Olympia Snowe

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, with my colleague Senator Pryor, to introduce the Job Impact Analysis Act of 2010, a bipartisan measure that will help ensure that the Federal Government--both Congress and agencies of the executive branch--fully considers small business job creation in the bills we pass here in Congress and in the rules and regulations that agencies promulgate. As the former Chair and now Ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I believe there is no more urgent imperative than job creation in our country. With 25,000 additional unemployed in my State of Maine alone, since the recession began in 2007, and twenty-three million Americans unemployed or underemployed, it is more paramount than ever that everything we do must focus like a laser on jumpstarting our economy. Furthermore, the fastest route to recovery runs through Main Street small businesses, which over the past 15 years have generated 64 percent of all net new jobs in this country, and so we must foster an entrepreneurial environment where small businesses can take risks and invest in the future to preserve and create more jobs. The legislation we are introducing today would help make sure that in whatever measure we are debating--whether it be health care reform, a jobs bill, or financial services overhaul--that we strive to discern whether it contributes to creating a climate in which our smallest enterprises and entrepreneurs cannot only survive, but thrive. It would amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to direct the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, to the extent practicable, to estimate in a ``job impact statement'' the potential job creation or job loss attributable to each bill or joint resolution reported by a congressional committee that exceeds $5 billion in costs. For years we have had environmental impact statements, and so in 2010, I do not think it is too much to ask, where are the job impact statements? As our Nation continues to reel from the worst set of economic circumstances since World War II, Congress must focus on job creation, and we must begin by ensuring all economic factors--including potential small business job creation and job loss--are fully considered in debate of every bill that we consider in the Senate. It is clear that Washington has ignored the will of the people for far too long. At a time when the Nation is struggling to dig out of the deepest recession since the Great Depression, we must ensure that our country once again brings to bear the kind of ingenuity, creativity, and innovation that made America and our free-market economy the greatest and most powerful on earth. I believe that a job impact statement attached to every bill with costs over $5 billion would provide a powerful incentive for Congress to focus its efforts where they belong and help Congress focus on what matters to the American people these days--job creation. In addition, onerous regulations are crushing the entrepreneurial spirit of America's small businesses. In 2009, there were close to 70,000 pages in the Federal Register, which chronicles new regulations by the government. Furthermore, according to research by the Small Business Administration's, SBA's, Office of Advocacy, the annual cost of Federal regulations totals $1.1 trillion, and small firms bear a disproportionate burden, paying approximately 45 percent more per employee in annual regulatory compliance costs than larger firms. Small firms also spend twice as much on tax compliance than their larger counterparts. So our legislation includes several targeted regulatory reforms that would help to ensure that Federal agencies fully consider small business implications during the rulemaking process. The reforms in our bill are based on what we introduced in the Regulatory Flexibility Reform Act in the 109th Congress and the Independent Office of Advocacy and Small Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2008, from the 110th Congress. Most of these reforms have been supported by a host of small business stakeholders, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Small Business Association, the National Association for the Self-Employed, Women Impacting Public Policy, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Legislative Council, and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Our measure would amend the Regulatory Flexibility Act, RFA, the seminal legislation, enacted in 1980, which requires agencies to consider the impact of their regulatory proposals on small businesses, to analyze effective alternatives that minimize small business impact, and to make their analyses available for public comment. The RFA requires federal agencies to conduct a small business analysis any time a proposed Federal rule would impose a ``significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses.'' Unfortunately, there remain a number of loopholes in the RFA that undermine its effectiveness in reducing these regulatory burdens. Our legislation would close loopholes in this process, while also ensuring that Federal agencies consider potential job creation and job loss during the rulemaking process. In far too many cases, Federal agencies promulgate rules and regulations without adequately addressing the economic impact on small businesses. Under our legislation agencies must consider the ``indirect'' effects of an ``economic impact.'' Rules with indirect effects are currently exempt from RFA coverage according to well-established case law. This has serious consequences for small businesses. It means that Federal agencies can avoid the various analyses required under the RFA by either requiring the states to regulate small entities or regulating an industry so rigorously that it has a negative trickle down impact on other industries. For example, rules can regulate a handful of large manufacturers in the same industry. Yet, a foreseeable, indirect effect of these rules--not presently considered under RFA analyses--is that small distributors would no longer have the right to sell the product produced by the larger manufacturers. The RFA has already saved billions of dollars for small businesses by forcing government regulators to be sensitive to their direct impact on small firms. If billions of dollars can be filtered out of direct regulatory mandates upon small business while improving workplace safety and environmental conditions, even more can be saved by filtering out unnecessary or duplicative costs to those small businesses indirectly impacted by regulation. Those dollars would be better spent by the businesses hiring more employees or providing existing employees with greater benefits, and would also help to prevent unintended job loss through regulatory requirements. Our legislation also requires Federal agencies to consider comments provided by the SBA's Office of Advocacy, which has historically not received the public attention it deserves. In case after case, it has been the last, best hope for small businesses faced with burdensome, duplicative and nonsensical Federal regulations. Our legislation would also amend the RFA to include a provision for agencies to specifically respond to comments filed by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy. Codifying this necessary change would ensure that agencies give the proper deference to the Office of Advocacy, and to the comments and concerns of small businesses. This is a straightforward and simple reform that could have major benefits. In addition, our measure would also clarify the circumstances for when ``periodic review'' under the RFA is required. Many questions have arisen as a result of ambiguous language in the RFA that has caused some confusion as to what rules require periodic review, and when. Under our bill, periodic review, with a focus on potential job creation or job loss, would be required for all final rules that would impose a significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses. Agencies would be required to review all 10-year-old rules every year to avoid confusion over which rules to review. In addition, agencies would be required to review rules every 10 years and not just the first 10 years. Finally, our bill would ensure the statutory and budgetary independence of the SBA Office of Advocacy, a key office that is intended to be the independent voice for small business within the Federal Government. It is charged with the duty of representing the views and interests of small businesses before other Federal agencies, and developing proposals for changing government policies to help small businesses. These roles can sometimes come into conflict. Our bill would resolve such conflicts in favor of the small businesses that rely on the Chief Counsel and the Office of Advocacy to be a fully independent advocate within the Executive Branch. The bill would help to reinforce a clear mandate that the Office of Advocacy must fight on behalf of small businesses, regardless of the position taken on critical issues by the administration. Funding for the Office of Advocacy currently comes from the ``Salaries and Expense Account'' of the SBA's budget. Staffing is allocated by the SBA Administrator to the Office of Advocacy from the overall staff allocation for the Agency. In 1990, there were 70 full-time employees working on behalf of small businesses in the Office of Advocacy. Today, there are fewer than 50. The independence and effectiveness of the Office is potentially diminished when the Office of Advocacy staff is reduced, at the discretion of the administrator. To address this problem, our legislation would build a firewall to minimize political intrusion into the management of day-to-day operations of the Office of Advocacy similar to the one that protects Inspectors General in other agencies. The bill would require the Federal budget to include a separate account for the Office of Advocacy drawn directly from the General Fund of the Treasury. No longer would its funds come from the general operating account of the SBA. This will free the Chief Counsel for Advocacy from having to seek approval from the SBA Administrator to hire staff for the Office of Advocacy. Our bill would leave unchanged current law that allows the Chief Counsel to hire individuals critical to the mission of the Office of Advocacy without going through the normal competitive procedures directed by Federal law and the Office of Personnel Management. This long-standing special hiring authority, which is limited only to employees within the Office of Advocacy, is beneficial because it allows the Chief Counsel to hire quickly those persons who can best assist the Office in responding to changing issues and problems confronting small businesses. This non-controversial, bipartisan legislation is absolutely necessary. I urge my colleagues to support my bill so we can ensure that our Nation's small businesses and their employees are provided with much needed relief. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, with my colleague Senator Pryor, to introduce the Job Impact Analysis Act of 2010, a bipartisan measure that will help ensure that the Federal Government--both Congress and agencies of the executive branch--fully considers small business job creation in the bills we pass here in Congress and in the rules and regulations that agencies promulgate. As the former Chair and now Ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I believe there is no more urgent imperative than job creation in our country. With 25,000 additional unemployed in my State of Maine alone, since the recession began in 2007, and twenty-three million Americans unemployed or underemployed, it is more paramount than ever that everything we do must focus like a laser on jumpstarting our economy. Furthermore, the fastest route to recovery runs through Main Street small businesses, which over the past 15 years have generated 64 percent of all net new jobs in this country, and so we must foster an entrepreneurial environment where small businesses can take risks and invest in the future to preserve and create more jobs. The legislation we are introducing today would help make sure that in whatever measure we are debating--whether it be health care reform, a jobs bill, or financial services overhaul--that we strive to discern whether it contributes to creating a climate in which our smallest enterprises and entrepreneurs cannot only survive, but thrive. It would amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to direct the Congressional Budget Office, CBO, to the extent practicable, to estimate in a ``job impact statement'' the potential job creation or job loss attributable to each bill or joint resolution reported by a congressional committee that exceeds $5 billion in costs. For years we have had environmental impact statements, and so in 2010, I do not think it is too much to ask, where are the job impact statements? As our Nation continues to reel from the worst set of economic circumstances since World War II, Congress must focus on job creation, and we must begin by ensuring all economic factors--including potential small business job creation and job loss--are fully considered in debate of every bill that we consider in the Senate. It is clear that Washington has ignored the will of