Olympia Snowe

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise to introduce this bill in order to correct disparities among the Small Business Administration's small business contracting programs. Building on my efforts to bring true parity to the program, this bill will create a more equitable and flexible method for federal agencies to fairly allocate federal procurement dollars to small business contractors across the nation. Earlier this year, I filed an amendment, cosponsored by my colleague from Maine, Senator Collins, to create parity as part of S. 454, the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. Unfortunately, that amendment was not accepted. For years it has been unclear to the acquisition community what, if any, the true order of preference is for determining which small business contracting program is at the top of the agency's priority list. The SBA's regulations state that there is parity among the programs, and this had been the general practice in effect until two Government Accountability Office decisions were released on September 19, 2008 and May 4, 2009. The decisions stated that the Historically Underutilized Business Zone, HUBZone, program had preference over all other small business contracting programs. While the interpretation benefits HUBZone businesses, it comes at the expense of other vital small business contracting programs. This targeted bill provides equity for the SBA's small business contracting programs. The bill provides Federal agencies with the necessary flexibility to satisfy their government-wide statutory small business contracting goals. This bill makes clear to purchasing agencies that contracting officers may award contracts to HUBZone, Service Disabled Veterans, 8(a), or women-owned firms with equal deference to each program. It would provide these agencies with the ability to achieve their goaling requirements equally through an award to a HUBZone firm, a service- disabled veteran-owned small business, and a small business participating in the 8(a) business development program. Of course this list will also include women-owned small businesses once the women's procurement program is fully implemented by the SBA. In addition, this bill brings the SBA's contracting programs closer to true parity by giving HUBZones a subcontracting goal. HUBZones are the only small business contracting program without a subcontracting goal. In addition, the bill authorizes mentor protege programs modeled after those used in the 8(a) program for HUBZones, service-disabled veteran and women-owned firms. The essence of true parity is where each program has an equal chance of competing and being selected for an award. During these difficult economic times, it is imperative that small business contractors possess an equal opportunity to compete for Federal contracts on the same playing field with each other. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, summer is finally upon us, and as people travel to Maine to discover and explore the pristine beauty of our State's outdoors, I rise to recognize a historic Maine lodging establishment that has hosted these travelers and adventurers for nearly two centuries. Located conveniently between Bangor and Bar Harbor in the small town of Dedham, the Lucerne Inn boasts fine dining and accommodations and a picturesque golf course complemented by a stunning view of beautiful Phillips Lake. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since June of 1982, the inn is a legendary business with an impressive history. Indeed, Dedham's first family, the Phillips, built a family home called the Lake House in the early 1800s. John Phillips had been granted the land for his service in the American Revolution. Soon thereafter, in 1814, the building became a halfway house, operating as a stagecoach stop between Bangor and Ellsworth, with guests partaking in food, spirits, and lodging. Indeed, today's Lucerne Inn is still housed in the original building built by the Phillips family. Later, during the 1920s, the inn and the 5,000 acres around it were designed to be one of America's first planned communities. As such, the Maine Legislature created the village of Lucerne in 1927 to bring people to this beautiful region, but the economic troubles of the 1930s forced the idea to be scrapped. Given its prime location--less than an hour from the beautiful waters of Bar Harbor and the hiking trails of Acadia National Park--the Lucerne Inn offers visitors a true Maine get-away. A recipient of the 2009 Bride's Choice Award, the inn offers professional service for a variety of occasions from weddings to business meetings and banquets, and provides a variety of travel packages to accommodate all budgets. Owners Steve and Rhonda Jones purchased the inn in August 2005. Steve had operated a convenience store and catering business in the Farmington area for 23 years, while Rhonda worked at the University of Maine at Farmington. Depending on the season, the inn employs between 40 and 65 people. The inn has 26 rooms, plus an additional 5 guest rooms in a newer building. The banquet and conference center, built in 1999, has become tremendously popular, hosting approximately 100 weddings each year. The Lucerne Inn also makes dining out an event with a four-course meal in an elegant room with a scenic view from every window. Chef Douglas Winslow serves quality cuisine that encompasses brunch, a full dinner menu, and a seafood buffet, as well as a traditional broiled Maine lobster dinner, adding to the authentic Maine experience. The inn also hosts special wine dinners each month to showcase a diverse array of the world's greatest wines. In fact, just last Thursday evening, the inn hosted an Argentine-themed wine dinner, with a full five-course meal complemented by special wine from Argentina. The inn maintains a historical ambiance by furnishing every room with antiques. Most accommodations at the inn boast a view of the lake and a gas burning fireplace. That said, fine dining and accommodations are only a fraction of the Lucerne Inn experience. The inn also boasts a 9- hole golf course conceived by famed course designer Donald Ross, as well as a large outdoor swimming pool and picturesque outdoor patios. At the Lucerne Inn, visitors and Mainers alike are afforded the chance to escape their daily routines and relax by enjoying the serenity of Maine's natural beauty. Whether for pleasure or business, the Lucerne Inn offers an authentic taste of Maine, something that is truly irreplaceable. I congratulate Steve and Rhonda Jones and all of the employees at the Lucerne Inn for exquisitely maintaining this gem of our State, and I offer my best wishes for their continued success.