05/19/2006
CONTACT: Michael J. Donohue, (202) 554-9000
Vote on Pallone-Solis amendment designated an official NFIB "Key Vote"
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's largest small-business advocacy group, today expressed its strong disappointment in the U.S. House's passage of the Pallone-Solis amendment to the FY 07 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill, H.R. 5386. The Pallone-Solis amendment effectively halts a current Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking process, which seeks to provide small businesses with less burdensome annual reporting options under the Toxics Release Inventory program. NFIB had previously notified representatives that the vote, held yesterday evening, was designated an official "Key Vote" in the organization's small-business voter scorecard.
"This vote will have damaging consequences for many of the nation's small businesses. The EPA's TRI program has long been a challenge for many small and independent businesses, and reducing the TRI paperwork burden has been a priority for small business for more than decade," said NFIB Executive Vice President Dan Danner. "Throughout the EPA's rulemaking process, testimony and ideas from a wide variety of small businesses that are disproportionately affected by the current one-size-fits-all reporting regulations were collected. This amendment shuts the door on that process, stifling the voice of small business. However, small-business owners are grateful for the leadership of Representative Todd Tiahrt and Representative Mike Pence on the House floor as they worked to educate their colleagues and fight this harmful amendment."
The present TRI requires all businesses which possess certain toxic substances, such as lead, to fill out an annual report itemizing any releases of toxic substances into the environment. While providing a useful tool for the general public, the TRI paperwork is extremely lengthy and time-consuming to fill out, and treats all businesses the same. For example, a neighborhood auto repair shop fills out the same set of forms as a huge oil refinery.
NFIB estimates that under the EPA's proposed simplified reporting requirements for small businesses that have little or no toxic releases, 99.9 percent of all toxic releases would still be reported in the same level of detail as present, and substantial regulatory cost savings would accrue to the smallest 18 percent of businesses affected by TRI reporting.
Data from NFIB's small-business owners indicate that the TRI Program disproportionately burdens small businesses with increased costs and decreased productivity. For example:
- Annual reporting costs range from $1,000 to more than $20,000.
- Many firms reported they needed a consultant to complete EPA's paperwork at a cost of approximately $50 an hour.
- It is estimated 30-50 hours are necessary for firms to complete paperwork, with some spending 17-40 hours just trying to figure out if they even have to comply with a specific reporting requirement.
In the 108th Congress, NFIB scored 13 Key Votes in the U.S. House, which were then each listed in its "How Congress Voted" booklet and made available to all 600,000 of its members in all 50 states. At the end of each Congress, elected officials who support NFIB's position on at least 70 percent of the group's Key Votes are awarded the coveted Guardian of Small Business Award. There have been 11 Key Votes in the House so far this Congress.
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The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is the nation's largest small-business advocacy group. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington and all 50 state capitals. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.
