WASHINGTON - Congressman Dan Lungren recently earned the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council's "Small Business Champion Award" for his congressional voting action and advocacy on small business and entrepreneurial issues.

"While most politicians talk favorably about small businesses, U.S. Representative Lungren actually voted in favor of their key issues during the first session of the 109th Congress," said SBE Council President and CEO Karen Kerrigan in a recent press release.

The SBE Council tallies up and publishes an annual scorecard of congressional votes to report on how each member of Congress voted on issues important to entrepreneurs and the small business community. Members of the U.S. Senate were scored on 23 votes, as were members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The best policy environment for entrepreneurship and small business is one where the tax burden is low and regulations are not burdensome," said SBE Council chief economist Raymond J. Keating. "That agenda, which will keep our small business and entrepreneurial sector strong and competitive, is reflected in the votes included in 'SBE Council's Congressional Voting Scorecard; First Session, 109th Congress."

The scorecards can be viewed and downloaded from the SBE Council's Web site at: www .sbecouncil.org

"Small business owners and entrepreneurs, of course, are the backbone of the U.S. economy in terms of job creation, innovation and pushing economic growth forward," said Kerrigan.

The SBE Council is a nonpartisan small business advocacy organization that works to protect small businesses and promote entrepreneurship. According to their Web site, the SBE Council influences legislation and public policy to enhance the environment for business start-up and growth.

"Through advocacy, research and education, SBE Council members and staff convey the importance of small business to innovation, job creation, economic opportunity and the U.S. economy," the Web site states. "We communicate and take action for or against proposed initiatives that support or undermine the productive activity of entrepreneurs."

Congressman Lungren was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004, representing California's 3rd Congressional District which includes parts of Sacramento and Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras Counties.

Congressman Lungren will be holding an upcoming Town Hall meeting at the Jackson Civic Center on Saturday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. The first portion of the meeting will include an update report on major state and district issues, with the second portion of the meeting open for the congressman to take questions from the public. For more information, call the California District offices at (916) 859-9906, or go to www.house.gov/lungren.