the people for far too long. At a time when the Nation is struggling to dig out of the deepest recession since the Great Depression, we must ensure that our country once again brings to bear the kind of ingenuity, creativity, and innovation that made America and our free-market economy the greatest and most powerful on earth. I believe that a job impact statement attached to every bill with costs over $5 billion would provide a powerful incentive for Congress to focus its efforts where they belong and help Congress focus on what matters to the American people these days--job creation. In addition, onerous regulations are crushing the entrepreneurial spirit of America's small businesses. In 2009, there were close to 70,000 pages in the Federal Register, which chronicles new regulations by the government. Furthermore, according to research by the Small Business Administration's, SBA's, Office of Advocacy, the annual cost of Federal regulations totals $1.1 trillion, and small firms bear a disproportionate burden, paying approximately 45 percent more per employee in annual regulatory compliance costs than larger firms. Small firms also spend twice as much on tax compliance than their larger counterparts. So our legislation includes several targeted regulatory reforms that would help to ensure that Federal agencies fully consider small business implications during the rulemaking process. The reforms in our bill are based on what we introduced in the Regulatory Flexibility Reform Act in the 109th Congress and the Independent Office of Advocacy and Small Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2008, from the 110th Congress. Most of these reforms have been supported by a host of small business stakeholders, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Small Business Association, the National Association for the Self-Employed, Women Impacting Public Policy, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Legislative Council, and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Our measure would amend the Regulatory Flexibility Act, RFA, the seminal legislation, enacted in 1980, which requires agencies to consider the impact of their regulatory proposals on small businesses, to analyze effective alternatives that minimize small business impact, and to make their analyses available for public comment. The RFA requires federal agencies to conduct a small business analysis any time a proposed Federal rule would impose a ``significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses.'' Unfortunately, there remain a number of loopholes in the RFA that undermine its effectiveness in reducing these regulatory burdens. Our legislation would close loopholes in this process, while also ensuring that Federal agencies consider potential job creation and job loss during the rulemaking process. In far too many cases, Federal agencies promulgate rules and regulations without adequately addressing the economic impact on small businesses. Under our legislation agencies must consider the ``indirect'' effects of an ``economic impact.'' Rules with indirect effects are currently exempt from RFA coverage according to well-established case law. This has serious consequences for small businesses. It means that Federal agencies can avoid the various analyses required under the RFA by either requiring the states to regulate small entities or regulating an industry so rigorously that it has a negative trickle down impact on other industries. For example, rules can regulate a handful of large manufacturers in the same industry. Yet, a foreseeable, indirect effect of these rules--not presently considered under RFA analyses--is that small distributors would no longer have the right to sell the product produced by the larger manufacturers. The RFA has already saved billions of dollars for small businesses by forcing government regulators to be sensitive to their direct impact on small firms. If billions of dollars can be filtered out of direct regulatory mandates upon small business while improving workplace safety and environmental conditions, even more can be saved by filtering out unnecessary or duplicative costs to those small businesses indirectly impacted by regulation. Those dollars would be better spent by the businesses hiring more employees or providing existing employees with greater benefits, and would also help to prevent unintended job loss through regulatory requirements. Our legislation also requires Federal agencies to consider comments provided by the SBA's Office of Advocacy, which has historically not received the public attention it deserves. In case after case, it has been the last, best hope for small businesses faced with burdensome, duplicative and nonsensical Federal regulations. Our legislation would also amend the RFA to include a provision for agencies to specifically respond to comments filed by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy. Codifying this necessary change would ensure that agencies give the proper deference to the Office of Advocacy, and to the comments and concerns of small businesses. This is a straightforward and simple reform that could have major benefits. In addition, our measure would also clarify the circumstances for when ``periodic review'' under the RFA is required. Many questions have arisen as a result of ambiguous language in the RFA that has caused some confusion as to what rules require periodic review, and when. Under our bill, periodic review, with a focus on potential job creation or job loss, would be required for all final rules that would impose a significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses. Agencies would be required to review all 10-year-old rules every year to avoid confusion over which rules to review. In addition, agencies would be required to review rules every 10 years and not just the first 10 years. Finally, our bill would ensure the statutory and budgetary independence of the SBA Office of Advocacy, a key office that is intended to be the independent voice for small business within the Federal Government. It is charged with the duty of representing the views and interests of small businesses before other Federal agencies, and developing proposals for changing government policies to help small businesses. These roles can sometimes come into conflict. Our bill would resolve such conflicts in favor of the small businesses that rely on the Chief Counsel and the Office of Advocacy to be a fully independent advocate within the Executive Branch. The bill would help to reinforce a clear mandate that the Office of Advocacy must fight on behalf of small businesses, regardless of the position taken on critical issues by the administration. Funding for the Office of Advocacy currently comes from the ``Salaries and Expense Account'' of the SBA's budget. Staffing is allocated by the SBA Administrator to the Office of Advocacy from the overall staff allocation for the Agency. In 1990, there were 70 full-time employees working on behalf of small businesses in the Office of Advocacy. Today, there are fewer than 50. The independence and effectiveness of the Office is potentially diminished when the Office of Advocacy staff is reduced, at the discretion of the administrator. To address this problem, our legislation would build a firewall to minimize political intrusion into the management of day-to-day operations of the Office of Advocacy similar to the one that protects Inspectors General in other agencies. The bill would require the Federal budget to include a separate account for the Office of Advocacy drawn directly from the General Fund of the Treasury. No longer would its funds come from the general operating account of the SBA. This will free the Chief Counsel for Advocacy from having to seek approval from the SBA Administrator to hire staff for the Office of Advocacy. Our bill would leave unchanged current law that allows the Chief Counsel to hire individuals critical to the mission of the Office of Advocacy without going through the normal competitive procedures directed by Federal law and the Office of Personnel Management. This long-standing special hiring authority, which is limited only to employees within the Office of Advocacy, is beneficial because it allows the Chief Counsel to hire quickly those persons who can best assist the Office in responding to changing issues and problems confronting small businesses. This non-controversial, bipartisan legislation is absolutely necessary. I urge my colleagues to support my bill so we can ensure that our Nation's small businesses and their employees are provided with much needed relief. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, this Sunday, we celebrate Valentine's Day, when couples across the world take a moment to slow down and show each other their appreciation and love. Along with ``Be My Valentine'' cards and boxes of chocolate, one of the symbols most connected with this special day is a beautiful bouquet of red roses. With that in mind, I wish to recognize a small florist in my home State of Maine that continually provides customers with quality flowers and gifts--and at this time of year, makes Valentine's Day a sweet event. Chapel Hill Floral, a small flower shop in Bangor, opened its doors on the corner of West Broadway and Hammond Street in October of 2000. The full service florist sells a wide variety of floral arrangements for all occasions, from weddings to birthdays to everyday moments. Additionally, Chapel Hill stocks a number of plants, as well as baskets and hangers for them. The store also sells a vast array of gifts to complement any floral selection, including Boyd's bears, local wines from nearby Winterport Winery, and delicious staples from Maine-based Stonewall Kitchen. A name synonymous with quality in the Bangor region, Chapel Hill has three Maine master floral designers on staff. This designation was established in 2003 for those passing a wide-ranging course in floral mechanics and techniques offered by the Maine State Florists' and Growers' Association. Indeed, Chapel Hill's dedication to excellence and its employees' sense of pride in their work has led to a truly satisfied clientele. Additionally, to build a bond with the local community, Chapel Hill Floral offers a series of timely and entertaining classes on how to design beautiful floral arrangements. Most recently, in preparation for Valentine's Day, Chapel Hill offered the ``Prelude to a Kiss'' class, where students turned a half-dozen red roses into a beautiful display with several accoutrements, such as babies' breath and Calyx leaves. Other classes in the near future include the hopeful and aptly named ``Tropical Getaway'' and ``Spring in a Basket.'' Additionally, for anyone who places an order prior to Valentine's Day, their name will be automatically placed in a drawing for an overnight weekend stay at the Lucerne Inn, one of Maine's most quaint and historic hotels. The package includes dinner for two, Sunday brunch, and a dozen beautiful red roses, making it the perfect romantic getaway! Finally, Chapel Hill's superb work has been recognized by Market Surveys of America as the ``Best Flower Shop'' in the Greater Bangor area 3 years in a row, from 2007 to 2009. Additionally, Mark Pellon, who is one of Chapel Hill's Maine master floral designers was named the Maine State Florists' and Growers' Association's Designer of the Year for 2008, a distinct and well- deserved honor. Clearly, Chapel Hill Floral has made a lasting impression on its customers in the Bangor area, and the company's unique marketing efforts are truly noteworthy. My sincerest thanks to owners Barbara and Rick Frye and everyone at Chapel Hill Floral for all of their excellent work, and my best wishes for a pleasant Valentine's season and a successful year.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, manufacturers across the country have been hit hard in this current downturn. In fact, the manufacturing sector has lost 2.1 million jobs since the beginning of the recession in December 2007--roughly 15 percent of its total employment. That is why it is heartening to see that a small manufacturing company in my home State of Maine is hiring new employees and seeking to grow its product line. Today I recognize this firm, Maine Manufacturing LLC in Sanford, for the tremendous work it is doing to hasten an economic recovery in the region by putting people back to work. Maine Manufacturing, which specializes in the production of several disposable laboratory supplies like filters and centrifuge tubes frequently used in research and university labs as well as pharmaceutical and biotech companies, was founded in 2008 by Craig Cunningham, who formerly served as the director of engineering for Whatman Inc.'s Sanford plant. Whatman, a British laboratory equipment maker that is now part of GE Healthcare, announced in September 2008 that it would be shutting its Sanford plant over the course of the next year, leaving over 200 employees without work. Seeking to mitigate the negative effects in the local community, Mr. Cunningham and his colleague, William Emhiser, requested that GE Healthcare operate the plant until early 2010 and keep roughly 70 employees until that time, allowing Maine Manufacturing to fully take over the facility. GE Healthcare agreed, and on January 4, 2010 Maine Manufacturing took over six product lines from the company. Mr. Cunningham's company started very small, with three full-time employees and four part-time workers just a year ago. To grow his business, Mr. Cunningham applied for and received a $100,000 community development block grant, which provided working capital to the company and afforded his business the opportunity to purchase critical new equipment. The grant also allowed Maine Manufacturing to create 12 new jobs. To further increase its workforce, the company recently offered jobs to 66 employees who previously worked at GE Healthcare. While creating quality jobs for Mainers, Maine Manufacturing is simultaneously becoming a major supplier to GE Healthcare, producing filters and other parts the company uses to manufacture larger products. Additionally, the company hopes to expand even more in the coming years to become a recognized leader in its industry. Because the recession has hit small businesses the hardest, it is all the more impressive that Maine Manufacturing has made such tremendous strides in growing, expanding, and hiring over the past year. These firms employ just over half of all employees in the private sector, and Maine Manufacturing has provided them with a model for successful job growth in coming years, which will be essential to the revitalization of the American economy. I am grateful for the actions of Craig Cunningham and William Emhiser to create necessary jobs for Maine workers, and I look forward to hearing future good news about their impressive company.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise today, along with Senator Landrieu, to introduce the Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2010. This critical piece of legislation is the direct result of consensus-building and compromise, and continues the bipartisan tradition of the Small Business Committee. I also wish to thank Chair Landrieu for her partnership with me in forging this truly crucial measure as we work toward contracting parity for small business, and for her tireless leadership on all concerns confronting small businesses today. The Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2010 retains critical procurement provisions that originate in the comprehensive contracting bills I introduced or cosponsored in the 109th and 110th Congresses which were unanimously voted out of the Small Business Committee. This particular legislation will serve to minimize the use of contract bundling and consolidation of contracts by the Federal Government, and increase the ability of small businesses to fairly compete for such contracts through a host of key improvements, including allowing small businesses to join together in teams to bid on certain procurement opportunities. Additional requirements will help to ensure prompt payment from prime contractors to subcontractors, and make it easier for the Federal Government to prosecute businesses who fraudulently identify themselves as small companies. Since the mid-1990s, with the enactment of acquisition streamlining reforms and the downsizing of the Federal procurement workforce, small businesses have faced a litany of hurdles that have deprived them of Federal contracting dollars. One such impediment is contract bundling which takes contracting opportunities out of the hands of deserving small businesses by grouping numerous small contracts and bundling them into one large award. Ill-equipped to manage the demands of these consolidated awards due to a lack of resources, small business owners again find themselves crowded out of the Federal contracting process. Consequently, the bipartisan measure we are introducing today reflects the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office, GAO, to impose stricter reviews and more comprehensive reporting of bundled contracts, encourages small business teaming to bid on larger contracts, and promotes Federal agency publishing and use of best practices. Additional obstacles to successful small business contracting include ``bait and switch'' tactics used by prime contractors who use small firms in developing bids but do not subcontract with them once a contract has been awarded. Our bill will address this concern as well as other ongoing problems such as large businesses posing as small businesses, flawed reporting data, and agencies who fail to meet their small business contracting goals. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am further dismayed by the myriad ways that government agencies have time and again egregiously failed to meet the vast majority of their small business statutory ``goaling'' requirements. It is unconscionable that the statutory goal for only one category of small business--small disadvantaged businesses--has been met, and that goals for the three other programs--HUBZones, women-owned small businesses, and service-disabled veterans-owned businesses--have never been achieved. Consider that, in 2007, small businesses were eligible for $378 billion in Federal contracting awards, yet received only $83 billion. This blatant failure to utilize small businesses, thus preventing them to secure their fair share of Federal contracting dollars, has resulted in firms losing billions of dollars in contracting opportunities. But 23 percent is only a base goal--we must strive to exceed it, not just meet it. In the last two years alone, the Small Business Committee has held numerous hearings and roundtables to identify and explain small business' contracting concerns. In addition, the GAO and the Small Business Administration's Inspector General have issued multiple reports addressing small business Federal contracting deficiencies. Our legislation builds on the contracting provisions of previous Small Business Committee contracting bills by endowing the SBA with additional tools to meet the demands of an ever-changing 21st century contracting environment. That said, I am greatly encouraged by the latest statistics relating to Federal contracting dollars awarded to small businesses from the funds appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA. Preliminary reports show that, as of February 1, 2010, small businesses have received over 29 percent of the ARRA Federal contracting dollars, well-exceeding the imposed 23 percent statutory goal. This begs the question, if the Federal government can not only meet but exceed these requirements for the Recovery Act, why can't these goals be met year in and year out? The simple answer is they can. I am hopeful that this administration will make a conscious effort to reverse the government-wide failure to meet small business goals on a consistent basis. I am confident that this legislation will result in the changes necessary to reduce fraud and waste while paving the way for the Federal government to maximize the use of America's innovative small businesses in the contracting arena. Again, I want to recognize Senator Landrieu for her leadership in this matter, and for her continuing commitment to the small business community.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise today, along with Senator Landrieu, to introduce the Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2010. This critical piece of legislation is the direct result of consensus-building and compromise, and continues the bipartisan tradition of the Small Business Committee. I also wish to thank Chair Landrieu for her partnership with me in forging this truly crucial measure as we work toward contracting parity for small business, and for her tireless leadership on all concerns confronting small businesses today. The Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2010 retains critical procurement provisions that originate in the comprehensive contracting bills I introduced or cosponsored in the 109th and 110th Congresses which were unanimously voted out of the Small Business Committee. This particular legislation will serve to minimize the use of contract bundling and consolidation of contracts by the Federal Government, and increase the ability of small businesses to fairly compete for such contracts through a host of key improvements, including allowing small businesses to join together in teams to bid on certain procurement opportunities. Additional requirements will help to ensure prompt payment from prime contractors to subcontractors, and make it easier for the Federal Government to prosecute businesses who fraudulently identify themselves as small companies. Since the mid-1990s, with the enactment of acquisition streamlining reforms and the downsizing of the Federal procurement workforce, small businesses have faced a litany of hurdles that have deprived them of Federal contracting dollars. One such impediment is contract bundling which takes contracting opportunities out of the hands of deserving small businesses by grouping numerous small contracts and bundling them into one large award. Ill-equipped to manage the demands of these consolidated awards due to a lack of resources, small business owners again find themselves crowded out of the Federal contracting process. Consequently, the bipartisan measure we are introducing today reflects the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office, GAO, to impose stricter reviews and more comprehensive reporting of bundled contracts, encourages small business teaming to bid on larger contracts, and promotes Federal agency publishing and use of best practices. Additional obstacles to successful small business contracting include ``bait and switch'' tactics used by prime contractors who use small firms in developing bids but do not subcontract with them once a contract has been awarded. Our bill will address this concern as well as other ongoing problems such as large businesses posing as small businesses, flawed reporting data, and agencies who fail to meet their small business contracting goals. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am further dismayed by the myriad ways that government agencies have time and again egregiously failed to meet the vast majority of their small business statutory ``goaling'' requirements. It is unconscionable that the statutory goal for only one category of small business--small disadvantaged businesses--has been met, and that goals for the three other programs--HUBZones, women-owned small businesses, and service-disabled veterans-owned businesses--have never been achieved. Consider that, in 2007, small businesses were eligible for $378 billion in Federal contracting awards, yet received only $83 billion. This blatant failure to utilize small businesses, thus preventing them to secure their fair share of Federal contracting dollars, has resulted in firms losing billions of dollars in contracting opportunities. But 23 percent is only a base goal--we must strive to exceed it, not just meet it. In the last two years alone, the Small Business Committee has held numerous hearings and roundtables to identify and explain small business' contracting concerns. In addition, the GAO and the Small Business Administration's Inspector General have issued multiple reports addressing small business Federal contracting deficiencies. Our legislation builds on the contracting provisions of previous Small Business Committee contracting bills by endowing the SBA with additional tools to meet the demands of an ever-changing 21st century contracting environment. That said, I am greatly encouraged by the latest statistics relating to Federal contracting dollars awarded to small businesses from the funds appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA. Preliminary reports show that, as of February 1, 2010, small businesses have received over 29 percent of the ARRA Federal contracting dollars, well-exceeding the imposed 23 percent statutory goal. This begs the question, if the Federal government can not only meet but exceed these requirements for the Recovery Act, why can't these goals be met year in and year out? The simple answer is they can. I am hopeful that this administration will make a conscious effort to reverse the government-wide failure to meet small business goals on a consistent basis. I am confident that this legislation will result in the changes necessary to reduce fraud and waste while paving the way for the Federal government to maximize the use of America's innovative small businesses in the contracting arena. Again, I want to recognize Senator Landrieu for her leadership in this matter, and for her continuing commitment to the small business community.