October 10, 2001

Washington, D.C.  - In an open letter sent to every member of the House and Senate today, a group of small business leaders urged the U.S. Congress to quickly move forward on advancing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the president.  Signed by small business advocates representing general small business interests, women business owners, African American owned-firms, small technology companies, and small business exporters among others, the leaders dispel the notion that trade is only the domain of big corporations while noting the importance of small business leaders as "entrepreneurial ambassadors" to help convey the message of economic opportunity and freedom abroad.

"Two-thirds of the firms participating in the export economy actually have less than 20 employees.  What's more, the overall value of small-business exports has increased by 300 percent since the mid-1990's, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Between 1987 and 1997, the number of U.S. small business exporters tripled from 65,900 to 202,185.  That number will grow substantially if President Bush were given Trade Promotion Authority," stated the leaders in their letter.

The groups note that the world has increasingly become a potential customer base for small businesses, but the U.S. needs to reassert its influential and positive role in the world trading community by granting the President the tools needed to cultivate and expedite trade discussions.  The groups also highlight the positive role small business owners can continue to play in helping to bring American principles abroad.

"U.S. entrepreneurs not only have the opportunity to sell out products and services to more of the world, but we convey through our work abroad the core American principles of economic opportunity and freedom.  Who better than America's diverse population of small business people acting as 'entrepreneurial ambassadors' to spread this message," they note.

Groups signing the letter include the Small Business Exporters Association, National Black Chamber of Commerce, Women Impacting Public Policy, Association for Competitive Technology, Small Business Survival Committee, Islamic Institute and various state-based business organizations.  For a copy of the letter, please visit the website of the Small Business Survival Committee, www.sbsc.org, in the "What's New" section, or call (202)-785-0238.