February 6, 2002

Washington, D.C. --  A national small business advocacy organization joined a coalition of groups and Senate leaders on Capitol Hill today to call for swift passage of an energy bill that would encourage investment and upgrades in the nation's infrastructure while promoting energy efficiency and a more self-reliant path for America's future supply needs.  According to the Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC), moving quickly on comprehensive energy legislation is vital to our national security interests and U.S. economic stability.  

"Thankfully our nation's small businesses withstood many hits during this recession, however, many are in real survival mode. The problems that caused energy price spikes last winter fortunately subsided during the roughest period of the economic downturn, but these threats have not gone away.  Unanticipated increases in energy costs are particularly burdensome for small firms, and they would be especially painful this year and next. The Senate has a window of opportunity to act on this important legislation for small business, and I strongly urge them to act," stated SBSC Chairman Karen Kerrigan.

According to SBSC, many small businesses are not only experiencing revenue loss as a result of the recession, but other pressures are adding to their woes such as dramatic increases in health insurance costs.  Energy price hikes, similar to those last year, would be a crushing blow for many small firms.

"Job creation and the overall health of the small business sector depend on affordable and reliable energy.  Growing instability in the Mideast and our war against terrorism also dictate that Senate lawmakers act on energy legislation now," added Kerrigan.

SBSC is a national, nonprofit small business advocacy organization with 70,000 members nationwide.  For more information, please visit the group's website at www.sbsc.org or call (202)-785-0238.