For Immediate Release                                                    Contact: Amanda Molk 202-225-5256
July 23, 2003

Napolitano Exposes Bush’s Failure on Small Business Agenda

Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano today joined her Democratic Small Business Committee colleagues to expose President Bush’s failure to act on any of the promises made in his small business agenda over one year ago.  “The President’s agenda identified access to government contracts, tax cuts, regulatory relief and access to health care as key small business priorities.  But all he has given small businesses is rhetoric, when they need and deserve action.  The economy in the 38^th district is largely comprised of small businesses.  The federal government must address their needs, so they can thrive and bring our economy back from this recession,” Napolitano said.

“Minority and women-owned businesses have been hit hardest by the President’s failure to act,” she continued.  “Recently, the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues held a meeting to discuss the DoD’s Joint Strike Fighter contract, which, at $200 billion, is one of the largest government contracts.  Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for this project, and is required by law to give 5% of its subcontracts to women-owned small businesses.  But to date, Lockheed Martin has only given less than one percent of its subcontracts to women-owned small businesses,” Napolitano explained.  “What’s worse, the Bush administration has done nothing to ensure that Lockheed Martin and other prime contractors meet their congressionally mandated subcontracting goals for small businesses,” the Congresswoman noted.

Federal contracting is not the only area where Napolitano wants action.  “Every small business owner I talk to in my district tells me that they need help accessing affordable health insurance for themselves, their families, their employees and their employees’ families.  I am very concerned that Latinos have the highest uninsured rate in the nation, due in part to the fact that many Latinos work for small businesses.  One of the best ways to address the tens of millions of uninsured Americans, particularly minorities, is to provide small businesses with a way to purchase affordable health insurance.  Further, we must make sure that any plan to address this issue provides small business owners and employees with high quality, comprehensive coverage,” Napolitano commented.

Napolitano and the Small Business Committee Democrats concluded by reaffirming their commitment to fighting for small business needs.

Representative Grace F. Napolitano, 38th District of California
1609 Longworth Building          Washington, DC 20515          Phone 202-225-5256          Fax 202-225-0027		11627 East Telegraph Road, #100       Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670       Phone 562-801-2134       Fax 562-949-9144
This is an official Web site of the United States House of Representatives.