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I recognize the contributions of a tremendously innovative small business from my home State of Maine--the Maine Float-Rope Company--that has taken on the mission of helping lobstermen dispose of their old, unusable rope by transforming it into charming gifts. When Maine lobstermen went to set their traps this spring, they first had to replace the rope they used to connect one lobster trap to another as the result of a new regulation banning the use of traditional floating rope. It requires lobster pots to be linked with sink-rope, the goal being to reduce the risk of entangling whales. Regrettably, Maine's lobstermen face a financial burden as the new sink-rope can cost twice as much as float-rope and is far more expensive to maintain. Additionally, the new regulation threatened to result in hundreds of thousands of pounds of unusable rope clogging local landfills. Seeking to keep the old rope out of landfills, Penny Johnston, a sales and marketing specialist, established the Waldoboro-based Maine Float-Rope Company in April of this year. Her goal was to ramp up sale of the resourceful doormats that a local company, Custom Cordage, began creating last summer out of retired float-rope. Specifically, her company sells the attractive and durable Down East Doormats that are constructed using the colorful float-rope that is uniquely weathered by seasons of use and exposure to salt water. Previously, the repurchased float-rope was melted and reformed as cheap plastic pots for plants. Now, the float-rope is beginning to grace the front doors of houses across the country in the form of high-quality, handwoven doormats. In fact, since Ms. Johnston's involvement, sales have skyrocketed, with Maine Float-Rope selling over a thousand mats per month! In addition, Maine Float-Rope donates a percentage of its profits to organizations that support the vitality of lobstermen, the protection of North Atlantic right whales, and a host of groups that advocate for environmentally sound practices. An exceptional product, the vivid Down East Doormat was recently acknowledged as the ``Best New Product'' at this year's New England Products Trade Show in Portland. Ms. Johnston, who calls herself a ``green entrepreneur,'' has a successful record of starting businesses based on creative uses of old and recycled material. Prior to founding the Maine Float-Rope Company, Ms. Johnston started The Maine Barn Furniture Company, which took wood from old, dilapidated barns and used it to make handsome tables. She also started Historic Hardscapes, a unique business that reclaims and reuses old hand-cut granite from abandoned farmlands and quarries across the State. Down East Doormats are one more example of how Ms. Johnston finds innovative ways to turn what others would simply discard into high-quality products. Maine's lobster industry, comprised of more than 7,000 owner-operated small businesses, is a pillar of Maine's fishing industry and of our State's economy. Thanks to the actions of Ms. Johnston, lobstermen can more effectively offset the cost of upgrading to sink-rope, and the old float-rope can be kept out of local landfills. My sincerest thanks to Ms. Johnston and everyone at the Maine Float- Rope Company for their devotion to building forward-thinking small businesses that help our environment, our lobstermen, and our local economy. I wish them all success with this and future ``green entrepreneurial'' endeavors.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I recognize the contributions of a tremendously innovative small business from my home State of Maine--Custom Cordage, LLC--that has taken on the mission of helping lobstermen dispose of their old, unusable rope by transforming it into charming gifts. When Maine lobstermen went to set their traps this spring, they first had to replace the rope they used to connect one lobster trap to another as the result of a new regulation banning the use of traditional floating rope. It requires lobster pots to be linked with sink-rope, the goal being to reduce the risk of entangling whales. Regrettably, Maine's lobstermen face a financial burden as the new sink-rope can cost twice as much as float-rope and is far more expensive to maintain. Additionally, the new regulation threatened to result in hundreds of thousands of pounds of unusable rope clogging local landfills. Aware of this mounting problem for Maine's lobstermen, David Bird, owner of Custom Cordage, a Waldoboro company that manufactures a variety of rope, cord, and similar products, decided last summer to begin making doormats out of retired float-rope. This colorful float- rope is uniquely weathered by seasons of use and exposure to salt water, producing a distinctive and lasting gift. Previously, the repurchased float-rope was melted and reformed as cheap plastic pots for plants. Now, the float-rope is beginning to grace the front doors of houses across the country in the form of high-quality, handwoven doormats. Mr. Bird's creative and novel idea has caught the Nation's attention quickly. His company produces roughly 40 mats each day, and customers from across the Nation purchase over a thousand mats per month! An exceptional product, these vivid doormats were recently acknowledged as the ``Best New Product'' at this year's New England Products Trade Show in Portland. Maine's lobster industry, comprised of more than 7,000 owner-operated small businesses, is a pillar of Maine's fishing industry and of our State's economy. Thanks to the forward-looking actions of Mr. Bird, lobstermen can more effectively offset the cost of upgrading to sink- rope, and the old float-rope can be kept out of local landfills. My sincerest thanks to Mr. Bird and everyone at Custom Cordage for their devotion to building forward-thinking small businesses that help our environment, our lobstermen, and our local economy. I wish them all success with this and future endeavors.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I rise to reintroduce legislation to offer a drastically simplified alternative for home-based businesses to benefit from the home office tax deduction. The U.S. Small Business Administration's, SBA's, Office of Advocacy designated reforming the home office tax deduction as one of its top 10 regulatory review and reform initiatives for 2008. By establishing an optional home office deduction, the Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2009 would take a strong step toward making our tax laws easier to understand. I would like to thank Senator Conrad for joining me to introduce this critical bill here in the Senate and Representative Gonzalez for introducing identical legislation in the House of Representatives. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I continually hear from small enterprises across Maine and this nation about the necessity of tax relief and reform. Despite the fact that small firms are our economy's real job creators, the current tax system places an entirely unreasonable burden on them as they struggle to satisfy their tax obligations. Notably, according to the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the American public spends approximately nine billion hours each year to complete government- mandated forms and paperwork. A staggering 80 percent of this time is consumed by completing tax forms. What is even more troubling is that companies that employ fewer than 20 employees spend nearly $1,304 per employee in tax compliance costs, an amount that is nearly 67 percent more than larger firms. Turning to the legislation we are reintroducing today, the Internal Revenue Code currently offers qualified individuals a home office tax deduction if they use a portion of their home as a principal place of business or as a space to meet with their patients or clients. That said, although recent research from the SBA indicates that roughly 53 percent of America's small businesses are home-based, few of these firms take advantage of the home office tax deduction. The reason is simple: reporting the deduction is complicated. A 2006 survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation found that approximately 33 percent of small-employer taxpayers try to comprehend the tax rules governing the home office tax deduction, but only about half of those respondents believe that they actually have a good understanding of the rules. As Dewey Martin, a Certified Public Accountant from my home State of Maine, so aptly said in testimony last year before the Senate Finance Committee, ``Many small business owners avoid the deduction because of the complications and the fear of a potential audit.'' With a morass of paperwork attributable to the home office deduction, the time-consuming process of navigating the tangled web of rules and regulations makes it unsurprising that so many