article

The Great Regulation Rush
May/ June 2011
Will farmers survive a regulatory flood coming from Washington? Article in NFIB's magazine, My Business
Click here to read the full article

What's keeping small businesses up at night
May 8, 2011
Tom Sullivan comments on small business in the Washington Post
Click here to read the full article

Advocacy leader: We represent small business, not administration
April 8, 2011
Biz Journals interview with Chief Small Business Advocate, Winslow Sargeant – fighting for small business
Click here to read full article

Help Wanted: Tax-Compliance Gurus
March 29, 2011
Taxes a headache for small businesses
Click here to read the full article

Time to tackle regulatory reform
March 17, 2011
Regulatory Reform is hot topic in Washington small business
Click here to read the full article

Jobs, Regulations and Broken Windows
March 8, 2011
Regulations DO NOT CREATE JOBS- read Heritage article
Click here to read the full article

Senate votes to repeal 1099 provision
February 2, 2011
Reforming the Reform: Senate Backs 1099 Repeal
Click here to read full article

NFIB’s statement on Florida court’s decision to strike down health care law
January 31, 2011
Judge Vinson Rules Healthcare Law Unconstitutional
Click here to read NFIB News Release

OSHA tries to get at ergonomics through different rules
January 31, 2011
Regulators, industry at odds on repetitive-motion injuries
Click here to read full article 

Small business reacts to State of the Union – Wall Street Journal
January 27, 2011
Small-Business Groups: Obama Speech Was Skimpy
Click here to read full article  

Small business priorities in the State of the Union speech
January 26, 2011
Obama looks to business to help U.S. win global contest
Click here to read the full article

Small business groups push for regulatory reform
January 25, 2011
Rewriting Regulation? Small Businesses Have Suggestions
Click here to read the full article

Obama Makes Nice Over Regs
By Kent Hoover
Jan. 18, 2011
Reaction to President Obama's regulatory relief initiative
Click here to read full article

Toward a 21st-Century Regulatory System
January 18, 2011
President orders regulatory relief for small business
Click here to read the full article

The Congressional Accountability Act
January 14, 2011
Wall Street Journal supports legislation to make Congress accountable for how regulatory mandates impact small business
Click here to read the full article

Wall Street Journal summarizes key tax changes for 2011
Jan. 8, 2011
Tax Changes For 2011: A Checklist
Click here to read full article

Senator Warner proposes small business regulatory relief
By Mark R. Warner
Monday, December 13, 2010
To revive the economy, pull back the red tape
Click here to read full article

Portfolio.com provides a business-perspective on the new House Chairmen for next Congress
By Kent Hoover
December 8, 2010
Meet the New Bosses
Click here to read full article

Small Business calls for regulatory repeal hidden in new health care law
By Kent Hoover
December 6, 2010
Senate fails to repeal 1099 reporting requirement
Click here to read full article

Smaller Firms Still Hesitant to Hire
By Sarah E. Needleman
December 2, 2010
Wall Street Journal looks at slow hiring in the small business sector
Click here to read full article

SBA Advocate Backs '1099' Repeal
By Kent Hoover
November 18, 2010
SBA endorses repeal of rule under the new health care law
Click here to read full article

Chamber takes on Obama Administration's regulatory agenda
By Michael D. Shear
November 17, 2010
Click here to read full article 

The Federal Coach: Karen G. Mills, administrator of Small Business Administration
November 5, 2010
Washington Post interview with SBA Administrator Karen Mills
Click here to read the full article

Wounded vets trade boots for business suits
By Laura Petrecca
USA Today article on veterans entering the small business world and training programs to help
Click here to read the full article

Regulatory costs are twice what IRS collects in taxes -- Study shows the hidden tax of regulation
By James Gattuso, Diane Katz and Stephen Keen, Forbes
October 29, 2010
Click here to read the full article

Senator Susan Collins on repealing small business paperwork nightmare
By Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Fosters.com
October 28, 2010
Click here to read full article

Click here for archived articles.

About Small Business

What is a small business? How important are small businesses to the U.S. economy? How do regulations affect small firms? For answers to these questions and more, download the Frequently Asked Question information from The SBA's Office of Advocacy. The PDF file is available here.

Contact
Tom Sullivan
202.545.2909
tom.sullivan@nelsonmullins.com

Printable Version