“As we continue to address the problems plaguing our economy, I am pleased that the first bill I am sponsoring will assist our small business owners, who are the number one job creators in the country and who will play a pivotal role in restoring our economy,” Luetkemeyer said. “This bill gives our small business owners greater access to Small Business Administration services designed to help these businesses grow and prosper.”

Luetkemeyer’s Expanding Entrepreneurship Act of 2009 makes several changes to the SBA’s entrepreneurial development programs at no cost to taxpayers. The bill also will expand entrepreneurial job growth by pulling resources for duplicative government programs into a streamlined and effective program to help emphasize job creation and retention.

Under the bill, entrepreneurial development planning standards would be created; there would be greater coordination of SBA entrepreneurial programs; a national task force would be created; there would be maintenance of an entrepreneurial development database; and community specialists would be introduced to serve in all SBA district offices.

Luetkemeyer is a member of the House Small Business Committee and is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Finance and Tax.