small business owners forego the home office deduction. So to encourage the use of the home office tax deduction, the bill we are introducing today would establish an optional, easy-to-use incentive. Specifically, our bill would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a method for determining a deduction that consists of multiplying an applicable standard rate by the square footage of the type of property being used as a home office. The proposal would also require the IRS to separately state the amounts allocated to several types of expenses in order to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. It is vital that the IRS clearly identify the amounts of the deduction devoted to real estate taxes, mortgage interest, and depreciation so that taxpayers do not duplicate them on Schedule A. Finally, the bill makes two changes designed to ease the administration of the deduction: First, to reflect an economy in which many business owners conduct business or consult with customers through the Internet or over the phone versus face-to-face, our legislation takes these entrepreneurs into account by allowing the home office deduction to be taken if the taxpayer uses the home to meet or deal with clients regardless of whether the clients are physically present. Second, our bill would allow for de minimis use of business space for personal activities so that taxpayers would not lose their ability to claim the deduction if they make a personal call or pay a bill online. I would be remiss not to note that the bill we are introducing today is the result of the dedicated efforts of various groups and organizations, which have worked with Senator Conrad and me on a consensus approach to improve the current home office tax deduction. In particular, it is significant to note that the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service strongly backs this bill. In fact, the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina E. Olson, sent my office the following statement regarding our legislation: ``In my 2007 Annual Report to Congress, I made a similar proposal to simplify the home office business deduction. I am pleased that Senator Snowe and Conrad's proposed bill reflects the gist of my legislative recommendation. Reducing the burdensome substantiation requirements for employees and self-employed taxpayers who incur modest home office costs would make the home office business deduction simpler and more accessible to them.'' Our bill also received an endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business. Dan Danner, the organization's Executive Director, said the following: ``Currently only a small percentage of home-based businesses in the U.S. take advantage of the home-office deduction because calculating the deduction is unnecessarily complicated. NFIB small business owners have advocated for a simpler, standard home-office deduction for years. The Snowe-Conrad legislation gives home-based businesses the option to deduct a legitimate business expense with minimum hassle. This commonsense change to the tax code will reduce tax complexity and help many home-based businesses take advantage of this deduction.'' Additionally, the SBA's Office of Advocacy added: ``The SBA Office of Advocacy reviewed the legislation and supports it.'' In closing, according to the SBA's Office of Advocacy, America's home-based sole proprietors generate $102 billion in revenue annually. With this in mind, it is absolutely critical to endow these small firms with as much relief from burdensome tax constraints as possible so that they can focus their efforts on developing the products and services of the future, as well as creating new jobs. The confusion over the home office business tax deduction, in my estimation, can be easily solved by passing this legislation. I urge all Senators to consider the benefits this bill will provide to thousands of small business owners, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact it in a timely manner. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I rise to reintroduce legislation to offer a drastically simplified alternative for home-based businesses to benefit from the home office tax deduction. The U.S. Small Business Administration's, SBA's, Office of Advocacy designated reforming the home office tax deduction as one of its top 10 regulatory review and reform initiatives for 2008. By establishing an optional home office deduction, the Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2009 would take a strong step toward making our tax laws easier to understand. I would like to thank Senator Conrad for joining me to introduce this critical bill here in the Senate and Representative Gonzalez for introducing identical legislation in the House of Representatives. As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I continually hear from small enterprises across Maine and this nation about the necessity of tax relief and reform. Despite the fact that small firms are our economy's real job creators, the current tax system places an entirely unreasonable burden on them as they struggle to satisfy their tax obligations. Notably, according to the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the American public spends approximately nine billion hours each year to complete government- mandated forms and paperwork. A staggering 80 percent of this time is consumed by completing tax forms. What is even more troubling is that companies that employ fewer than 20 employees spend nearly $1,304 per employee in tax compliance costs, an amount that is nearly 67 percent more than larger firms. Turning to the legislation we are reintroducing today, the Internal Revenue Code currently offers qualified individuals a home office tax deduction if they use a portion of their home as a principal place of business or as a space to meet with their patients or clients. That said, although recent research from the SBA indicates that roughly 53 percent of America's small businesses are home-based, few of these firms take advantage of the home office tax deduction. The reason is simple: reporting the deduction is complicated. A 2006 survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation found that approximately 33 percent of small-employer taxpayers try to comprehend the tax rules governing the home office tax deduction, but only about half of those respondents believe that they actually have a good understanding of the rules. As Dewey Martin, a Certified Public Accountant from my home State of Maine, so aptly said in testimony last year before the Senate Finance Committee, ``Many small business owners avoid the deduction because of the complications and the fear of a potential audit.'' With a morass of paperwork attributable to the home office deduction, the time-consuming process of navigating the tangled web of rules and regulations makes it unsurprising that so many small business owners forego the home office deduction. So to encourage the use of the home office tax deduction, the bill we are introducing today would establish an optional, easy-to-use incentive. Specifically, our bill would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a method for determining a deduction that consists of multiplying an applicable standard rate by the square footage of the type of property being used as a home office. The proposal would also require the IRS to separately state the amounts allocated to several types of expenses in order to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. It is vital that the IRS clearly identify the amounts of the deduction devoted to real estate taxes, mortgage interest, and depreciation so that taxpayers do not duplicate them on Schedule A. Finally, the bill makes two changes designed to ease the administration of the deduction: First, to reflect an economy in which many business owners conduct business or consult with customers through the Internet or over the phone versus face-to-face, our legislation takes these entrepreneurs into account by allowing the home office deduction to be taken if the taxpayer uses the home to meet or deal with clients regardless of whether the clients are physically present. Second, our bill would allow for de minimis use of business space for personal activities so that taxpayers would not lose their ability to claim the deduction if they make a personal call or pay a bill online. I would be remiss not to note that the bill we are introducing today is the result of the dedicated efforts of various groups and organizations, which have worked with Senator Conrad and me on a consensus approach to improve the current home office tax deduction. In particular, it is significant to note that the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service strongly backs this bill. In fact, the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina E. Olson, sent my office the following statement regarding our legislation: ``In my 2007 Annual Report to Congress, I made a similar proposal to simplify the home office business deduction. I am pleased that Senator Snowe and Conrad's proposed bill reflects the gist of my legislative recommendation. Reducing the burdensome substantiation requirements for employees and self-employed taxpayers who incur modest home office costs would make the home office business deduction simpler and more accessible to them.'' Our bill also received an endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business. Dan Danner, the organization's Executive Director, said the following: ``Currently only a small percentage of home-based businesses in the U.S. take advantage of the home-office deduction because calculating the deduction is unnecessarily complicated. NFIB small business owners have advocated for a simpler, standard home-office deduction for years. The Snowe-Conrad legislation gives home-based businesses the option to deduct a legitimate business expense with minimum hassle. This commonsense change to the tax code will reduce tax complexity and help many home-based businesses take advantage of this deduction.'' Additionally, the SBA's Office of Advocacy added: ``The SBA Office of Advocacy reviewed the legislation and supports it.'' In closing, according to the SBA's Office of Advocacy, America's home-based sole proprietors generate $102 billion in revenue annually. With this in mind, it is absolutely critical to endow these small firms with as much relief from burdensome tax constraints as possible so that they can focus their efforts on developing the products and services of the future, as well as creating new jobs. The confusion over the home office business tax deduction, in my estimation, can be easily solved by passing this legislation. I urge all Senators to consider the benefits this bill will provide to thousands of small business owners, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact it in a timely manner. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I recognize a small business in my home State of Maine that admirably embodies the ideal dichotomy of being both a successful business and a well-regarded member of the community. Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe, an independently-owned dining establishment located in Brunswick, also provides guests with a quintessentially New England experience, as Yankee Magazine recently recognized the restaurant with the ``Best Taste of Home'' Editor's Choice award in its annual Best of New England listing. Opened in October 1991 by owners Becky and David Shepherd, Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe has remained a consistent purveyor of fresh, homemade foods for nearly two decades, resulting in its immense popularity among the local community and area Bowdoin College students. Located inside the Tontine Mall in downtown Brunswick, Wild Oats has grown from a 5- employee operation to its current crew of over 20. Additionally, Wild Oats has doubled the size of its space, and has added a deck and patio for dining during the beautiful Maine summer, all the while maintaining a cozy and personable atmosphere. With a menu that includes baked goods, breads, soups and chowders, salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, as well as frozen meals to bring home, Wild Oats offers patrons an appealing variety of delicious, made- from-scratch products to suit a diverse array of taste buds. To support another Maine small business, Wild Oats sells Carrabassett Coffee, produced in the western Maine town of Kingfield. The company has also launched a unique delivery service to nearby Bowdoin College, where parents can surprise their sons and daughters with a delectable birthday cake accompanied by a Wild Oats coffee mug, water bottle, or t-shirt. From the beginning, Wild Oats has strived to make customer service the top priority and has consistently sought innovative ways to better serve its customers. These efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed as Wild Oats has become an increasingly integral part of the local community. In fact, Wild Oats' most recent distinction as the ``Best Taste of Home for 2009'' is just one of several awards the restaurant has garnered in recent years. Last year, the company was named Small Business of the Year by the Southern Midcoast Chamber of Commerce. This award came six months after it was acknowledged with the Small Business Leadership Award by Governor John Baldacci for the firm's 16-year history of employing persons with disabilities. The Shepherds have partnered with several Midcoast organizations, including Independence Association and Work Enterprises, to hire workers with disabilities over the years. While the Shepherds operate and own Wild Oats, they are the first to point out that they rely heavily on their stellar and experienced employees, an extended family that they include in many decision making and leadership opportunities. Among them is Louisa Edgerton, the store's manager, who has been with Wild Oats since 1997 and brought over 20 years in the food service industry with her. Another notable employee is Frank Golek. Frank, who assists with food preparation and cleaning, has worked at the restaurant since 1996, affording him the distinction of the longest serving Wild Oats employee. Wild Oats' commitment to the local community goes beyond serving scrumptious lunches, dinners, and sweets. Both Becky and David Shepherd, who have lived in Brunswick since 1981, have been active members of the local community for many years. Becky has served on the Brunswick school and library boards, and both donate significant time and money to various community based projects both locally and throughout Maine, particularly regarding education and the environment. A mainstay of the Brunswick downtown for nearly two decades, Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe is a unique restaurant that has assuredly earned its exceptional reputation for quality service and delicious cuisine. I offer my sincerest congratulations to Becky and David Shepherd and everyone at Wild Oats Bakery & Cafe on their well-deserved accomplishments, and I wish them many years of continued success.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to join with my colleague, Senator Boxer, to introduce the One Level of Safety Act. We have all become familiar with the events surrounding the terrible tragedy near Buffalo, New York--an accident that the National Transportation Safety Board categorized as the worst such incident since late 2001--that cost fifty lives, and shattered countless others. In the wake of the crash of Flight 3407, we have identified failures on a multiplicity of levels. For an agency that has consistently cited its commitment to ``one level of safety'' for all carriers as far back as 1995, this accident showcases that when it comes to regional carriers, the Federal Aviation Administration has done a poor job of enforcing that philosophy. During its preliminary investigation of Flight 3407, the National Transportation Safety Board pointed out a number of issues specific to this accident that could be directly attributable to fatigue, with many pilots traveling all night over great distances just to reach their base of operations. For example, almost a quarter of Colgan Air pilots who operate out of Newark, New Jersey travel over one thousand miles simply to reach their designated duty station. At the same time, as we've witnessed with a number of regional carriers, pilots are often paid meager salaries--the first officer in Flight 3407 made barely twenty thousand dollars annually. With such low pay, it is difficult for these pilots to provide for themselves and their families, much less afford a restful place to spend an evening; at a hotel, or an apartment in close proximity to their base of operations--as a result, they doze in airport lounges-- technically against most airline regulations--and subsequently are getting into the cockpit fatigued, with insufficient rest and, potentially, reduced situational awareness. With little oversight concerning the amount of rest these pilots receive, we face the terrible potential for another incident in the near future. I was greatly encouraged by the efforts that the new Federal Aviation Administrator Babbitt undertook on Monday; his announcement to initiate rulemakings on fatigue management, the relationship between major and regional carriers, and training discrepancies, were all positive, proactive steps to help remedy a situation that for too long has gone ignored, and I commend his willingness to take the reins so early in his tenure. Unfortunately, as a recent series of hearings at the Senate Commerce Committee has shown us, rulemakings are typically long, drawn- out processes that in some cases are never completed. Simply put, this is insufficient. In fact, a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation concerning pilot fatigue--clearly an underlying cause of the Flight 3407 crash--has been outstanding for nearly 2 decades! This recommendation was no small suggestion; it has been on the NTSB's highest profile publication, their Most Wanted List, for nineteen years! Given that four of the last six fatal accidents involving commercial carriers included fatigue as a contributing cause, I am stunned that this issue has not been addressed. But only one effort to tackle this issue has been made in the past 2 decades, and after encountering some resistance, that proposed rulemaking was shelved in 1995, and no second attempt was forthcoming. So, while the Federal Aviation Administration's comments yesterday were laudable, there are no guarantees when it comes to rulemakings. I believe it is incumbent on Congress to act and act now. That is why Senator Boxer and I joined together to develop legislation that we believe will close many of the loopholes that jeopardize safety, those same loopholes spotlighted by the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board, the Department of Transportation Inspector General's office, and the victims' families of Flight 3407. Requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to complete a number of long-overdue rulemakings on issues as wide-ranging as fatigue management, minimum training standards for all carriers, and remedial training for deficient pilots is the first step. Ensuring the Federal Aviation Administration will perform adequate, unannounced inspections to guarantee these new rules are enforced, and requiring more rigorous inspections of flight schools like the Gulfstream Academy--whose parent company was recently assessed a civil penalty of $1.3 million for safety violations, and where many regional pilots receive their training--will go a long way towards closing the loopholes that still exist in our aviation safety network. In my view, these are all positive steps that will prevent another incident like the crash of Flight 3407. Before I close, I would like to say a word to the families of the crash victims. I deeply empathize with your loss, and in large part, your efforts have been essential in the drafting of this legislation. Thank you for all your perseverance and invaluable contributions during what I know must be difficult times for all of you.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, my amendment, No. 1336, would provide improved and expanded opportunities for small businesses and attract foreign tourists. Tourism is a vital service export, generating $142 billion in international receipts last year, which accounts for 27 percent of all services exports and 8 percent of exports overall. 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, including the benefits of increased business from tourists that visit the United States. Tourism is particularly essential for small businesses, which comprise more than 90 percent of employers in the tourism industry. In fact, 95 percent of travel agencies, 84 percent of tour operating companies, 93 percent of sightseeing bus companies, and 99 percent of souvenir shops are small businesses. Small businesses are a vital source of economic growth and job creation, generating approximately 75 percent of net new jobs each year. Small firms are essential to our economic recovery, and we must help them take advantage of all potential opportunities, including those created by international travel and tourism. My amendment will increase support for small businesses seeking to attract more foreign tourists. First, the amendment creates an innovative new export development grant program that provides small businesses with matching grants, of up to $5,000, for expenses relating to activities that help them start or expand export activity. These grants can be used to create foreign-language marketing material, translate websites in order to reach foreign tourists, and develop other marketing materials in order to attract more international visitors. In addition to enabling small businesses to attract international tourists, my amendment also benefits small businesses who seek to sell their products and services in international markets. Although globalization has created new opportunities, less than 1 percent of U.S. small businesses currently sell to international buyers. 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. Additionally, small business owners 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 these challenges of exporting. This amendment gives small businesses the resources and assistance they require to explore potential export opportunities and to expand their current export business. The amendment would also bolster the SBA's technical assistance programs, and will improve export financing programs so that small businesses have access to capital needed to support export sales. 