Economic Research

Small Business Facts: An Overview of Immigrant Business Ownership

Immigrant owners consist of roughly 18 percent of business owners with employees and almost 23 percent of business owners without employees. This fact sheet examines the role that immigrants play in the small business economy.

Small Business Facts: Reasons for Being an Owner

Most firm owners decided to start their own business because they wanted to be their own boss or make more money. Self-employment is largely driven by opportunity, with 56% of owners saying that small business ownership was crucial to making their own products.

Advocacy News

Advocacy Attorney Represents Advocacy At 11th United States-European Union Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Workshop

On September 28, Assistant Chief Counsel Rosalyn Steward represented the Office of Advocacy at the U.S.-EU SME Workshop. The workshop is an opportunity for small businesses to engage with government officials from the U.S. and EU as well as small entities and associations from both continents.

Regulatory Alerts

IRS Requests Further Comments to Inform IRA Energy Guidance

On November 3, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued three notices requesting public comment on selected energy tax benefits found in the Inflation Reduction Act. Comments are due December 3, 2022.

NMFS Seeks Comments on Proposal to Designate Critical Habitat for the Nassau Grouper

On October 17,  the National Marine Fisheries Service published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Nassau grouper. The habitat is located off the coasts of southeastern Florida, Puerto Rico, Navassa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Comments due December 16, 2022.

BOEM Seeks Comments on Two Proposed Guidance Documents for Submission of Offshore Wind Project Plans

On October 26, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management published two proposed guidance documents pertaining to the requirements that lessees must include in their offshore wind construction and operation plans. BOEM seeks comments on both sets of guidelines, due December 12, 2022.

USDA Seeks Comments on Inflation Reduction Act Implementation

On October 28, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Business Cooperative and Rural Utilities Service (USDA) announced a request for information and input on how to implement newly allocated funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act. Written comments due November 28.

Letters to Agencies

Advocacy Comments on EPA’s Proposed Hazardous Substance Designations for PFOA and PFOS Under CERCLA

On September 6, 2022, EPA proposed the designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. Advocacy wrote a letter to the agency on November 7, arguing that EPA does not provide an adequate factual basis to support its certification under the RFA.

Advocacy Submits Comments on EPA’s Revisions to Accidental Release Prevention Requirements

On October 28, Advocacy submitted comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule regarding accidental release prevention requirements. Advocacy is concerned that EPA is unjustifiably adding burdensome requirements to the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations, especially since the long-term trend demonstrates a decrease in RMP-related accidents.

Advocacy Submits Comment to NMFS on Amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule

On August 1, the National Marine Fisheries Service published a proposed rule on right whale strike reductions. Advocacy believes that protection of right whales is critical, but that the proposed rule would further restrict a compliant maritime industry. Advocacy wrote to NMFS encouraging them to consider alternatives that would both protect whales and minimize the burden to small entities.

Advocacy Recommends Considering Small Businesses in Council on Environmental Quality’s Environmental Justice Scorecard

On October 3, Advocacy wrote a letter encouraging the Council on Environmental Quality to evaluate federal agencies’ success in reducing barriers experienced by small entity entrepreneurs in disadvantaged communities in the Environmental Justice Scorecard.

Advocacy Urges FAR Council to Re-Evaluate Compliance Costs for Small Construction Companies in the Proposed Mandatory Project Labor Agreement Regulation

On October 18, Advocacy wrote a letter to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council containing recommendations to improve a proposed rule on Project Labor Agreements for federal construction contracts valued at $35 million or more.

More Regulatory Alerts

DOL Publishes Independent Contractor Proposed Rule

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division seeks comments on a rule that would determine whether an employee is an independent contractor or an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Comments due December 13.

IRS Releases Rules for Claiming Alternative Fuel and Alternative Fuel Mixture Credits

On September 13, the Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2022-39, providing rules for claiming the alternative fuel credit for sales and purchases made in the first three calendar quarters of 2022. The credits initially expired December 31, 2021. They have been extended through 2024.