July 23, 2008
Dear Senator:
On behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's leading small business advocacy organization, we urge the Senate to pass legislation that increases offshore and onshore domestic production of oil and natural gas while considering S. 3268, the Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008. Doing so would help alleviate the strong concerns small business owners have regarding the high price of gas at the pump and the impact this has on their business and the general economy.
The second most pressing problem for small businesses, according to the 2008 NFIB Small Business Problems and Priorities publication, is the cost of natural gas, gasoline, propane, diesel, and fuel oil. According to NFIB's Energy Consumption poll, energy costs are one of the top three business expenses in 35 percent of small businesses. The rise in energy prices recently has taken a toll on most small business owners, especially for owners that rely on energy for a number of purposes essential to their business.
An NFIB November 2006 ballot concludes that 78 percent of small business owners agree that the federal government should make it easier for more refineries to be opened. Small businesses need immediate relief at the pump and exploring domestic supplies of energy in an environmentally-friendly way is a critical step towards reducing prices at the pump. Two commonsense energy supply policies involve allowing for offshore oil and gas exploration and lifting the ban on Western oil shale production.
NFIB urges the Senate to vote to increase offshore and onshore oil and gas production and may consider this as a key vote for the 110th Congress. Thank you for your leadership in helping small businesses cope with the critical problem of high energy prices.
Sincerely,
Dan Danner
Executive Vice President
Public Policy and Political
