NAGC Supports Higher Appropriations for SBA Assistance Programs

Washington, D.C. -- The National Association of Government Contractors (NAGC) is supporting higher funding for Small Business Administration programs in the financial services appropriations bill.

"Countless businesses rely on these programs to get their foot in the government's door." said J.R. Claeys, President of NAGC. "We need these programs to keep the government procurement process open and competitive. When it is, we all win with lower prices and better services."

The new financial services appropriation bill, which includes funding the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the General Services Administration (GSA), has cleared the House and is poised to go before the full Senate for a vote.

On June 12, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the financial services appropriations bill, which recommends $567.5 million for the SBA. While this is $104 million above the President’s budget request, it is $4.41 million below the FY 2007 enacted level.

Prior to the Senate’s action, the full House approved its conference report for the bill, which included a total of $582.5 million for SBA programs and administration, which is $119 million above the President’s budget request and $10.6 million above the FY 2007 enacted level.

The funding levels for many of SBA’s of the business assistance programs utilized by small businesses and government contractors are included below:

Non-credit business assistance programs
[In thousands of dollars]

	Senate Committee	House Committee
Small Business Development Centers	97,120	100,000
Drug-free Workplace Grants	990	990
SCORE	4,950	5,000
Women's Business Centers	16,880	13,000
Women's Council	743	743
Microloan Technical Assistance	15,000	14,500
Veteran's Business Development Assistance	743	743
PRIME	3,000	3,000
Native American Outreach	1,000	1,000
7(j) Technical Assistance	2,300	2,300
HUBZone	2,100	2,100
TotalNon-credit Business Assistance Programs	144,826	143,376

As the Senate prepares to consider the Financial Services bill in the coming weeks, NAGC members are being encouraged to contact legislators and encourage the Senate (and subsequent conference committee) to fund SBA and the business assistance programs at the higher of the proposed funding recommendations.

About NAGC: The National Association of Government Contractors (NAGC) is the home of America's procurement professionals. Thousands of business owners and executives working with government agencies, universities and private corporations trust NAGC as a professional resource for their procurement needs.