On The Hill: The NASE Announces legislative Visionary Awards

Earlier this year, NASE President Bennie L. Thayer presented the association's annual Legislative Visionary Awards to seven senators and six representatives who demonstrated exemplary leadership and support for small business during 1996.

"Almost all legislators in Congress say they support small business," Thayer commented. "These awards recognize those lawmakers who actually turn that support into action by working to pass or block legislation, taking a firm stand on a controversial issue or addressing a problem that others overlooked."

Although many in Congress talk the talk for small business, these leaders actually walked the walk and ensured the passage of some of our most important wins in 1996, including the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act, Medical Savings Accounts and modest reforms for savings programs and independent contractor rules.

"These are some of Congress' real leaders," Thayer said. "They are the ones who are working to solve current small-business problems and lay a groundwork for the future; the ones who are taking concrete steps to enable smaller companies to succeed."

Congressional Leaders Honored for Commitment to Small Business

• Sen. Kit Bond.
• Sen. Paul Coverdell and Rep. Denny Hastert.
• Rep. Bill Archer (see sidebar).
• Sen. Bob Kerrey.
• Sen. Bill Roth.
• Reps. Jim Kolbe and Charles Stenholm.
• Sen. Don Nickles.

Award recipients not pictured:

• Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, for ensuring passage of legislation which broadened Individual Retirement Accounts for non-wage-earning spouses.
• Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., for halting the passage of patent reform legislation that would have been disadvantageous for small businesses.

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Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee (right), won for ensuring passage of legislation that raised the amount of health insurance deductions for the self-employed and postponed the mandated Electronic Federal Tax Payment System for small business.

"These are some of Congress' real leaders. They are the ones who are working to solve current small-business problems and lay a groundwork for the future; the ones who are taking concrete steps to enable smaller companies to succeed."

-- Bennie L. Thayer
NASE President