Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC), a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today introduced her Small Business Common Application Act in advance of National Small Business Week. Prior to the introduction of the bill, Hagan sat down with North Carolina small business owners Mary Wells and Johnny Bass to talk about their experience with excess government paperwork.

Mary Wells is the owner of Koretizing One Hour Cleaners in Rocky Mount and employs 12 people. In 2008, Mary was honored with the National Federation of Independent Business's Small Business Champion of North Carolina Award.

Johnny Bass is the president and owner of Bass Business Solutions in Rocky Mount, which provides business-consulting services with an emphasis on finance, cost accounting, business plans and budgets.

The Small Business Common Application Act that Senator Hagan introduced today aims to aid small businesses that face layers of paperwork when they apply for grants, seek technical assistance or bid on a contract from the federal government.

For additional background on the Small Business Common Application Act, please click here.

For a full copy of the bill, please click here.