Losing the paper weight

Small business owners are at least one step closer to cutting federal red tape.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act (H.R. 327) to:

  • Require federal agencies to reduce paperwork for businesses with fewer than 25 employees;

  • Create a task force to study how federal paperwork requirements can be streamlined;

  • Require each federal agency to create a single point of contact for small businesses needing guidance with federal paperwork; and

  • Require the Office of Management and Budget to publish an annual list of all federal paperwork requirements of small businesses.
  • Don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. The issue still needs approval in the Senate; it’s been referred to the Governmental Affairs Committee.

    How to reach: H.R. 327 sponsor Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., (202) 225-2276; Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., chair of the Senate’s Governmental Affairs Committee, (202) 224-4944. Search for more details on H.R. 327 at thomas.loc.gov.