Small Business Energy Innovation Act of 2008

H.R. 25 - Fair Tax Act or 2007 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enacting a national sales tax. NSBA supported. H. R. 731 - National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2007 Bill would require the SBA to establish a program providing regulatory-compliance assistance to small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 1023 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory three percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. H.R. 1112 - Stealth Tax Relief Extension Act of 2007 The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. H.R. 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 Bill addressed the expiration of popular tax provisions such as the AMT patch, research and development tax credits and various other credits and deductions designed to encourage renewable energies. NSBA supported. H.R. 1677 Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007 Bill gives IRS the right to deny information to tax preparers and lenders who might be contemplating predatory refund anticipation loans (RALs). It also includes provisions on the earned income tax credit and individual retirement accounts. NSBA supported. H.R. 1873 Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act of 2007 Bill would improve federal procurement opportunities for small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 2205 Retirement Security for Life Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. NSBA supports retirement options for its employees, but NSBA has remained largely neutral on this proposal. H.R. 2380 - Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2007 To make permanent the repeal of the estate tax after 2010. NSBA supported. H.R. 2419 - Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 Bill includes tax incentives for farms, energy and conservation initiatives. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 2727 Small Business SOX Compliance Extension Act It would extend the current exemption by at least one year for small businesses to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls reporting requirements. NSBA supported. H.R. 3163 - The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill. H.R. 3170 Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act of 2007 The bill permanently reduces the capital gains tax to 15 percent and the estate tax exemption will be $3.5 million in 2009 and will increase $250,000 per year until it reaches $5 million 2015. NSBA supported. H.R. 3221 - New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act The bill provides economic aid to the housing industry and amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 3548 - Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3567 - The Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007 Bill would expand the ability of venture capital-owned businesses to participate in small-business programs. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3660 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supported. H.R. 4008 - Credit and Debit Card Receipt Clarification Act of 2007 Bill provides technical corrections to the definition of willful noncompliance in regard to unintentional violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. NSBA supported. H.R. 4458 - The Small Business Regulatory Improvement Act Bill seeks to improve the Regulatory Flexibility Act and reduce the regulatory burden borne by Americas small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 5140 - Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 Bill provides economic stimulus through recovery rebates to individuals, incentives for business investment, and an increase in conforming and FHA loan limits. NSBA supported. H.R. 5244 - The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. H.R. 5351 - Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act Bill would extend a range of renewable energy tax incentives NSBA supported. H.R. 5719 - Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to conform return preparer penalty standards, delay implementation of withholding taxes on government contractors, enhance taxpayer protections, and assist low-income taxpayers. NSBA supported certain provisions of the measure. H.R. 5819 SBIR STTR Reauthorization Act Bill would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. NSBA supported. H.R. 6049 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, extend certain expiring tax provisions, and provide individual income tax relief. NSBA supported. H.R. 6210 - Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. H.R. 6214 - Home Office Deduction Standardization Act of 2008 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. H.R. 6275 - Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill provides individuals temporary relief from the alternative minimum tax. NSBA supported bill, but opposed offsets. H.R. 6499 Sensible Tax Act of 2008 Beginning in 2009, the legislation would permanently exclude the first $2 million ($4 million for a couple) of an estates value from being subject to any tax and subsequently be adjusted for inflation. The measure would ensure that the surviving spouse is entitled to the $2 million to which the deceased spouse was entitled. NSBA supported. H.R. 6582 - Small Business CHOICE Act of 2008 To encourage the development of small business cooperatives for healthcare options to improve coverage for employees (CHOICE) including through a small business CHOICE tax credit. NSBA supports elements of this legislation to the extent it addresses rising health care cost and insurance availability for small business owners. However, NSBA maintains reservations about the use of cooperatives to achieve this. H.R. 6601 Small Business Tax Modernization Act of 2008 Bill creates a standard home office deduction, removes cell phones from listed property, allows nonresident aliens to be S corporation shareholders, increases the deduction for business meals and entertainment for qualified small businesses, and reduces the recovery period for depreciation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment. NSBA supported. H.R. 6633 - Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 To evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and to ensure the protection of Social Security beneficiaries. NSBA supports the employment of legal employees, but remains cautious of mandating a system such as E-verify on small businesses owners due to burdensome administrative task, unwarranted penalties and historical technical errors with the E-verify system. H.R. 6983 - Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 Would require health plans that offer mental health benefits to cover the same mental health and addiction disorders that are included in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). NSBA opposed. H.R. 7005 Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide alternative minimum tax relief for individuals for 2008. NSBA supported. H.R. 7006 Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 Provides relief to taxpayers affected by Federally-declared disasters nationwide. NSBA supported the tax relief provisions. H.R. 7060 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act of 2008 Bill includes an extension of individual and business tax provisions and energy tax incentives. NSBA supported. H.R. 7074 Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification Act Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S. 55 - Individual Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 2007 The measure repeals the alternative minimum tax on individuals. NSBA supported. S. 102 A bill to extend and expand relief from the alternative minimum tax and to repeal the extension of the lower rates for capital gains and dividends for 2009 and 2010. The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. S. 334 The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill S.558 Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 Legislation would require insurance companies to offer the same level of financial coverage for mental health care as they do for other medical care. NSBA opposed S. 777 Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory 3 percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. S. 1010 Retirement Security for Life Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. NSBA supports retirement options for its employees, but NSBA has remained largely neutral on this proposal. S. 1395 - Stop Unfair Practices in Credit Cards Act Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. S. 1681 Family Medical Leave Insurance Act Legislation to create a fund that would provide up to eight weeks of paid family leave. Mandates employees and employers to fund the plan through payroll taxes. NSBA opposed. S. 1783 - Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America Act A bill to provide 10 steps to transform health care in America. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive perspective to reforming the health care system to make insurance more affordable for small business owners. However, NSBA opposes the across state line pooling which is included in this proposal. S. 1932 Bill would increase the expenditures for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. NSBA supported. S. 2291- Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 2239 - Equity for Our Nation's Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supports. S. 2394 - Good Government Contractor Act of 2007 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify, modernize, and improve public notice of and access to tax lien information by providing for a national, Internet accessible, filing system for Federal tax liens, and would also repeal the three percent withholding requirement. NSBA supports sections of this bill. S. 2612 - The Small Business Lending Stimulus Act of 2008, Bill would authorize additional funding for SBA lending program and cut borrowing and lending fees. NSBA supported. S. 2636 - Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Bill provides housing reform and includes and extension of the net operating loss carryback rules to allow some money-losing businesses to get refunds of taxes paid during profitable years. NSBA supported. S. 2795 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. S. 2886 - Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. NSBA supported. S. 2902 SBA Reauthorization and Improvements Act of 2008 Bill would reauthorize various parts of the Small Business Administration. NSBA supported. S. 3371 Home Office Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2008 Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S. 3406 ADA Amendments Act A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. NSBA supports the intent of the ADA, but raised concerns over the potential for additional burdensome regulations being put on small businesses. S. 3408 Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008 A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes. NSBA supports this legislation as a cornerstone to the framework of value-based purchasing and price transparency to consumer of health care services. S. 3554 - Affordable Coverage for Small Employers Act of 2008 A bill to provide employees of small employers with access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive low-income subsidies and tax incentive available to make insurance more affordable for small business owners. S. 3406 ADA Amendments Act A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. NSBA supports the intent of the ADA, but raised concerns over the potential for additional burdensome regulations being put on small businesses. S. 3682 - Small Business Energy Innovation Act Bill would authorize grants and loan guarantees to small businesses developing and manufacturing energy-efficient technologies. NSBA supported.

Client expense: $90,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of

H.R. 6330 - PUMP Act; H.R. 6604 - Commodities Markets Transparency & Accountability Act S. 3682 - Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act; S. 3122 /3185 - Energy Speculation

Client expense: $230,840 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Mediation Board, SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

H.R. 6330 - PUMP Act; H.R. 6604 - Commodities Markets Transparency & Accountability Act S. 3682 - Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act; S. 3122 /3185 - Energy Speculation

Client expense: $330,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Natl Mediation Board, Natl Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT)