About ASBL
The Strongest Voice in America on Behalf of Small Businesses
Some of our media appearances (our YouTube channel):
Our podcast on YouTube (where we interview candidates for Congress and other influencers):
Since 2004 the American Small Business League has protected the federal programs that assist our 36 million small businesses. Our 100+ Freedom of Information legal victories have exposed rampant fraud in federal small business programs. We have had a larger presence in the national media and federal courts than all other such groups combined -perplexity.ai
The 1953 Small Business Act was intended to “preserve free competitive enterprise, strengthen the national economy, and ensure that small firms received meaningful federal support—especially via credit, counselling, and government contracts.”
Today, the federal government has the goal of awarding to small businesses a minimum of 23% of the total value of all federal contracts and subcontracts.
Unfortunately, our litigation and research show that legitimate small businesses never receive the full 23%. The real amount is far smaller. Hundreds of billions of dollars in “small business” contracts go to big businesses, who don’t create jobs for that work because they’re already big, but real small businesses, with those contracts, would create millions of new jobs – the economic stimulus intended by the 1953 Small Business Act.
Our Mission
"Small businesses are America's job creators. They create hope and opportunity for our entrepreneurs and workers.
They are essential to our nation's economic prosperity.
We work to ensure that the government respects the importance of small businesses, the people they employ, and the principles of entrepreneurship."
- Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL)
FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS COMM
We are nothing but a small business nation. 99.9% of all businesses in America are small businesses. They create the vast majority of all new jobs. They employ more than half of the private sector workforce.
The federal government should empower small businesses.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t. Sadly, the federal government works for the one-tenth of one percent of firms that are big businesses.
Therefore, the American Small Business League wants Congress to:
- Stop the diversion of federal small business contracts to large corporations.
- Reform the misclassifications and opaque reporting that lets small business contracts go to big businesses.
- Make the general definition of a small business be 100 or less employees (not the current 500 or less).
- Make it easy for small businesses to apply for contracts with the federal government.
- Support policy makers who help small businesses and oppose those who do not.
- Raise from 5% to 15% the federal contract dollars that must go to women-owned small businesses.
DONTCHEATWOMEN.COM
An American Small Business League Project
We want Congress to raise from 5% to 15% the amount of federal contract dollars that must go to women-owned small businesses.
Women are half the population. They own 40% of all businesses and they sell what the government buys, but firms owned by men get over 95% of all federal contract spending, and that must change.
Such discrimination is probably a violation of civil rights law. And men dominate in politics because they earn and save more than women.
Men donate more to campaigns and therefore have more influence with the winners.
Men run for and win more offices. Men hold roughly 75% of all seats in the House, the Senate, all State legislatures, every president’s cabinet, almost that many governorships, and 90% of committee chair and party leadership positions.
Everything that empowers women economically, like steering a fair share of federal contracts their way, will help them run for office and become political equals. We need the wisdom of the whole human race in the councils of government.
Founded by Lloyd Chapman
ASBL President
The American Small Business League was founded by Lloyd Chapman in 2004.
Lloyd Chapman
on Widespread Fraud
Our History
Founded in 2004
The ASBL's roots are based in an association of computer software and equipment re-sellers who were increasingly frustrated by abuses and loopholes that have allowed large corporations to receive billions of dollars in federal small business contracts. Seeking proper implementation of the Small Business Act, these small business owners formed the Microcomputer Industry Suppliers Association (MISA).
Fight For Change
MISA worked hard throughout the late 1990s to address this issue in Washington and around the country. Their efforts attracted media attention and pressured members of Congress for a remedy. MISA also dealt directly with the Small Business Administration under both Democratic and Republican presidencies. Despite their efforts, little measurable change took place.
Progress for Small Businesses
In 2003, Representative Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Small Business, issued the fourth annual scorecard report evaluating 21 federal agencies, accounting for 96 percent of federal procurement. She was highly critical of their inability to reach the mandated small business procurement goal. "Even though the government bought more last year, it still failed to meet a single one of its small business goals for the third straight year," the report said.
As a result of missing the small business procurement goal -- 23 percent of the total value of all prime contracts -- small businesses missed out on an estimated $13.8 billion in federal contracting opportunities.
In July 2003 Representative Velazquez stated, "Small businesses just need a chance – a foot in the door so they can show federal agencies what they can do. After all, small businesses are the lifeline of the American economy. I know that. You know that. Now we just need the federal government to figure it out."
ASBL Was Formed
In 2004, the Microcomputer Industry Suppliers Association realized that companies in every industry shared the problems of its members. As a means of serving the needs of all small businesses competing for federal contracts, the members of MISA formed the American Small Business League.
Bruce de Torres
Director of Communications
American Small Business League
Bruce de Torres is Director of Communications for the American Small Business League, author of GOD, SCHOOL, 9/11 AND JFK: The Lies That Are Killing Us and The Truth That Sets Us Free, and former marketing director for TrineDay.com, his book’s publisher. At TNT Radio Bruce interviewed 170 guests, including Lloyd Chapman of the ASBL, RA “Kris” Millegan of TrineDay Books, Dr. Naomi Wolf, Dr. Meryl Nass, Dr. Peter McCullough of The Wellness Company, Mary Holland of Children's Health Defense, Dick Russell, author of THE REAL ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR, and David R. Meiswinkle of the National American Renaissance Movement. On his other podcasts Bruce has interviewed 140 others. With TrineDay Books he co-hosted another 172.
As an actor Bruce had lead roles in comedies, dramas, and musicals coast to coast (“the funniest and most vocally gifted member” of the show, said The New York Times). And as an entrepreneur he hosted hundreds of business networking meetings as he developed his marketing, sales, and public speaking skills.