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 amendment will help small business owners take the crucial steps of attracting foreign tourists and finding international buyers for their goods and services. This investment could yield tremendous returns for our economy. The United States spends just one-sixth of the international average among developed countries in promoting small businesses exports. Every additional dollar spent on export promotion results in a fortyfold increase in exports, according to a World Bank study. As we work to promote tourism in the United States, we cannot overlook small businesses. An investment in small business exporting assistance is an investment in our economy. This amendment will ensure that this legislation helps small businesses stay competitive, helps them grow, and speeds the recovery of our economy as a whole. I respectfully ask all of my Senate colleagues to support this vital amendment. Mr. President, my amendment No. 1337 to the ``Tourism Promotion Act of 2009 is a commonsense amendment that would ensure that small businesses are properly represented on the new ``Corporation for Travel Promotion Board'' and would clarify that small businesses, as defined by the Small Business Administration, are exempt from the annual assessment created by this act. As ranking member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am keenly aware of the critical role that small businesses play as our Nation's primary job creators. Robust tourism is vital to the success of countless small businesses, and I see no better way to improve this bill than by ensuring that our Nation's small businesses have a seat at the table as our tourism policy is revamped. One of the more vital components of this act is the creation of the travel promotion board, which includes 11 key representatives from different industries involved in tourism, and will be tasked with promoting travel to America. Unfortunately, the underlying bill does not require a member of that board specifically represent small businesses. My amendment will correct this oversight. Travel and tourism generates approximately $1.3 trillion in economic activity each year in the United States and it also supports 8.3 million travel-related jobs. According to the Department of Commerce, receipts from international trade and tourism were more than $142 billion last year, and there is no doubt that small businesses were a vital part of this statistic. In fact, they represent nearly the entire tourism industry. More than 90 percent of employers in the tourism industry are small businesses; and more specifically, 95 percent of travel agencies, 84 percent of tour operating companies, 93 percent of sightseeing bus companies, and 99 percent of souvenir shops are owned by small entrepreneurs. It is therefore imperative that this act guarantee that small businesses are provided with a representative on the Corporation for Travel Promotion Board. Tourism is a vital source of growth for these small businesses and this act will provide critical assistance to entrepreneurs struggling during these difficult economic times. This amendment will improve the underlying bill by ensuring that small businesses continue to play a key role in bolstering and strengthening our nation's essential tourism industry. For this reason I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, in today's uncertain and difficult economic climate, countless small businesses are seeking new tools and resources to stay afloat. That is why we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--to get our economy on the right track, and to help those business owners in need of a lifeline to outlast this recession. I rise today to recognize a small brewer from my home State of Maine that is making use of a critical provision that was included in the bill. Allagash Brewing Company is a small brewery based in Maine's largest city, Portland. Founded in 1995 by owner Rob Tod, Allagash's mission was to fill a missing niche in American craft brewing movement--Belgian style beers. Mr. Tod noticed the prevalence of British and German style beers, but felt that consumers were missing out on a quality product. And so, he began producing Allagash White, his version of the traditional Belgian white beer. It was an immediate hit in the Portland area, and Mr. Tod soon began shipping the beer across Maine. He also hired two additional brewers and embarked on the production of a new Allagash Double Ale, modeled after another Belgian style established by Trappist monks centuries ago, and still popular to this day. Over time, Allagash's line of beers has grown to include roughly 20 exquisite styles available in over 20 States nationwide, including a ``Reserve'' line of distinctive beers that have been fermented twice, through a time-honored process known as the methode champenoise. As a unique way to give back to the greater Portland community, the brewery has established an Allagash Tribute Series, whereby the company donates $1 from the sale of every bottle of specific beers to local nonprofits, charities, and other civic organizations. For example, sale of the Fluxus variety helps the Allagash Pediatric Scholarship, established to support the training of nurses at the Maine Medical Center. Additionally, the sale of Hugh Malone Ale assists the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, America's oldest and largest coalition of State organic farmers with over 5,500 members. And Victoria Ale benefits the restoration of downtown Portland's Victoria Mansion, a national historic landmark. In addition to caring for its neighbors, Allagash takes care of its own employees. Mr. Tod offers health care to all 20 of his employees. Furthermore, to invest in his company's--and, therefore, his employees'--future, Mr. Tod has already taken advantage of a small business expensing provision that was part of the Recovery Act signed into law earlier this year. The measure provides an extension for 2009 of enhanced section 179 small business expensing at a level of $250,000, allowing small businesses in Maine and throughout the Nation to make investments in plant and equipment that they can deduct immediately instead of depreciating over a period of 5, 7, or more years. This offers entrepreneurs like Rob Tod the ability to grow and bolster their businesses despite the troubling economic picture. A small brewery with a big heart, Allagash Brewing Company's commitment to community and employees is impressive, and a model for other small businesses. Additionally, Allagash is working in smart and effective ways to emerge from this recession stronger than before. I commend Rob Tod and everyone at Allagash for their stellar work ethic and their fine products, and wish them much success in crafting a solid future.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to join with my colleague, Senator Boxer, to introduce the One Level of Safety Act. We have all become familiar with the events surrounding the terrible tragedy near Buffalo, New York--an accident that the National Transportation Safety Board categorized as the worst such incident since late 2001--that cost fifty lives, and shattered countless others. In the wake of the crash of Flight 3407, we have identified failures on a multiplicity of levels. For an agency that has consistently cited its commitment to ``one level of safety'' for all carriers as far back as 1995, this accident showcases that when it comes to regional carriers, the Federal Aviation Administration has done a poor job of enforcing that philosophy. During its preliminary investigation of Flight 3407, the National Transportation Safety Board pointed out a number of issues specific to this accident that could be directly attributable to fatigue, with many pilots traveling all night over great distances just to reach their base of operations. For example, almost a quarter of Colgan Air pilots who operate out of Newark, New Jersey travel over one thousand miles simply to reach their designated duty station. At the same time, as we've witnessed with a number of regional carriers, pilots are often paid meager salaries--the first officer in Flight 3407 made barely twenty thousand dollars annually. With such low pay, it is difficult for these pilots to provide for themselves and their families, much less afford a restful place to spend an evening; at a hotel, or