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise to submit the National Women and Girls in Sports Day resolution. As we celebrate the 24th anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, I am pleased to be joined by colleagues, Senator Murray, Senator Mikulski, and Senator Bingaman. The celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day began in remembrance of Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her commitment to ensuring equality for women's sports. Tragically, Hyman died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament. In that same year, I introduced a joint resolution commemorating the first National Women in Sports Day in 1987. With today marking the 24th anniversary of this celebration, we continue to honor all girls and women, recognizing past and current achievements in athletics, as well as the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports. We undoubtedly have a plethora of women athletes who deserve our admiration and appreciation with the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Just a few weeks ago, the most decorated female skier in U.S. history Lindsey Vonn was named the 2009 Sports Woman of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee. That remarkable achievement occurred on the heels of earning the distinction of Female Athlete of the Decade by NBC's Universal Sports. While her athletic talent alone make both these awards certainly well-deserved, Ms. Vonn is also widely respected for her indomitable tenacity and resilience: In the 2006 Olympic Winter Games she continued her race despite a horrific crash and earned the Olympic Spirit Award. No doubt she will carry her ``Olympic Spirit'' in this year's competition as well. It is clear that while we celebrate the tremendous progress women's sports have made since the commencement of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we cannot sit on the sidelines. As reflected in this year's theme, ``Stay Strong, Play On'', we must continue to build on the outstanding successes in sports participation by girls and women over the past several decades. Again, I applaud the girls and women across the state of Maine and our country for their participation and leadership in athletics as we celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day--today and every day.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise today to discuss the Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2010. This critical piece of legislation is the direct result of consensus-building and compromise, and continues the bipartisan tradition of the Small Business Committee. I also wish to thank Chair Landrieu for her partnership with me in forging this truly crucial measure as we work toward contracting parity for small business, and for her tireless leadership on all concerns confronting small businesses today. The Small Business Revitalization Act of 2010 retains critical procurement provisions that originate in the comprehensive contracting bills I introduced or cosponsored in the 109th and 110th Congresses which were unanimously voted out of the Small Business Committee. This particular legislation will serve to minimize the use of contract bundling and consolidation of contracts by the Federal Government, and increase the ability of small businesses to fairly compete for such contracts through a host of key improvements, including allowing small businesses to join together in teams to bid on certain procurement opportunities. Additional requirements will help to ensure prompt payment from prime contractors to subcontractors, and make it easier for the Federal government to prosecute businesses who fraudulently identify themselves as small companies. Since the mid-1990s, with the enactment of acquisition streamlining reforms and the downsizing of the Federal procurement workforce, small businesses have faced a litany of hurdles that have deprived them of Federal contracting dollars. One such impediment is contract bundling which takes contracting opportunities out of the hands of deserving small businesses by grouping numerous small contracts and bundling them into one large award. Ill-equipped to manage the demands of these consolidated awards due to a lack of resources, small business owners again find themselves crowded out of the Federal contracting process. Consequently, the bipartisan measure we are introducing reflects the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office, GAO, to impose stricter reviews and more comprehensive reporting of bundled contracts, encourages small business teaming to bid on larger contracts, and promotes Federal agency publishing and use of best practices. Additional obstacles to successful small business contracting include ``bait and switch'' tactics used by prime contractors who use small firms in developing bids but do not subcontract with them once a contract has been awarded. Our bill will address this concern as well as other ongoing problems such as large businesses posing as small businesses, flawed reporting data, and agencies who fail to meet their small business contracting goals. As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am further dismayed by the myriad ways that government agencies have time and again egregiously failed to meet the vast majority of their small business statutory ``goaling'' requirements. It is unconscionable that the statutory goal for only one category of small business--small disadvantaged businesses--has been met, and that goals for the three other programs HUBZones, women-owned small businesses, and service-disabled veterans-owned businesses--have never been achieved. Consider that, in 2007, small businesses were eligible for $378 billion in Federal contracting awards, yet received only $83 billion. This blatant failure to utilize small businesses, thus preventing them to secure their fair share of Federal contracting dollars, has resulted in firms losing billions of dollars in contracting opportunities. But 23 percent is only a base goal. We must strive to exceed it, not just meet it. In the last 2 years alone, the Small Business Committee has held numerous hearings and roundtables to identify and explain small business' contracting concerns. In addition, the GAO and the Small Business Administration's, SBA, inspector general have issued multiple reports addressing small business Federal contracting deficiencies. Our legislation builds on the contracting provisions of previous Small Business Committee contracting bills by endowing the SBA with additional tools to meet the demands of an ever-changing 21st century contracting environment. That said, I am greatly encouraged by the latest statistics relating to Federal contracting dollars awarded to small businesses from the funds appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ARRA. Preliminary reports show that as of February 1, 2010, small businesses have received over 29 percent of the ARRA Federal contracting dollars, well exceeding the imposed 23 percent statutory goal. This begs the question, if the Federal Government can not only meet but exceed these requirements for the Recovery Act, why can't these goals be met year in and year out? The simple answer is they can. I am hopeful this administration will make a conscious effort to reverse the government-wide failure to meet small business goals on a consistent basis. I am confident that this legislation will result in the changes necessary to reduce fraud and waste while paving the way for the Federal Government to maximize the use of America's innovative small businesses in the contracting arena. Again, I want to recognize Senator Landrieu for her leadership in this matter and for her continuing commitment to the small business community.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today with my friend and colleague Senator Thune to introduce the Reevaluate and Redirect the Stimulus Act of 2010 that would require the Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget, OMB, to make proposals to redirect stimulus funds approved in last year's $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Although I supported the stimulus and favor the continuation of pro-growth policies, given that the federal deficit for Fiscal Year 2009 was a staggering $1.4 trillion and that the Congressional Budget Office announced on January 26 that it is projecting a baseline deficit of $6.047 trillion over the next 10 years, Congress must do more to pair the resources targeted for job creation with reductions in other areas. Before I describe the provisions of the legislation I am introducing today, I must say that it is regrettable that I feel compelled to offer a bill at all. The fact is, I wrote a letter last December 11 to OMB Director Peter Orszag urging him to analyze unobligated funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to determine whether they should be reprogrammed to offset the cost of future stimulus legislation. Although my letter requested a response by January 1, the administration, who is solely responsible for distributing stimulus spending, has declined to do so. The Administration also opted against including any related proposals in its just-released Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. I find it inconceivable that there are no funds that should be redirected, and thus the Administration has concluded that every dollar we approved last February is working precisely as intended. Additionally, I am particularly concerned by proposals to pay for additional stimulus by reducing the authorization level for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, TARP, as the House did last December. The fact is that further stimulus spending claimed to be offset by reducing TARP's authorization level would still increase the deficit relative to simply not using additional TARP funds at all. Despite OMB's inattention to my request, the administration and Congress both remain accountable to ensure that each dollar we spend on stimulus either creates jobs at a greater rate or protects displaced individuals at a lower cost than competing policies on the table. To the degree that either the tax or spending proposals President Obama has or that members of Congress want to pursue are more beneficial than proceeding to obligate funds still available in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the administration and Congress should assess the possibility of redirecting those resources. We simply cannot afford to be poor fiscal stewards and engage in wasteful spending that will rob future generations of prosperity. To fulfill this fundamental obligation, the legislation I am offering today would make it a statutory requirement for OMB, within the next 15 days, to provide Congress with a list of provisions from the stimulus for which there remain funds that have not yet been obligated. Second, OMB would be required to provide Congress with a list of programs included in the stimulus with remaining unobligated funds that it recommends be redirected toward more effective programs to either assist the displaced, or spur job creation. Once Congress receives the administration's proposals, all Members, as well as the appropriate Congressional committees, can evaluate their suitability with an eye toward using them as offsets for forthcoming legislation. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation and help to swiftly make it law. The administration and Congress must work together to address our tremendous budget deficit and insist that every dollar we spend promotes its objective. Given that it oversees stimulus spending and has the capacity to evaluate whether programs are working as intended, it is only appropriate that the administration complete the first step of this process and provide Congress with a list of spending that could be redirected. Once it does so, I will certainly insist that Congress discharge its responsibility of carefully evaluating the administration's proposals. Individuals seeking relief from the recession that has so ravaged our economy expect nothing less as it is unfair to waste dollars that could be more beneficial elsewhere, and future generations who will have to repay today's deficits will thank us as well. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today with my friend and colleague Senator Thune to introduce the Reevaluate and Redirect the Stimulus Act of 2010 that would require the Obama Administration's Office of Management and Budget, OMB, to make proposals to redirect stimulus funds approved in last year's $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Although I supported the stimulus and favor the continuation of pro-growth policies, given that the federal deficit for Fiscal Year 2009 was a staggering $1.4 trillion and that the Congressional Budget Office announced on January 26 that it is projecting a baseline deficit of $6.047 trillion over the next 10 years, Congress must do more to pair the resources targeted for job creation with reductions in other areas. Before I describe the provisions of the legislation I am introducing today, I must say that it is regrettable that I feel compelled to offer a bill at all. The fact is, I wrote a letter last December 11 to OMB Director Peter Orszag urging him to analyze unobligated funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to determine whether they should be reprogrammed to offset the cost of future stimulus legislation. Although my letter requested a response by January 1, the administration, who is solely responsible for distributing stimulus spending, has declined to do so. The Administration also opted against including any related proposals in its just-released Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. I find it inconceivable that there are no funds that should be redirected, and thus the Administration has concluded that every dollar we approved last February is working precisely as intended. Additionally, I am particularly concerned by proposals to pay for additional stimulus by reducing the authorization level for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, TARP, as the House did last December. The fact is that further stimulus spending claimed to be offset by reducing TARP's authorization level would still increase the deficit relative to simply not using additional TARP funds at all. Despite OMB's inattention to my request, the administration and Congress both remain accountable to ensure that each dollar we spend on stimulus either creates jobs at a greater rate or protects displaced individuals at a lower cost than competing policies on the table. To the degree that either the tax or spending proposals President Obama has or that members of Congress want to pursue are more beneficial than proceeding to obligate funds still available in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the administration and Congress should assess the possibility of redirecting those resources. We simply cannot afford to be poor fiscal stewards and engage in wasteful spending that will rob future generations of prosperity. To fulfill this fundamental obligation, the legislation I am offering today would make it a statutory requirement for OMB, within the next 15 days, to provide Congress with a list of provisions from the stimulus for which there remain funds that have not yet been obligated. Second, OMB would be required to provide Congress with a list of programs included in the stimulus with remaining unobligated funds that it recommends be redirected toward more effective programs to either assist the displaced, or spur job creation. Once Congress receives the administration's proposals, all Members, as well as the appropriate Congressional committees, can evaluate their suitability with an eye toward using them as offsets for forthcoming legislation. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation and help to swiftly make it law. The administration and Congress must work together to address our tremendous budget deficit and insist that every dollar we spend promotes its objective. Given that it oversees stimulus spending and has the capacity to evaluate whether programs are working as intended, it is only appropriate that the administration complete the first step of this process and provide Congress with a list of spending that could be redirected. Once it does so, I will certainly insist that Congress discharge its responsibility of carefully evaluating the administration's proposals. Individuals seeking relief from the recession that has so ravaged our economy expect nothing less as it is unfair to waste dollars that could be more beneficial elsewhere, and future generations who will have to repay today's deficits will thank us as well. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, nearly 2 weeks ago we first witnessed the devastation that came about as a result of the massive earthquake in Haiti. As millions of Americans watched the heart-wrenching scenes on television, we united as a people to send millions of dollars and tons of supplies to the Haitian people through dozens of established and respected relief organizations. Nonetheless, tens of thousands of Haitians remain displaced, without food or shelter, and many are still in need of urgent medical attention. I rise today to recognize the efforts of Penobscot Bay Medical Center, a small hospital in my home State of Maine, to bring help to the people of Haiti in this time of tragedy. The Penobscot Bay Medical Center got its start as an 11-bed hospital in 1901. Known then as the Knox County General Hospital, the small facility was run at that time by nine doctors. Over the years, the hospital had undergone renovations and grown into its present full- service, 109-bed location. Penobscot Bay employs a medical staff of over 85 physicians, allowing the hospital to offer its patients an extensive range of specialty and subspecialty services. The hospital was named to the 2008 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Hospital Honor Roll for being among the top 25 percent of acute care hospitals evaluated nationally by the health plan. Additionally, the Maine State Employee Health Commission has repeatedly recognized Penobscot Bay Medical Center as a tier 1 hospital, and the Maine Health Management Coalition's Pathways to Excellence Hospital Measurement and Reporting Initiative has given the facility multiple blue ribbon awards based on its performance in a number of critical safety and clinical quality areas. Through the generosity of the hospital, three doctors--general surgeon Douglas Cole, urologist Lars Ellison, and orthopedist Kevin Olehnik--departed Maine en route to Haiti last Wednesday. Having been to the Caribbean nation in the past, as part of a Notre Dame Haiti Program trip in 2008, the doctors are all familiar with the people and places of Haiti. The Notre Dame Haiti Program, which is led by Father Tom Streit of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, is dedicated to fighting lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like worms spread through infected mosquitoes. More than 26 percent of the Haitian population has the disease, which is prevalent in the subtropical regions of Asia and Africa, as well as parts of the Caribbean. In fact, the doctors were set to return to Haiti in February to help dozens more people through the Notre Dame Haiti Program. Yet after hearing about the earthquake, the doctors decided to fly to Haiti as quickly as possible to help with the ongoing relief efforts. They are in the country for a week or two, helping people with broken bones and performing other general surgeries. Their generosity is overwhelming, and it is a true testament to the magnanimous spirit of the resolute people of Maine. We are defined as a people by what we do in times of tragedy, and I am proud to say that these three Mainers have gone above and beyond their Hippocratic Oath to willingly put their lives on hold in order to help the less fortunate in Haiti. They are extraordinary examples of how the American people time and again respond so charitably to the misfortunes of others. I commend Drs. Cole, Ellison, and Olehnik for their selfless service to others in this time of catastrophe, and I thank everyone at Penobscot Bay Medical Center for the remarkable work they do day in and day out to keep Mainers healthy.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I recognize Jo Anne Goodnight, an extraordinary member of my staff who will shortly be leaving the Hill to return to her position as division of special programs director and SBIR/STTR program manager at the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Jo Anne has brought tremendous enthusiasm, insight, and expertise to her position as a detailee for the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and I am sad to see her leave. Jo Anne joined my committee staff in June 2009 to help me shepherd the reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, and Small Business Technology Transfer, or STTR, programs through the Senate. These critical initiatives help move innovative ideas from mind to marketplace, and there is probably no one who understands the details of these programs better than Jo Anne. A recognized expert in her field, she began her present position at NIH in 1999, where she manages and coordinates the SBIR and STTR programs for the Department of Health and Human Services' public health agencies, such as NIH, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In her capacity as program manager, Jo Anne has appeared as a witness before many congressional committees, which is why I had the utmost confidence that she would hit the ground running upon her arrival at the committee--and she did! From her first moment here, Jo Anne established a reputation as a hardworking, intelligent, and dedicated staff member. She dedicated countless hours preparing me to work towards a consensus to reauthorize the SBIR and STTR programs with my colleagues, and she was a vocal leader at staff-driven meetings. She had no shortage of ideas on how best to advance our interests, and was open and honest about the best approach to take in forging a compromise. While our work is not complete regarding a long-term reauthorization of these initiatives, Jo Anne has laid a tremendous foundation for our future negotiations. As time went on, Jo Anne demonstrated a strong capacity for developing new ideas, and she began aiding me with other issue areas, such as innovation and technology. Her assistance was essential in helping to move a critical bill I introduced with Senator Mark Pryor on science parks through the Commerce Committee. Additionally, Jo Anne helped me add language to the bill encouraging the development of science and research parks on bases closed by the Base Realignment and Closure process. I am hopeful that this language, if passed by the full Senate, will help communities like Brunswick, ME, redevelop quickly. Jo Anne has had a remarkable career in and out of government. In addition to her most recent service at NIH, she worked for several years at the National Cancer Institute, or NCI, as its SBIR/STTR program coordinator and the special assistant to the director of the division of cancer biology. She also has extensive research experience at the NIH, the FDA, the University of Southern California, and, as an undergraduate cooperative education student from Virginia Tech, at the Department of Agriculture's Animal Parasitology Institute in Maryland. Throughout her lengthy career, Jo Anne has been the recipient of numerous awards, including three NIH Director's Awards and five more NIH Merit Awards for dedication, initiative, and exemplary contributions to various projects. Jo Anne has also won the 1996 Outstanding Performance Award from the NCI's division of cancer biology, and the 2007 Federal Executive Institute's Certificate of Achievement. What is most striking about Jo Anne--aside from her remarkable intelligence and passion for her work--is her easygoing and humorous nature. A true joke teller, Jo Anne loves to laugh and make others laugh with her. She is a kind and generous person who is constantly willing to help her coworkers in any way possible. Jo Anne always has a smile on her face, and her upbeat personality makes her a pleasure to work with. Additionally, Jo Anne and her husband Will have a home in Lamoine, a small coastal town near Maine's beautiful Acadia National Park. They find themselves driving to Maine at least once a month, and Jo Anne hopes to relocate there in the coming years. It is wonderful talking with her about all of the great and unique places to visit in the area, and I am thrilled that she has fallen so deeply in love with my home State. Jo Anne also enjoys spending time with her colleagues off the Hill. In October, she organized an office chili cook-off, where members of my staff brought pots of their homemade chili to Jo Anne's home. There, they enjoyed a wonderful afternoon dedicated to getting to know one another better while consuming numerous varieties of chili. Jo Anne was a gracious hostess, and everyone greatly enjoyed the experience. I am honored to have had someone as talented and passionate as Jo Anne Goodnight on my staff. Jo Anne brings a visible sense of dedication and professionalism to the job every day, and her commendable work ethic and incredible creativity are sources of pride. I wish Jo Anne and her family the best of luck as she transitions back to the NIH, and look forward to seeing her in Maine.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as our country seeks a sustained recovery, we will be looking to innovative small businesses to jumpstart the Nation's economy. My home State of Maine is home to hundreds of such firms that display the stellar ingenuity and creativity of the American people. Today I recognize one of these businesses, Applied Thermal Sciences of Sanford, which has been at the cutting edge of engineering for over two decades. Founded as a sole-proprietorship in 1989, Applied Thermal Sciences, or ATS, is rooted in the promotion of thermal, structural and fluid sciences. Specifically, ATS, which was later incorporated in 1998, focuses on the research and development of fuel-efficient engines and propulsion systems. The company's high-skilled and diligent employees regularly work on a number of contracts for both government and industry, and their solutions are often recognized as groundbreaking. They fabricate prototypes in-house for testing, using computer modeling and simulations to ensure that these archetypes are of the highest quality. The research facilities at ATS house critical engineering workstations, high-tech supercomputers, various analytical tools, and significant experimental lab space. Additionally, the fabrication facilities include a machine shop and laser welding equipment, giving them a leg up when competing for contracts and customers. ATS employs a unique system that combines laser welding with a gas- metal arc weld, thereby enabling customers to manufacture products with improved metallurgical properties at higher speeds and with greater reliability and repeatability than typically possible. Utilizing this distinctive method, ATS is able to provide its clients the most advanced and state-of-the-art technology available. Indeed, because of this exceptional technology, ATS recently won a major multi-year award from Bath Iron Works to produce hybrid laser welded panels for the Navy's DDG 1000 destroyer, and later earned the 2008 Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award. One of ATS's most impressive prototypes is the high-performance toroidal engine concept, or HiPerTEC, engine. This inventive technology, which is hundreds of pounds lighter than a traditional engine of similar power, provides an unprecedented power-to-weight ratio in an internal combustion engine. Additionally, HiPerTEC's combustion processes are extraordinarily fuel efficient, a crucial concern for ATS's numerous clients. Another of ATS's ground-breaking projects is its low-cost flight test platform which seeks to acquire knowledge in the operation of ramjet and scramjet engines. Funded by the Office of Naval Research, the platform provides a cost savings of 90 to 95 percent, bridging the gap between ground testing and traditional, high-cost flight testing. Leading the way in accelerating remarkable technological advances, Applied Thermal Sciences has earned the trust of its public and private clients by consistently providing them with cost-effective and forward- looking solutions. I thank Karl Hoose, the firm's president and owner, ATS's vice president Fred Webber, and everyone at the company for their remarkable work, and wish them continued success in the future.