National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) members are diverse in many ways, including the size of their business, the sector, the stage of business development, and political affiliation. NAWBO advocates for women business owners regardless of political affiliation, encouraging and supporting bipartisan legislation focused on building and strengthening a sustainable business economy.
In the beginning, there were twelve women business owners who met informally in the D.C. area to share information about federal contracts, access to capital and other issues related to their businesses. To best represent the diversity within NAWBO membership, all the business advocacy issues we engage in are bipartisan in nature. In order to receive support from NAWBO National, a piece of legislation must have support from both Democrats and Republicans, which means members of both parties serve as sponsors and/or original co-sponsors.
2024 National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Advocacy Agenda Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) members represent more than 13 million women business owners across America. The NAWBO 2024 Advocacy Agenda embodies the everpresent need to represent all of our members while creating both the avenue and environment to build sustainable women-owned businesses:
Proposed Bill Language to Address the Needs of the "Microbusiness" and Encouraging Emerging Entrepreneurs
Establishment of the definition of Microbusiness Section 632 of title 15, United States Codes is amended— (1) Inserting after section “ff”: “(gg) Definition of Microbusiness - (1) Criteria: To be considered a “microbusiness”, an independently owned and operated for-profit business entity, must meet both criteria: a. Employment of not more than 50 full-time employees or full-time equivalent employees; and b. Annual revenue of not more than $5,000,000. (hh) While microbusinesses listed in gg are the definition of microbusiness in this section, it is important to note the specific concerns of single person companies that are a significant portion of the microbusiness segment. Further, companies that employee 10 or fewer employees make up another large segment of the women owned business. These companies have specific needs that the legislature and administrative agencies should consider when making policy decisions.” Establishment of Microbusiness Loan Pilot Program Not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate guidance to establish a Microbusiness Loan Pilot Program utilizing the definition in (a). For purposes of this pilot, the Administrator shall set aside not less than $100 million for purposes of awarding loans of not more than $100,000 per entity. Definitions: For purposes of this section the following terms are defined: “Full-time employee" means an individual who is employed for consideration for at least thirty-five (35) hours each week or who renders any other standard of service generally accepted by custom or specified by contract as full-time employment.
2. Workforce Understanding the Unique Workforce Needs of Women Small Business Owners: NAWBO believes Congress should look at ways to ensure that small businesses can continue to thrive by utilizing independent contractors as a critical component of their workforce. Leveling the Playing Field for Hiring, Recruitment, and Retention Through Existing Frameworks: NAWBO urges Congress to consider legislation to help small businesses offer their employees benefits by increasing access to existing federal and state benefits portals. Paid Family Leave: We hope Congress can work toward a bipartisan solution that gives small businesses an option to access a paid leave system that works financially for themselves and their workforce.
3. Accessing Capital through Increased Financial Literacy Education and Digital Tools Creating a Network of Financial Professionals: Lawmakers must investigate viable ways to educate women and minorities on developing long-standing relationships with financial institutions. Establishing open communication with local and national banks and other financial institutions available to finance small businesses is critical. Whether investing in software programs for payroll or seeking guidance on utilizing social media tools, our business owners need to understand how to capitalize on extra funding to grow their businesses.
4. Caring for the Business Owners and their Employees Creating Affordable Healthcare Options: While health plans are more common among larger companies, the price remains crucial for small businesses offering healthcare coverage, with 42% saying that costs are simply too high. Prioritizing Our Nation's Caregivers: According to a recently conducted national survey by United WE, the majority of women business owners feel that a lack of childcare that meets their needs hinders their economic output. Congress must ensure women business owners and their employees have reliable, flexible childcare to increase business growth and dramatically impact the U.S. economy.
NAWBO has focused on public policy issues of national and statewide interest impacting women entrepreneurs and small businesses since 1975. By attending White House events, providing Congressional testimony, holding advocacy conferences, developing reports, and educating members, NAWBO has consistently brought the concerns of women business owners to our lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
In 1988, NAWBO played a key role in the passage of The Women’s Business Ownership Act, also known as H.R. 5050. This landmark legislation allowed women to receive business loans without the co-signature of a male relative. H.R. 5050 also created the National Women’s Business Council, a body of women entrepreneurs and women’s organizations that provides counsel to the President and Congress.
NAWBO supports federal legislation that helps to overcome the current barriers related to access to capital by women business owners (WBOs) and reduces the risk of private sector lending to small businesses. The major sources of funding that women business owners continue to rely on are personal savings, reinvested business earnings, lines of credit, loans, equity financing, and venture capital, in that order.
NAWBO favors a three-pronged advocacy approach in this area, choosing to focus on the various SBA loan programs, the Small Business Investment Company program, and tax incentives to encourage investment in the small business sector.
NAWBO supports achievement of the five percent Federal procurement goal for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) and other steps designed to assure women business owners their fair share of Federal contracts and contract dollars. Failure to achieve the 5% goal has cost women business owners an average of $5 billion in lost contract dollars each year.
NAWBO opposes contract bundling, the Federal government’s policy of consolidating its purchases of unrelated goods and services into a single large contract. Bundling limits the opportunities for small businesses to effectively compete, thereby restricting competition and increasing the overall cost of goods and services to the federal government.
Health care insurance cost reduction is a very important issue for NAWBO members. The results of the 2010 NAWBO Public Policy Survey show that health care cost issues are third only to the economy and business taxes as issues affecting our members’ businesses and their votes. In this critical time NAWBO wants to be part of the dialogue on health care reform.
NAWBO supports legislation that will make health insurance more affordable for women business owners and their employees. NAWBO will consider and support, as appropriate, federal and state legislation designed to address the rising cost of health insurance by lowering premiums or creating tax incentives that make the purchase of health insurance more affordable for small business owners and their employees.
NAWBO supports fair and equitable tax policy for large and small businesses that fosters the economic growth of women-owned and other small businesses. Legislation should be enacted to ensure tax equity and basic fairness for all forms of small business organizations. The privilege of deducting legitimate business expenses should no longer be based upon the entity chosen to operate the business.ss taxes as issues affecting our members’ businesses and their votes. In this critical time NAWBO wants to be part of the dialogue on health care reform.
-All of the above information has been supplied by www.nawbo.org. Please visit the national site for additional information on Public Policy.-
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