an apartment in close proximity to their base of operations--as a result, they doze in airport lounges-- technically against most airline regulations--and subsequently are getting into the cockpit fatigued, with insufficient rest and, potentially, reduced situational awareness. With little oversight concerning the amount of rest these pilots receive, we face the terrible potential for another incident in the near future. I was greatly encouraged by the efforts that the new Federal Aviation Administrator Babbitt undertook on Monday; his announcement to initiate rulemakings on fatigue management, the relationship between major and regional carriers, and training discrepancies, were all positive, proactive steps to help remedy a situation that for too long has gone ignored, and I commend his willingness to take the reins so early in his tenure. Unfortunately, as a recent series of hearings at the Senate Commerce Committee has shown us, rulemakings are typically long, drawn- out processes that in some cases are never completed. Simply put, this is insufficient. In fact, a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation concerning pilot fatigue--clearly an underlying cause of the Flight 3407 crash--has been outstanding for nearly 2 decades! This recommendation was no small suggestion; it has been on the NTSB's highest profile publication, their Most Wanted List, for nineteen years! Given that four of the last six fatal accidents involving commercial carriers included fatigue as a contributing cause, I am stunned that this issue has not been addressed. But only one effort to tackle this issue has been made in the past 2 decades, and after encountering some resistance, that proposed rulemaking was shelved in 1995, and no second attempt was forthcoming. So, while the Federal Aviation Administration's comments yesterday were laudable, there are no guarantees when it comes to rulemakings. I believe it is incumbent on Congress to act and act now. That is why Senator Boxer and I joined together to develop legislation that we believe will close many of the loopholes that jeopardize safety, those same loopholes spotlighted by the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board, the Department of Transportation Inspector General's office, and the victims' families of Flight 3407. Requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to complete a number of long-overdue rulemakings on issues as wide-ranging as fatigue management, minimum training standards for all carriers, and remedial training for deficient pilots is the first step. Ensuring the Federal Aviation Administration will perform adequate, unannounced inspections to guarantee these new rules are enforced, and requiring more rigorous inspections of flight schools like the Gulfstream Academy--whose parent company was recently assessed a civil penalty of $1.3 million for safety violations, and where many regional pilots receive their training--will go a long way towards closing the loopholes that still exist in our aviation safety network. In my view, these are all positive steps that will prevent another incident like the crash of Flight 3407. Before I close, I would like to say a word to the families of the crash victims. I deeply empathize with your loss, and in large part, your efforts have been essential in the drafting of this legislation. Thank you for all your perseverance and invaluable contributions during what I know must be difficult times for all of you.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on support of S. 1233, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009, a bipartisan measure I recently introduced with Senator Landrieu. As former chair and now ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I have long championed critical small business programs such as the Small Business Administration's Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR, and Small Business Technology Transfer, STTR, programs, which direct more than $2 billion in Federal research and development--R&D--funding each year to small businesses across our nation to encourage them to innovate and commercialize new technologies, products, and services. Our legislation would provide key improvements to the SBIR and STTR programs, which were last reauthorized in 2000 and 2001, respectively. As our Nation emerges from this devastating recession, the worst since World War II, we must ensure that America once again brings to bear the kind of ingenuity, creativity, and innovation that made America and our free market economy the greatest, most powerful on Earth. Indeed, innovation is the ``space race'' of the 21st century-- only this time it is not the U.S. versus Russia; it is the U.S. versus every nation that is jockeying for the lead position and an economic foothold. The bill we have introduced will greatly help America win this race. It is structured upon a comprehensive measure that our committee passed unanimously, on a bipartisan basis in both the 109th and 110th Congresses. Our legislation includes commonsense enhancements intended to incentivize more small businesses to participate in these vital programs. The bill would increase the size of phase I program awards from $100,000 to $150,000, and phase II awards from $750,000 to $1 million. It would also peg future award increases to inflation. These pivotal reforms represent a well-spring of indispensable technological- fuel to the small business engines that drive our Nation's innovation. Since the SBIR program was created in 1982, small technology firms have received more than 77,000 awards worth approximately $24 billion. The SBIR program has tremendous job creation potential. A recent National Academy of Sciences study, which focused on firms winning phase II SBIR awards in fiscal years 1992 through 2002 found that, as a result of their SBIR award, small firms were able to hire an average of 2.4 employees, retain 2.1 more, and over time these firms, on average, each generated 30 jobs. Our legislation would increase the SBIR allocation--currently 2.5 percent of Federal agencies' extramural R&D funds--by 1 percent over 10 years and double the STTR allocation over 5 years to 0.6 percent. By doubling the percentage of Federal R&D dollars that the STTR program receives each year, and increasing the SBIR percentage by 1 percent over 10 years, we will infuse another $1 billion into the small business economy. With our economy reeling, the SBIR and STTR programs are more essential than ever, if we are to capitalize on the groundbreaking capacities of our Nation's pioneering small businesses. While innovation in areas such as genomics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology present new opportunities, converting these ideas into marketable products involves substantial funding challenges. Many small businesses simply cannot afford the exorbitant cost of developing and bringing a product into the marketplace. In order to confront this challenge, this legislation offers a compromise solution to the venture capital issue that has recently divided members of this committee and the SBIR community. Last Congress, I worked with Senators Kerry, Bond, Lieberman, Coleman, and others, to develop a key compromise on this issue that would permit limited venture capital investment in the SBIR program. Our bill retains this bipartisan compromise and would allow limited involvement of firms majority-owned by venture capital companies in the SBIR program. Specifically, a maximum of 18 percent of SBIR funding at the National Institutes of Health and 8 percent at all other qualifying agencies may be directed to small firms majority-owned by venture capital companies. Our compromise was strongly supported by the stakeholder community, and is consistent with the recent