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, with Christmas just a few short days away, we have all witnessed the signs of the season popping up in our neighborhoods. From vibrant wreaths and Christmas trees to wind-blown snow banks, these peaceful symbols provide many of us with a comforting feeling of home. Today I recognize a small Maine nursery that grows its own beautiful poinsettias, and supplies many other seasonal flora, to accentuate the beauty of the Christmas season. Estabrook's has been a reliable family-owned, full service garden center for more than 50 years. Located in the coastal town of Yarmouth, Estabrook's grows fresh plants in its over 20 greenhouses and outdoor growing areas. The company also operates seasonal locations in Scarborough and, beginning earlier this year, in Kennebunk. Home to an abundance of trees and shrubs, perennial and annual flowers, and seeds for growing vegetables, Estabrook's also carries a variety of gardening supplies, such as chemicals, fertilizers and tools. In an effort to better inform its customers about the wonders of gardening, Estabrook's user-friendly website offers a variety of tips and best practices regarding caring for flowers and plants. To properly celebrate the holidays, Estabrook's provides its clients with an abundance of seasonal items. For example, during the Christmas season the nursery creates stunning fresh centerpieces and grows its own brilliant red poinsettias. Additionally, aside from Christmas trees and wreaths, the company stocks a variety of garlands, roping, and other timely decorating supplies and ornaments to bring home the memorable sights and smells of the season. Beyond its role as a stellar nursery, Estabrook's prides itself as being an extraordinarily active member of the local community. The company has widely promoted the Herbie Project, an undertaking to save New England's largest American Elm Tree, known to locals as Herbie. This initiative is particularly noteworthy given that Yarmouth has lost roughly 800 American Elm trees to Dutch Elm Disease over the past fifty years. Additionally, Estabrook's has donated its gift certificates, cleverly known as ``Estabucks,'' to community efforts, including the Holiday Boast N Toast Auction to benefit the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce's Scholarship Fund and YarmouthCAN, a nonprofit that assists those needing a helping hand. The nursery has also taken great strides toward creating the Yarmouth Community Garden, which raises vegetables that are then donated to the area's disadvantaged individuals and families. A well-known and trusted name in the community for over half a century, Estabrook's is a valued business in the town of Yarmouth because of its longstanding dedication to quality greenery and its visible presence in civic endeavors townwide. I thank everyone at Estabrook's for their caring and kind commitment to others, and wish them a happy and safe holiday season.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, as we approach the holiday season, we are frequently reminded of the generosity and warmth that Americans demonstrate year in and year out at this most festive time. In particular, we often hear stories of employees at local businesses who graciously donate their time and efforts to help the less fortunate. This week I wish to recognize the employees of one such company who consistently work to improve the lot of everyone in their community. Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications of Bangor is a cutting- edge firm that specializes in a host of marketing topics, including public relations, media, and branding. Specifically, the company helps its customers design memorable flyers and mailers, effective television advertisements, and state-of-the-art Web sites, and teaches them the increased value of employing popular social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, in their marketing decisions. Since its inception in 2005, Sutherland Weston has assisted dozens of clients throughout Maine seeking ways to enhance their image and broaden their customer base. Among them are local small businesses such as Maine Wood Concepts of Guilford and Raye's Mustard Mill of Eastport; organizations like the Bangor Symphony Orchestra; and institutions such as the University of Maine. Furthermore, members of the Sutherland Weston team participate regularly in conferences and seminars to better educate the public on how to maximize marketing strategies. One such event is the Social Media 101 seminar, held this past March, where the firm's owners-- Elizabeth Sutherland and Cary Weston--presented a workshop designed at increasing the professional use of sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The nine employees of Sutherland Weston are also active members of the greater Bangor community, contributing to various philanthropic endeavors on a regular basis. This past June, the company took part in the 25th Trek Across Maine in support of the American Lung Association. The ``Green Marketeers,'' including Sutherland Weston employees, spouses, and friends, took to their bicycles for the 180-mile trip from Bethel's Sunday River mountain to the coastal town of Belfast, raising nearly $8,000 in pledges along the way. Additionally, in recognition of the true meaning of Christmas, the company's employees donated time and talent this year to creating a new, user-friendly Web site called Christmas is for Kids, a critical program that facilitates donations of holiday gifts for underprivileged children across Maine. The Web site allows users to find the name and hometown of a child, as well as the specific gift he or she is requesting, adding a personal touch to the experience. Donors indicate which gift they are willing to purchase so that it can be removed from the listing, doing their best to ensure that no child is left out. Several sponsors have suggested that because of Sutherland Weston's noteworthy Web site, 2009 may be the most successful season in the program's 27-year history. As we look forward to celebrating the upcoming holidays with our loved ones, let us take a moment to remember those experiencing sorrow during this joyous season. And let us also recognize those who are working in every community across the country to make someone's day brighter through deeds great and small. I thank Elizabeth Sutherland, Cary Weston, and everyone at Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications for their selfless gift this holiday season, and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senator Warner, to introduce legislation that provides greater technical resources to the Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission. Specifically, this legislation simply proposes modifying existing law so that each Commissioner may hire an additional staff member--an electrical engineer or computer scientist--to provide in-depth technical consultation. Currently, the statute allows each Commissioner to appoint only three professional assistants and a secretary. Typically, these professional assistants have been legal advisors covering the wireline, wireless, and cable/media sectors. However, in order to properly regulate communications, Commissioners must be well- versed in both the legal and technical aspects of the issues. With the rapid advancement of technologies and innovation within the telecommunications industry, it is imperative that Commissioners have the technical expertise on their staff to make well informed regulatory decisions. As one Commissioner recently remarked, ``not one of us is an engineer. Do you really want us making these highly technical decisions?'' We should not expect every Commissioner to be an engineer, but having one on staff is prudent. Having both technical and legal advisors provides the requisite complement of staff experience for the Commissioners to properly address increasingly complex technical and legal matters. While the Office of Engineering and Technology, OET, has been and will continue to be a valuable resource, there has been concern in the technical community about the depletion of engineering expertise at the Commission. From 1995 to 2001, the FCC's engineering staff dropped by more than 20 percent. And at the time, more than 40 percent of the engineering staff were to be eligible for retirement between 2001 and 2005. More recently, the FCC's Managing Director has identified that the Commission has a shortage of network engineers. In addition, several engineering membership and standards bodies have weighed in voicing concern about the lack of technical depth at the FCC. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, the largest technical professional organization in the world, sent a letter in June of 2008 to then-Chairman Martin writing ``despite the generally excellent nature of its internal staff, given all of the technical issues within the FCC's jurisdiction, it may be prudent to seek means to supplement the internal technical capabilities of the Commission.'' The Society of Broadcast Engineers has outlined that one of its legislative goals for 2009-10 is ``to promote the maintenance or increase of technical expertise within the FCC to ensure that decision- making by the FCC is based on technical investigation, studies and evaluation rather than political expenditures.'' I would like to thank these two organizations for supporting this beneficial legislation. This bill takes a step towards properly addressing a glaring deficiency by ensuring each Commissioner has a technical expert on staff to provide individual technical advisement. This is absolutely critical given how rapidly technologies are changing and the implications that regulation could have on the underlying technical catalysts of innovation. That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues join Senator Warner and me in supporting this critical legislation.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senator Warner, to introduce legislation that provides greater technical resources to the Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission. Specifically, this legislation simply proposes modifying existing law so that each Commissioner may hire an additional staff member--an electrical engineer or computer scientist--to provide in-depth technical consultation. Currently, the statute allows each Commissioner to appoint only three professional assistants and a secretary. Typically, these professional assistants have been legal advisors covering the wireline, wireless, and cable/media sectors. However, in order to properly regulate communications, Commissioners must be well- versed in both the legal and technical aspects of the issues. With the rapid advancement of technologies and innovation within the telecommunications industry, it is imperative that Commissioners have the technical expertise on their staff to make well informed regulatory decisions. As one Commissioner recently remarked, ``not one of us is an engineer. Do you really want us making these highly technical decisions?'' We should not expect every Commissioner to be an engineer, but having one on staff is prudent. Having both technical and legal advisors provides the requisite complement of staff experience for the Commissioners to properly address increasingly complex technical and legal matters. While the Office of Engineering and Technology, OET, has been and will continue to be a valuable resource, there has been concern in the technical community about the depletion of engineering expertise at the Commission. From 1995 to 2001, the FCC's engineering staff dropped by more than 20 percent. And at the time, more than 40 percent of the engineering staff were to be eligible for retirement between 2001 and 2005. More recently, the FCC's Managing Director has identified that the Commission has a shortage of network engineers. In addition, several engineering membership and standards bodies have weighed in voicing concern about the lack of technical depth at the FCC. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, the largest technical professional organization in the world, sent a letter in June of 2008 to then-Chairman Martin writing ``despite the generally excellent nature of its internal staff, given all of the technical issues within the FCC's jurisdiction, it may be prudent to seek means to supplement the internal technical capabilities of the Commission.'' The Society of Broadcast Engineers has outlined that one of its legislative goals for 2009-10 is ``to promote the maintenance or increase of technical expertise within the FCC to ensure that decision- making by the FCC is based on technical investigation, studies and evaluation rather than political expenditures.'' I would like to thank these two organizations for supporting this beneficial legislation. This bill takes a step towards properly addressing a glaring deficiency by ensuring each Commissioner has a technical expert on staff to provide individual technical advisement. This is absolutely critical given how rapidly technologies are changing and the implications that regulation could have on the underlying technical catalysts of innovation. That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues join Senator Warner and me in supporting this critical legislation.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to Wreaths Across America and Morrill and Karen Worcester, whose outstanding vision of a nationwide effort to extol America's fallen heroes is now in its 18th year! Nothing could be more central to the Wreaths Across America organization--which counts among its many tremendous volunteers and partners, The Maine State Society of Washington, DC, the Civil Air Patrol, the Patriot Guard Riders, and members of The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars--than its noble mission to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, honor those who serve, and teach our children that today's freedoms have been won at a great price. And how fitting it is that Mainers across our State ushered in this week of solemn events and wreath-laying ceremonies sponsored by Wreaths Across America, the culmination of which will be the delivery of as many as 16,000 wreaths for placement at Arlington National Cemetery on December 12 as well as observances in more than 400 participating locations nationwide, including 24 overseas veterans cemeteries. Indeed, I could not have been more gratified to join Senator Collins in introducing legislation, designating December 12, 2009, as ``Wreaths Across America Day'' which passed the Senate unanimously on the first of this month. What an inexpressible source of pride it is that tomorrow, on the morning of the 12th, a convoy of Mainers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave sites of our Nation's fallen heroes. The Patriot Guard Riders will continue their tradition of escorting tractor-trailers filled with wreaths donated by Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, ME, to Arlington National Cemetery. On a personal note, I well recall the Worcester's initiating the Arlington Wreath Project in December of 1992, when Morrill called my office to ask if he could place his excess wreaths on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery. I never could have imagined that what occurred then would someday evolve into a nationwide expression of unfailing gratitude to our troops. The enduring legacy of our bravest and finest for whom service above self and country above self-interest is woven into the fabric of our greatness is a powerful reminder that freedom is not free, especially as the indelible memories of those heroes who, in the immortal words of President Lincoln ``gave the last full measure of devotion,'' are etched forever in our minds and upon our hearts. We also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the men and women extraordinary enough to wear the uniform who are currently serving in harm's way and placing their lives on the line on our behalf, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. Indeed, what a fitting remembrance this annual gesture of reverence and gratefulness by Wreaths Across America represents, especially during this joyous season of giving, for those who have bequeathed this great land so much, and for whom we are truly grateful.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, we all know the statistics are bleak. Unemployment is at 10 percent, more than 7 million Americans have lost their jobs since the start of this current recession, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses' Optimism Index, a compilation of 10 survey indicators, is at 88.3, a number the NFIB calls ``stuck at recession levels.'' These statistics, and the stories they represent present Congress with myriad challenges including: What will we do to lower unemployment, create jobs, and help our small businesses to grow again? The legislation Chair Landrieu and I are introducing today, the Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009, aims to meet this challenge and takes the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats, to help put American small businesses back to work. I would especially like to thank the Chair for working with me in such an open manner in developing this bill. Creating jobs and helping small businesses should not be a partisan issue and the Chair has been extremely open to my suggestions, incorporating many of the provisions I originally introduced in the Small Business Lending Improvement Act, the 10 Steps for a Main Street Economic Recovery Act, and the Next Step for a Main Street Economic Recovery Act into this legislation. In the past year, one cornerstone of small business recovery has been Small Business Administration, SBA, backed lending. Last year, to help address the chronic shortage of capital for small business borrowers, I introduced the 10 Steps for a Main Street Economic Recovery Act. Many of the provisions in this legislation were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and some have been credited with helping to increase SBA loan volume 79 percent. One provision which has been extremely popular has been fee reductions for 7(a) and 504 loans. In fact, at a round table on reauthorizing the SBA's access to capital programs the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship heard from Mr. Michael Heath, the owner of Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Mr. Heath told the Committee that the funds he saved in SBA fee reductions helped him buy his pizzeria. The bill we are introducing today would extend the fee reductions I originally proposed in 10 Steps to December 31st, 2010. This critical step ensures that we can continue to help entrepreneurs like Mike open businesses on Main Streets across America. Another vital provision contained in this legislation expands the number of businesses eligible for SBA-backed loans and expands the size of those loans. I originally proposed this idea in the Small Business Lending Improvement Act which calls for an alternative size standard that would help more small businesses meet the SBA's requirements to access SBA- backed loans, and also included it in the Next Step for Main Street Credit Availability Act, which includes provisions allowing borrowers to take out larger 7(a) loans, microloans, and 504 loans. President Obama has also recognized the need for larger loan sizes and has advocated for this position as a way to create jobs and help small businesses. Underscoring the inadequate size of SBA loans, I heard testimony earlier this year at a field hearing Senator Shaheen and I held in Portland, Maine from Mr. Richard Pfeffer, a local business owner, on how small SBA loan sizes have directly impacted his business. Mr. Pfeffer testified that his two businesses, Aroostook Starch and Gritty McDuff's, a restaurant and pub regarded by many as a Portland landmark, were close to bankruptcy not because of the economic downturn, but rather because of his inability to access larger SBA loans. Mr. Pfeffer is still in business today, and Gritty's is now serving its famous Christmas Ale, but his inability to access capital still looms and it is costing him the opportunity to expand his business and hire more workers. The increased loan limits in this bill would help Mr. Pfeffer and others like him to put the American economy back on track. This bill also includes another provision I proposed in March and introduced in my Next Steps legislation that would allow SBA borrowers to shop and compare SBA loan rates online, offering borrowers the opportunity to make an informed choice and save time and money. Finally, the Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009 would allow borrowers of 504 loans to refinance their debt. This provision will give borrowers critical working capital that they can use to grow and expand their businesses. These targeted reforms will help put Americans back to work, ease the capital crunch for small businesses, and help bring SBA lending into the future. I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation to improve America's economy and increase small business lending.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, we all know the statistics are bleak. Unemployment is at 10 percent, more than 7 million Americans have lost their jobs since the start of this current recession, and the National Federation of Independent Businesses' Optimism Index, a compilation of 10 survey indicators, is at 88.3, a number the NFIB calls ``stuck at recession levels.'' These statistics, and the stories they represent present Congress with myriad challenges including: What will we do to lower unemployment, create jobs, and help our small businesses to grow again? The legislation Chair Landrieu and I are introducing today, the Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009, aims to meet this challenge and takes the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats, to help put American small businesses back to work. I would especially like to thank the Chair for working with me in such an open manner in developing this bill. Creating jobs and helping small businesses should not be a partisan issue and the Chair has been extremely open to my suggestions, incorporating many of the provisions I originally introduced in the Small Business Lending Improvement Act, the 10 Steps for a Main Street Economic Recovery Act, and the Next Step for a Main Street Economic Recovery Act into this legislation. In the past year, one cornerstone of small business recovery has been Small Business Administration, SBA, backed lending. Last year, to help address the chronic shortage of capital for small business borrowers, I introduced the 10 Steps for a Main Street Economic Recovery Act. Many of the provisions in this legislation were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and some have been credited with helping to increase SBA loan volume 79 percent. One provision which has been extremely popular has been fee reductions for 7(a) and 504 loans. In fact, at a round table on reauthorizing the SBA's access to capital programs the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship heard from Mr. Michael Heath, the owner of Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Mr. Heath told the Committee that the funds he saved in SBA fee reductions helped him buy his pizzeria. The bill we are introducing today would extend the fee reductions I originally proposed in 10 Steps to December 31st, 2010. This critical step ensures that we can continue to help entrepreneurs like Mike open businesses on Main Streets across America. Another vital provision contained in this legislation expands the number of businesses eligible for SBA-backed loans and expands the size of those loans. I originally proposed this idea in the Small Business Lending Improvement Act which calls for an alternative size standard that would help more small businesses meet the SBA's requirements to access SBA- backed loans, and also included it in the Next Step for Main Street Credit Availability Act, which includes provisions allowing borrowers to take out larger 7(a) loans, microloans, and 504 loans. President Obama has also recognized the need for larger loan sizes and has advocated for this position as a way to create jobs and help small businesses. Underscoring the inadequate size of SBA loans, I heard testimony earlier this year at a field hearing Senator Shaheen and I held in Portland, Maine from Mr. Richard Pfeffer, a local business owner, on how small SBA loan sizes have directly impacted his business. Mr. Pfeffer testified that his two businesses, Aroostook Starch and Gritty McDuff's, a restaurant and pub regarded by many as a Portland landmark, were close to bankruptcy not because of the economic downturn, but rather because of his inability to access larger SBA loans. Mr. Pfeffer is still in business today, and Gritty's is now serving its famous Christmas Ale, but his inability to access capital still looms and it is costing him the opportunity to expand his business and hire more workers. The increased loan limits in this bill would help Mr. Pfeffer and others like him to put the American economy back on track. This bill also includes another provision I proposed in March and introduced in my Next Steps legislation that would allow SBA borrowers to shop and compare SBA loan rates online, offering borrowers the opportunity to make an informed choice and save time and money. Finally, the Small Business Job Creation and Access to Capital Act of 2009 would allow borrowers of 504 loans to refinance their debt. This provision will give borrowers critical working capital that they can use to grow and expand their businesses. These targeted reforms will help put Americans back to work, ease the capital crunch for small businesses, and help bring SBA lending into the future. I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation to improve America's economy and increase small business lending.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. I thank the Chair.

