This week, Congresswoman Kuster hosted an Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College that brought together local business leaders and federal officials for a discussion about strategies for boosting international sales. The event, which was held in conjunction with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, helped provide local business owners with the tools and resources they need to boost their exports, access working capital, leverage government resources, and find new markets and customers around the globe. More than 50 Granite Staters representing businesses from all across the state participated in the forum. Since taking office, Kuster has prioritized efforts to boost exports and create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in New Hampshire.
To help make it easier for Granite State companies to create good, middle class jobs, Kuster also introduced common sense legislation to streamline federal services for businesses. Kuster’s bill, the Executive Agency Simplification and Efficiencies (EASE) Act, would help consolidate duplicative agencies and redundant programs to improve services for businesses and simplify the maze of departments many companies confront when seeking federal assistance. Kuster’s bill follows previous calls from President Obama to restructure business-related agencies to boost efficiency and eliminate duplication.
For more on these updates and others, please continue reading below.
Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/businessusa
Kuster introduces bill to streamline services for Granite State businesses
To help make it easier for Granite State companies to create good, middle class jobs, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today introduced common sense legislation to streamline federal services for businesses that are looking to grow, boost exports, and access capital. Kuster’s bill, the Executive Agency Simplification and Efficiencies (EASE) Act, would help consolidate duplicative agencies and redundant programs to improve services for businesses and simplify the maze of departments many companies confront when seeking federal assistance. “Granite State businesses that are looking to boost their exports, secure a loan, or access new markets shouldn’t have to navigate a confusing maze of agencies just to access the services they need,” Kuster said. (12/3/2013)
Forum on boosting exports held Friday at Nashua Community College
Business owners who want to learn more about boosting exports, getting access to capital and using government resources are invited to a forum Friday morning at Nashua Community College. The session begins at 8:30 a.m., and U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster Kuster will deliver remarks at the forum, as will Patricia M. Loui, a member of the Export-Import Bank’s board of directors. State and federal officials will then join local business owners for panel discussions on export resources and strategies. Earlier this year, Kuster introduced the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, legislation that would extend and expand the successful State Trade and Export Promotion program. To date, the STEP program has helped dozens of Granite State companies expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire’s economy. (Nashua Telegraph, 12/5/2013)
Kuster hosts exporter forum to help local businesses boost international sales
On Friday, December 6 at 8:30am, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) will convene a group of local and national business leaders to discuss strategies for boosting international sales during an Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College. The session, held in conjunction with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, will help business owners learn about ways to boost their exports, access working capital, leverage government resources, and find new markets and customers around the globe. “My top priority in Congress is helping to grow the economy and create jobs and opportunity for the middle class. That’s what this Exporter Forum is all about,” Kuster said. “This event will help ensure that our businesses have the tools and resources they need to boost their exports and create good, middle class jobs right here in the Granite State.” (12/3/2013)
Kuster works across the aisle to combat sexual assault in the military
Before being sworn into Congress in January, I sparked up an unlikely friendship with a fellow new representative named Jackie Walorski. At first glance, Walorski and I aren’t natural political allies. She’s a Republican from Indiana. I’m a Democrat from New Hampshire. We disagree on a whole host of issues. But during an orientation session for incoming members of Congress, she and I discovered a shared passion for addressing the epidemic of sexual assault in the military – and we decided to do something about it. After consulting with experts and convening briefings on the issue, we worked on a bill that would strengthen whistle-blower protections for service members who report sexual assaults. (Concord Monitor, 12/6/2013)
Kuster leads push for a national renewable electricity standard
This week, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) partnered with Congressman Jared Polis (CO-02) and Congressman Ben Ray Luján (NM-03) to introduce legislation to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that would help create good jobs, cut pollution, and save consumers money. Their bill, the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2013, would require utility companies to produce at least 25 percent of their power from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass by 2025, helping spur growth in our country’s renewable energy sector. “Investments in clean energy are investments in a healthier environment and a stronger economy. This common sense bill will help create good middle class jobs, cut pollution, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil – all while saving consumers money on their utilities,” Kuster said. (12/5/2013)
With deadline looming, Kuster pushes for vote on bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits
With critical unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed set to expire just days after Christmas, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on Speaker Boehner to allow a vote on legislation to renew the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for another year. In a letter to Speaker Boehner, Kuster said that an extension of unemployment insurance benefits will provide a vital lifeline to Granite Staters and other Americans who are still struggling to find work as the economy continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Kuster, who also reiterated her call for Congress to focus like a laser on job creation, underscored that with only ten legislative days remaining before benefits are set to expire, the time for action is now. (12/3/2013)
Kuster reiterates opposition to imposing sales tax collection requirements on NH small businesses
In a mild surprise, the nation’s high court passed on taking up a challenge to a New York law that forces online retailers to pay sales taxes to that state even if the company has no physical presence in New York. Kuster has repeatedly spoke against the bill and visited a Hudson firm to highlight what she called its harmful effects. “New Hampshire small businesses are using the Internet to reach new markets, create middle class jobs, and grow our economy,” Kuster said in a statement. “Congress should be working to create an environment that helps these companies succeed – not adding new bureaucratic barriers that will impede growth. I’ll continue to oppose any effort in Congress to impose new sales tax collection requirements on New Hampshire small businesses.” (Nashua Telegraph, 12/3/2013)
NH congressional delegation opposes bid to have online businesses be tax collectors
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided it won't rule on a New York state law requiring online retailers to collect sales taxes, the battle returns to Congress, where the New Hampshire delegation is united in efforts to block or at least amend legislation that would impose a similar tax mandate on all 50 states. (Union Leader, 12/3/2013)
Kuster continues to stand up New Hampshire farmers
Agriculture in New Hampshire has changed in recent years, with the local food movement fueling an explosion of vegetable stands, farmers markets, CSAs and farm stands, but some are worried that it may be imperiled by proposed changes in federal food-safety rules for produce they feel are oriented toward large-scale farms in warmer climates. The comment period for the proposed rules ended Friday, Nov. 22 – a week after the original deadline, due in large part to a request for an extension from U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H., who has heard concerns about the rules from state farmers for months. Officials hope to convince the FDA to hold another comment period after the final rules are released. Kuster and N.H. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen led a bipartisan group of 75 legislators last Monday, in writing a letter requesting the FDA to “engage further with the public” before implementing the rules. (Nashua Telegraph, 12/2/2013)
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