Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship today passed the SCORE for Small Business Act, sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Chris Coons (D-Conn.), which increases the authorization level of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program to $10.5 million through 2018.  SCORE is a non-profit association, authorized under the Small Business Act, and a Resource Partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

 “SCORE and its thousands of volunteers strengthen hundreds of thousands of small businesses each year,” said Risch. “I am glad to support SCORE and am looking forward to all of the good that the organization and it’s thousands of volunteers are able to do in the years to come.”

 "I would like to thank Senator Risch for his support of the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2015.  Senator Risch has been a constant and tireless advocate for SCORE and America's small businesses,” said Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE.  “He has consistently engaged with SCORE in his hometown community and supported SCORE's national funding.  We are very grateful for all of his efforts."

 SCORE, which is made up of a network of more than 12,000 volunteers with over 350 chapters across the country, is dedicated to educating and assisting entrepreneurs and small business owners in the formation, growth and expansion of their small businesses. According to the SCORE Association, in Fiscal Year 2013, SCORE estimates that it served over 400,000 clients, and helped to create more than 38,000 new businesses and more than 67, 098 new jobs.

 The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Gary Peters (D-MI) now moves to the Senate floor for consideration by the full Senate.

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