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SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 113
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Passed Legislature - 1986 Reg.
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Senators McManus, Bailey, DeJarnatt, Garrett and Pullen
Read first time 2/6/85 and referred to Committee on Governmental Operations.
TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, Some individuals have recommended the elimination of the United States Small Business Administration; and
WHEREAS, The United States Small Business Administration was formed in 1953 to address the unique needs and concerns for small business; and
WHEREAS, Past experience has shown that without a special, independent federal agency like the United States Small Business Administration to address the unique needs and concerns of small businesses, that such unique needs and concerns have not been addressed by other federal agencies; and
WHEREAS, The United States Small Business Administration currently provides vital services to small businesses not otherwise available to small businesses; and
WHEREAS, The small business community is creating most of the new jobs in the nation's private sector economy; and
WHEREAS, Small businesses have historically created a substantial number of new innovations at a lower cost than larger businesses, and such innovations are critical to ensuring a strong national economy; and
WHEREAS, Small businesses are experiencing numerous economic disadvantages including, but not limited to, higher relative federal tax burdens, higher relative economic burdens from federal regulations, and lower relative portion of federal contracts for goods and services, all of which are seriously threatening the future of small businesses; and
WHEREAS, Data on the impacts of federal policies, proposed federal legislation, and proposed federal rules on small businesses is only available from the United States Small Business Administration, and are essential to making well-informed decisions for the good of the entire nation; and
WHEREAS, The United States Small Business Administration has already undergone over a seventy percent reduction in its budget between fiscal years 1981 through 1984;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress:
(1) Maintain the United States Small Business Administration at the same level as in fiscal year 1984;
(2) That the United States Small Business Administration continue as an independent agency; and
(3) That one of the priorities of the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business be to review and recommend what activities should be performed by the United States Small Business Administration.
BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.