Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code SMB

16. Specific lobbying issues

Jumpstart Our Business Startup Act (JOBS Act): SBE Council continues to push for full implementation of the law (signed by President Obama on April 5, 2012) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), such as Title III (crowdfunding regs) that align with the intent of Congress and President Obama. SBE Council filed comments on proposed regulations regarding Title III, and responds to inquiries from Congress about the progress of rulemakings.
Tax Reform and Relief: SBE Council continues to advocate for fundamental reform of the tax system, providing input to U.S. House and Senate members on specific proposals and principles for reform. Specifically we have commented and provided feedback on House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp's plan. SBE Council continues to push for lower tax rates for entrepreneurs (individual rates) and corporate entities, encouraging U.S. startup activity, elimination of capital gains and death taxes, simplicity, making permanent certain important features (like Section 179 expensing and business expensing) and pointing out various legitimate business expenses that should remain deductible (i.e.: interest on debt), and against LIFO repeal. SBE Council continues to advocate for small business friendly tax reform working with our members and with coalition partners. SBE Council is pushing for a two-year extension of 2013 expiring tax provisions as a bridge to tax system overhaul.

Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) and Health Care Reform: SBE Council continues to advocate and comment on the proposed rules and regulations of Health and Human Services (HHS), and educate about potential problems with implementation of the law (ie: health care exchanges, mandates, etc.) that will raise costs and increase complexity for entrepreneurs. SBE Council supports repealing key provisions in the Affordable Care Act like the employer mandate, ACA tax increases (medical devices, individual tax hikes, the health insurance tax) and restrictions placed on HSAs. Specific legislation SBE Council is supporting includes: Medical FSA Improvement Act (H.R. 1634); H.R. 45 - legislation to repeal ACA (supported passage); American Jobs Protection Act, (H.R. 903), (S. 399); Save American Workers Act (HR 2575 - suported passage); Special IG for Monitoring the ACA (HR 4158); Suspending the Individual Mandate Penalty (H.R. 4118- supported House passage); and legislation to lift the cap on HSAs in the ACA (passed and signed by President Obama).

Regulatory Reform: SBE Council continues to support reforms to improve transparency and accountability of the regulatory system for small businesses. Specific legislation includes: National Regulatory Budget Act (S.2153); Sunshine and Regulatory Decrees and Settlement Act (HR 1493, S.714); Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act (HR 899); Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Regulatory Transparency Act (HR 2804); All Economic Regulations are Transparent Act (HR 2804); Consumer Financial Freedom and Washington Accountability Act (HR 3193); Secret Science Reform Act (HR 4012 - also testified before U.S. House on this issue/legislation). SBE Council is also active on citing concerns and providing written testimony to Congress on President Obama's Climate Action Plan, EPA's forthcoming Ozone and Power Plant rules. SBE Council also provided comments in support of EPA's proposal to reduce the ethanol blend for renewable fuel standards.

Immigration Reform: SBE Council continues to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform specifically focusing on increasing high-tech, high-skill visas and adding low-skill and entrepreneur visas. We continue to oppose e-verify for small employers, and to express concern with e-verify and other general provisions in the Senate-passed bill (S.744) that burden small businesses or make it costly and impractical to utilize visas for business workforce needs.

Affordable Energy: SBE Council continues to support greater exploration and development of domestic energy resources, as well as construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. SBE Council opposes proposals and efforts to restrict liquefied natural gas exports, and is active support legislative effort to expedite approval of Keystone and applications for LNG permits. Specific legislation SBE Council supports, includes: Electricity Security and Affordability Act (HR 3826, S.1905); Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America Act (HR 2824); Responsibly & Professionally Invigorating Development Act (HR 2641). SBE Council also opposes tax increases on the energy sector that will hurt small businesses in the industry and raise prices for small business consumers.

Global Trade Expansion: SBE Council continues to support expanding trade accords with nations to open markets for entrepreneurs and the U.S. business sector. SBE Council is monitoring and supporting efforts to accelerate the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and supports a new U.S.-EU trade accord. We are also supporting strong intellectual property (IP) provisions in these agreeements. SBE Council continues to advocate for streamlined and less costly processes for small businesses that operate in global markets, whether that be importing or exporting. Specific pieces of legislation SBE Council is supporting include: State Trade Coordination Act (H.R. 1926); Trade for Small Business and Jobs Act (H.R. 1916); Export Coordination Act (H.R. 1909). SBE Council also supports giving President Obama "trade promotion authority" and supports the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act (HR 3830, S.1900).




Telecommunications, Technology & IP: SBE Council continues to urge the federal government to release additional spectrum to accommodate the explosion in mobile device and wireless usage. With respect to auctions, SBE Council believes an open, market-based auction will yield better results for the private sector, small businesses, the federal government (in terms of revenues), investment and job creation. SBE Council also supports efforts to accelerate our nation to next generation high-speed internet protocol (IP) broadband networks and continues to voice our support to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for moving forward quickly on their plan. SBE Council is supporting efforts to "remake" and "retool" the mission of the FCC to ensure it regulates based on 21st century technologies and the rapid change in innovation and in the economy.

Government Reform & Efficiency, Protection of Taxpayer Resources, Free Speech in America: SBE Council continues to support legislative initiatives that work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government and how it uses tax dollars. Specific legislation includes: FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act (HR 1211- supported House passage); Taxpayer Transparency Act (HR 3308 - supported House passage, S.1921); Taxpayer Right to Know Act (H.R. S.2113); Taxpayer Transparency and Efficiency Audit Act (H.R. 2530); Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act (H.R. 2531). SBE Council also submitted comments to the IRS about proposed 501c4 rules and legislation that would slow agency rulemaking on this specific issue - Stop Targeting of Political Belief by the IRS Act (H.R. 3865, S.2011).

Capital Access: Specific legislative measures include: Small Business Capital Access and Jobs Protection Act (H.R. 1105) and a bill that would ease SEC red tape, and lower costs for purchasing or selling a business (H.R. 2274 - supported House passage, S. 1923).

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), President of the U.S., Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Adminstration (SBA), State - Dept of (DOS), White House Office

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

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Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.

20. Client new address

21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)

22. New General description of client’s business or activities

LOBBYIST UPDATE

23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client

ISSUE UPDATE

24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)

Internet Address:

26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client

FOREIGN ENTITIES

27. Add the following foreign entities:

28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization