<<Back to Article National Association of Government Contractors www.governmentcontractors.org NAGC Supports Higher Appropriations for SBA Assistance Programs Jul 24, 2007 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. Article URL: http://www.governmentcontractors.org/articles/a.326.asp © Copyright 2005-2008 The National Association of Government Contractors