(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- Legislation that would provide a temporary income tax credit for increased payroll for small businesses and extend bonus depreciation for an additional year will be voted on in the U.S. Senate this week. North Carolina U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan has crossed the state in support of North Carolina small businesses.

"When we've got a 9.7 percent unemployment factor in North Carolina, we've got 400,000 people out of work anything we can do help small businesses create jobs, that's what we need to be working on," said Hagan.

She added that this legislation will help companies find qualified employees in their own back yard. "One of the key challenges is there are jobs openings available, but there's a mismatch of skill sets for the jobs that are at hand."

Hagan said she expect bi-partisan support when the Senate votes on the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act.