WASHINGTON - The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has presented U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao with its Small Business Advocate of the Month honor for December 2004 for her outstanding commitment to America's workers, entrepreneurs, overall economic prosperity, and job creation, says the organization.

"Secretary Chao has been a true leader, advocating important reforms and initiatives that benefit the most important asset of small business owners - their workforce. By modernizing Department of Labor programs and policies to help American workers remain competitive both domestically and globally, Secretary Chao has strengthened America's small businesses," remarked Karen Kerrigan, SBE Council president and CEO.

According to the SBE Council, Chao has been a vigorous advocate for affordable health care coverage, an important issue for American small businesses and their workers. She has consistently promoted the creation of Association Health Plans (AHPs), a reform that will help to bring down the costs of health coverage so that more workers can be insured, states the organization.

Publication date: 01/03/2005