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 20 minutes.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, Senate Small Business Committee Chair Landrieu, to introduce the Small Business Trade Representation Act of 2009. This bipartisan measure would once and for all establish an Assistant United States Trade Representative for Small Business, to ensure that small businesses are represented in trade negotiations and in U.S. trade policy. I first introduced legislation in 2001, in the 107th Congress, to establish a United States Trade Representative for Small Business, in order to ensure that small business interests are reflected in U.S. trade policy and trade agreement negotiations. Since that time, we've heard excuse after excuse, from Administrations of both parties, about why we don't need an Assistant USTR for Small Business. Currently, less than one percent of all small businesses are exporting their goods and services to foreign customers. Until we see significant gains in small business participation in international trade, we must make it a priority across the Federal government--and especially in our trade policy--to help small businesses compete in the global marketplace. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and as a senior member of both the Senate Finance and Commerce Committees, one of my top priorities is to ensure that small businesses get the promised benefits of our international trade relationships and are able to compete in the world economy. While globalization has created opportunities for U.S. small businesses to sell their goods and services in new markets, not enough small businesses are taking advantage of these international prospects. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, less than one percent of the approximately 27 million U.S. small businesses currently sell their products to foreign buyers. Small businesses are a vital source of economic growth and job creation, generating nearly \2/3\ of net new jobs each year. Small businesses are essential to our economic recovery, and we must help them take advantage of all potential opportunities, including those in foreign markets. Small businesses can survive, diversify, and compete effectively in the international marketplace by developing an export business. But, as I mentioned, too few small businesses are expanding into international markets. This legislation will help ensure that small businesses are a priority in the U.S. government's trade policy and in future trade agreements. We cannot overlook the impact of trade on small businesses. An investment in small business exporting assistance is an investment in our economy. I ask all of my Senate colleagues to support this vital legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, Senate Small Business Committee Chair Landrieu, to introduce the Small Business Export Enhancement and International Trade Act of 2009. This bipartisan measure would provide improved and expanded support for small businesses, through critical programs and reforms, to ensure that, as we emerge from this protracted recession, American small businesses are primed for success in the global marketplace and are able to create and sustain high-paying jobs. I would like to thank Chair Landrieu for her efforts on this critical issue and for working with me and my staff to merge our respective bills into one bipartisan measure that will help small businesses stay competitive, help them grow, and speed the recovery of our economy as a whole. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and as a senior member of both the Senate Finance and Commerce Committees, one of my top priorities is to ensure that small businesses get the promised benefits of our international trade relationships and are able to compete in the world economy. While globalization has created opportunities for U.S. small businesses to sell their goods and services in new markets, not enough small businesses are taking advantage of these international prospects. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, less than one percent of the approximately 27 million U.S. small businesses currently sell their products to foreign buyers. Small businesses are a vital source of economic growth and job creation, generating nearly \2/3\ of net new jobs each year. Small businesses are essential to our economic recovery, and we must help them take advantage of all potential opportunities, including those in foreign markets. Small businesses face particular challenges in exporting. It can be difficult for small exporting firms to secure the working capital needed to fulfill foreign purchase orders, for instance, because many lenders won't lend against export orders or export receivables. Small business owners may not know how to connect with foreign buyers, or may not have the time or resources necessary to understand other countries' rules and regulations. Currently, Federal programs are grossly inadequate at helping small businesses overcome the challenges of exporting. The Small Business Export Enhancement and International Trade Act, which we are introducing today, gives small businesses the critical resources and assistance needed to explore potential export opportunities, or to expand their current export business. Our bipartisan legislation includes provisions from bills I have introduced in past Congresses, since the 109th, to elevate the head of the Small Business Administration, SBA, office responsible for trade and export programs to the Associate Administrator-level, reporting directly to the administrator. Further, it includes all of the key provisions from the small business trade bill that I introduced earlier this year, S. 1208, the Small Business Export Opportunity Development Act of 2009. These critical provisions would bolster the SBA's technical assistance programs and improve export financing programs to ensure that small businesses have access to the capital needed to support export sales. The legislation also increases the coordination among other federal agencies--the Department of Commerce, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Export-Import Bank--to ensure that small businesses benefit from all the export assistance the Federal Government offers. This legislation also includes a program I proposed earlier this year in S. 1208 to provide grants to help small businesses start or expand export activity, such as participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, training workshops and payment of website translation fees. It also improves the SBA's network of international trade counselors and enhances the export assistance provided to small business clients through the Small Business Development Center network, which has over 1,000 locations nationwide. Our bill increases the maximum size of SBA-guaranteed export working capital and international trade loans from a current level of $2 million to a new level of $5 million, consistent with the levels established in my bill, S. 1615, the Next Steps for a Main Street Recovery Act, which I introduced in August and the President called for last month. This bill also establishes a permanent Export Express program, a streamlined, expedited loan program to get capital to exporters quickly and efficiently, so they can focus on the terms of the sale and preparing their product for shipment. It also establishes a program to provide support for small businesses related to trade disputes and unfair international trade practices, which is critical for our entrepreneurs who have suffered from illegal activities by our trading partners. Small businesses can survive, diversify, and compete effectively in the international marketplace by developing an export business. But, as I mentioned, too few small businesses are expanding into international markets. This legislation will help small business owners take the crucial steps of finding international buyers for their goods and services and will enable small business owners to secure the financing needed to fill orders from foreign buyers. This investment could yield tremendous returns for our economy. The United States spends just one-sixth of the international average on export promotion and assistance among developed countries in promoting small businesses exports. Every additional dollar spent on export promotion results in a 40-fold increase in exports, according to a World Bank study. We cannot overlook the impact of trade on small businesses. An investment in small business exporting assistance is an investment in our economy. I ask all of my Senate colleagues to support this vital legislation.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, one of the great symbols of the winter holiday season we are just beginning is the wreath. Between the beautiful green needles and the fragrant smell, wreaths are reminders of a simpler time. And nowhere is the wreath more emblematic than my home State of Maine. Indeed, Maine is the largest producer of balsam fir wreaths in America, owed in large part to the tree's prevalence in our State's landscape. Furthermore, sales of these stunning wreaths contribute millions of dollars to the Maine economy. In recognition of these critical facts, I rise to honor the Whitney Wreath company, a renowned small business headquartered in Washington County. Whitney Wreath is in its 21st season of producing fragrant and vivid green wreaths for display during the winter holidays. The company was started in 1988 when David Whitney, the company's founder, sold handmade wreaths from the back of a pickup truck during his teenage years. Two decades later, Whitney Wreath is now America's largest mail- order wreath company, selling its products through its own Web site, as well as several other catalogues and outlets including QVC. Incredibly, its wreath sales are now in the hundreds of thousands each year. The company has nine facilities throughout the State, and is in the process of building a tenth to improve productivity. And this year, despite the turbulence in our Nation's economy and an uncertain employment picture, Whitney Wreath was able to hire 250 additional employees over last season because of a substantial new contract. Decorated with a range of colorful and timely ornaments, such as pine cones, Maine blueberries, sleigh bells, and of course bright red bows, Whitney's wreaths are nothing short of spectacular. Made using fresh Maine balsam fir, the smell of a Whitney wreath is unmistakable, and an outstanding symbol of the season it represents. The company also manufactures a range of Christmas centerpieces and the unique Maine Kissing Ball, consisting of ``snow'' covered pine cones combined with brilliant red berries. Whitney Wreath has been celebrated over the years for its commitment to quality wreaths. In 2007, the Small Business Administration honored the company with its Jeffrey H. Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year award because of the company's efforts to be involved in the community and provide critical employment opportunities to the citizens of Downeast Maine. The award also paid homage to David Whitney's other small businesses, Whitney's Blueberries and Whitney's Tool Shed. Finally, in the spirit of the holiday season, it is fitting to acknowledge the magnanimous work Whitney Wreath is doing to support our Nation's breast cancer survivors. Last year, the company asked Facebook users to join the fight against breast cancer and for every 20 people who joined, Mr. Whitney pledged to bring special wreaths with pink ribbons to survivors of the disease. On December 22, 2008, after almost 500 people took his message to heart, David Whitney arrived at Cancer Care of Maine in Brewer with 30 special wreaths. This year, Mr. Whitney has promised to donate 25 percent of every breast cancer awareness wreath purchased to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The company has also announced that it will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from the sales of its Original Christmas Wreaths to the National Autism Association. As we work to combat these terrible illnesses, I am proud to have caring and thoughtful individuals like David Whitney doing their own part to encourage and support those afflicted. A downeast staple for nearly a quarter of a century, Whitney Wreath has become a leader in its field by combining attention to detail and concern for the community. I thank David Whitney and everyone at Whitney Wreath for all they do to lift our spirits during the holiday season, and wish them many more years of success.