Office of Advocacy What's New http://www.sba.gov/advo/ Advocacy Comment Describes Small Business Concerns About EPA’s Plan to Regulate Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/epa08_1128.html On November 28, 2008, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discussing Advocacy’s concerns with EPA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), “Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions under the Clean Air Act.” Advocacy Recommends that CBP/Treasury Assess Costs and Impact of Uniform Rules of Origin for Imported Merchandise http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/cbp08_1201.html On December 1, 2008, the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA’s) Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted comments to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of the Treasury on their Proposed Uniform Rules of Origin for Imported Merchandise Rule. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes 25 million acres of Critical Habitat for the Canada Lynx http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/fws08_1120.html On November 20, 2008, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed comments with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regarding its proposal to designate 25 million acres of Critical Habitat for the Canada lynx. Small Business Continues To Nominate Federal Rules In Need Of Review And Reform http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-35.html Small business continues to nominate federal rules in need of review and reform as the December 31 deadline approaches. EPA Reform Of SPCC Rule Benefits Small Business http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-34.html The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent actions reforming the Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule contains provisions that will benefit small business. The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration is encouraged that the EPA listened to small business and included those provisions in the reformed rule. Regulatory Alert - SEC Proposes Roadmap Toward Global Accounting Standards http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/law_regalerts.html#gen On November 14, 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a proposed roadmap for the potential use of financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The proposed roadmap sets forth several milestones that, if achieved, could lead to the required use of the IFRS by US issuers in 2014 if the SEC believes it in the public interest. IFRS does not allow for the use of the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method of accounting for inventory. Public comment on the SEC's proposed roadmap should be received by the SEC on or before February 19, 2009. National Park Service Proposes New Limits on Snowmobile Entry into Yellowstone National Park http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/nps08_1113.html On November 13, 2008, the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) filed comments with the National Park Service regarding its proposed rule on winter visitation and recreational snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park. An Analysis of Small Business Patents by Industry and Firm Size http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs335tot.pdf Small businesses are the innovators of the American economy as they obtain many more patents per employee than larger firms, according to a study, An Analysis of Small Business Patents by Industry and Firm Size, released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small Businesses Are America’s Innovators http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-33.html Small businesses are the innovators of the American economy as they obtain many more patents per employee than larger firms, according to a study, An Analysis of Small Business Patents by Industry and Firm Size, released today by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Estimating the Contribution of Immigrant Business Owners to the U.S. Economy http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs334tot.pdf Immigrant-owned businesses generate approximately 11.6 percent of all business income in the United States. Moreover, immigrants own 11.2 percent of businesses with $100,000 or more in sales and 10.8 percent of all businesses with employees. These figures are contained in a report, Estimating the Contribution of Immigrant Business Owners to the U.S. Economy, released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Immigrant-Owned Businesses Contribution To The Economy Detailed In New Report http://www.sba.gov/advo/press/08-32.html Immigrant-owned businesses generate approximately 11.6 percent of all business income in the United States. Moreover, immigrants own 11.2 percent of businesses with $100,000 or more in sales and 10.8 percent of all businesses with employees. These figures are contained in a report, Estimating the Contribution of Immigrant Business Owners to the U.S. Economy, released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/sbqei0803.pdf The U.S. economy experienced weaknesses in the third quarter, as real gross domestic product fell 0.3 percent. This and other economic trends are discussed in the third quarter update to the Quarterly Indicators: The Economy and Small Business. Advocacy Recommends That DHS Adopt Small-Business Friendly Approach to “No-Match” Rule http://www.sba.gov/advo/laws/comments/dhs08_0425.html On April 25, 2008, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on DHS' Supplemental Proposed Rule on Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter (“No-Match” rule). Advocacy’s letter recommends that DHS consider alternatives that will reduce the costs and impacts of the rule on small entities.