The power is ours: Women Business Owners make the difference in legislation that affects our businesses.

It's clear to legislators in Austin and Washington, D.C: when women business owners speak, they must listen. They know we control the destiny of business and their paychecks. We are seizing on the opportunity to make the difference in legislation that affects our businesses.

Women's issues are increasingly important to our state and national government. We have become the most powerful swing vote in our nation's history. We are strengthening voices—and our sphere of influence—in the legislative process with each passing day.

NAWBO is a strong partner with Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). This strategic bond amplifies our voices as women and as business owners. The success we've achieved speaks volumes to the power of the women's vote and NAWBO members.

WIPP is a national, bi-partisan public policy organization representing more than 505,000 women in business and women business owners. WIPP does not represent any specific party; rather a committee, through surveys, reviews options and alternatives that impact our businesses.

Some of the critical policies that are currently being discussed:

• Access to Affordable Health Care - Affordable health care continues to be a priority for Americans. Many Members of Congress are trying to devise solutions to the health care problem, including enabling small businesses to provide affordable and quality health care for their employees.

• Procurement - More support is needed for the implementation of the 5% federal procurement goal for women-owned small businesses and restricting the competition (set-aside) program for women-owned businesses authorized by Congress in 2000. Federal agencies are woefully behind on meeting the quota requirement. This is something that is changing through joint efforts by NAWBO and WIPP.

• Taxation on Small Businesses - We are working to improve and simplify the taxation system that affects small businesses. Despite our role as economic powerhouses, the tax code includes provisions that detract from the ability of smaller businesses to compete in the marketplace.

• Social Security - Social Security is a common topic in our headlines. We want to be a key player in finding a solution to provide appropriate retirement solutions for small business owners, their employees, and families. Your NAWBO D/FW Public Policy Committee is working with Congressman Pete Sessions and Congresswoman Kay Granger to develop, introduce, and support legislation that provides a financially sound plan to preserve Social Security.

We, as Women Business Owners, have the ability to break through political party lines to get things done at both state and national levels. One opportunity is through the NAWBO D/FW Public Policy Committee, which has been appointed to the following initiatives for 2005 - 2006:

• Pete Sessions' Leaders Forum on Health Care Issues
• Pete Sessions' Women's Forum on Social Security Reform - where we will work on a realistic solution for all age groups
• Kay Granger's new Women's Leaders Forum on issues impacting women business owners

Let's STAY INFORMED and GET INVOLVED—with every step we take on this path, we'll be achieving success for our businesses and for those entrepreneurs just beginning their dream.

If you are interested in these projects or you wish to learn more about Public Policy issues, please contact the NAWBO D/FW VP of Public Policy.

NAWBO Supports SBA 7A

Many of NAWBO's most successful members were the recipients of an SBA loan when starting their business. It is a shame that this vital business tool has been cut back so dramatically for 2004. We urge you to take a few minutes and send a letter to your representative in Congress to support the re-appropriation of the SBA 7a Loan. Please note the sample letter link below. Feel free to personalize it with your own experience with the SBA 7a or opinions on the need for strong small business start-ups in order to pull our economy out of a recession. Our voices matter. Make sure yours is heard.

Download letter now.

Vote For Business
www.voteforbusiness.com
NAWBO National has entered into a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to put all of the tools of the election process at your fingertips. Together, they have created a Web site that provides NAWBO members and their employees with instant access to specific voter information. The site will allow NAWBO members and their employees to register to vote, find their polling place, obtain information on candidates running in Federal and state elections, and request absentee ballots.