findings of the National Academy of Sciences and Government Accountability Office regarding venture capital investment in SBIR awardees. Additionally, we leave in place well-established SBA ``affiliation'' rules designed to preserve the intent of the SBIR program by limiting participation to small businesses. Other key provisions in this vital legislation include the reauthorization and enhancement of my SBIR Defense Commercialization Pilot Program. Senator Kerry and I created this program in the 108th Congress to encourage the award of contracts to SBIR firms. In addition, we would offer this program to all other participating agencies. The bill also would reauthorize and increase funding from $2 million to $5 million for the Federal and State partnership program which would allow each state--including Maine--to receive funding in the form of a grant to make available an array of services in support of the SBIR program. Now, more than ever, we in Congress must do everything within our power to help small businesses drive the recovery of our economy. It is imperative that we reauthorize the SBIR and STTR programs, particularly before the program terminates at the end of July. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this vital measure in the committee and full Senate, as we move forward to reauthorize these vital programs.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today along with my friend Senator Whitehouse to introduce the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act. Unfortunately, lead paint remains a serious risk to families across the country and poses an especially dangerous hazard for children. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, 23 million homes in the United States currently have a significant amount of lead-based paint, and exposure has caused 240,000 children under the age of six to have blood-lead levels high enough to cause irreversible neurological damage and learning disabilities. The current Federal abatement programs are simply inadequate to address the home repair requirements of millions of families who remain exposed to lead. In fiscal year 2008, HUD's Lead Hazard Control Program provided for lead abatement of only 12,600 homes. It doesn't take an advanced degree in mathematics to know that 12,600 is an insufficient abatement number when 240,000 children have already been exposed to harmful levels of lead-based paint. The tax credit in the Whitehouse-Snowe bill would be worth up to $3,000 per eligible housing unit for abatement costs or up to $1,000 for each unit for interim control costs--which reduce but do not eliminate the hazard. These incentives will encourage property owners to make their homes and properties lead-safe. According to the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, almost 80 percent of homes and apartments in Maine built before 1978 could have lead paint. That being said, the tax credit in our legislation will help greatly reduce that number and in turn reduce the number of children who require medical treatment as a result of lead exposure. The Whitehouse-Snowe bill will provide a powerful tax incentive to landlords and make a much greater impact in reducing household lead exposure. It is no surprise that many of our poorest residents are the most affected by lead-based paint illnesses. Whatever their economic situation, no family should be forced to choose between affordability and the safety of their children. Our citizens are facing a multitude of difficult financial decisions in the midst of the current recession, and many people are unable to bear the costs of lead abatement. It is not news that health care costs are spiraling out of control, and Congress is working hard to find a solution to this complicated problem. Lead-based paint does not require such a complicated solution, and the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act takes a proactive role in preventing an illness that doesn't have to exist at all. Children exposed to lead-based paint will pay thousands of dollars in health care costs. Our legislation will not only save the lives of children across our country, but help mitigate the unnecessary burden of lead- based paint poisoning on our health care system. We must do everything in our power to encourage landlords an property owners to rid homes of harmful lead-based paint and I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting this legislation.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise today to join with Senator Landrieu to introduce the Entrepreneurial Development Act of 2009, a bill that would reauthorize and improve the U.S. Small Business Administration's, SBA, Entrepreneurial Development programs. I have long fought to expand the power and reach of the SBA's entrepreneurial development tools, which are used by millions of current and aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses across the U.S. These programs demonstrate how Congress can play a positive role in enhancing private- sector financing for start-up companies. We must continue to strengthen these core SBA programs because they have proven invaluable in aiding the efforts and dreams of America's entrepreneurs, and in bolstering small business job creation. The bill that I am cosponsoring today is the product of the type of bipartisan, consensus work product for which the Senate Small Business Committee has come to be known. The provisions contained in this legislation are a compilation of ideas and initiatives put forward by myself, Senator Landrieu, and other Committee members. Much of the language in the Entrepreneurial Development Act of 2009 was contained in S. 2920, the SBA Reauthorization and Improvements Act in the 110th Congress, the individual provisions of which were each passed unanimously by the Senate Small Business Committee during the 110th Congress. Unfortunately, that bipartisan bill never passed the Senate. This act, among other things, builds upon the aforementioned successes of SBA's Entrepreneurial Development programs, which collectively created or retained 200,000 jobs in 2008 alone. Since their inception, Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, have been essential in the delivery of management and technical counseling assistance and educational programs to prospective and existing small business owners. The SBDC program has served over 11 million clients with new business starts, sustainability programs for struggling firms, and expansion plans for growth firms. For every dollar spent on the SBDC program, approximately $2.87 in tax revenue is generated. According to a recent report conducted at Mississippi State University, as a direct result of its counseling programs, SBDC clients generated approximately $7 billion in sales and created over 73,000 new jobs in 2006. Therefore, it is imperative that in such troubling economic times we ensure that this program has the resources necessary to successfully aid small businesses. Through this legislation, which increases the SBDC program's authorization to $160 million by fiscal year 2012, this program will be in a better position to continue helping entrepreneurs succeed. The Women's Business Center, WBC, program, established by Congress in 1988, promotes the growth of women-owned businesses through business training and technical assistance, and provides access to credit and capital, federal contracts, and international trade opportunities. The WBC program served more than 159,000 clients across the country last year, providing help with financial management, procurement training, marketing and technical assistance. WBCs also provide specialized programs that include mentoring in various languages, Internet training, issues facing displaced workers and rural home-based entrepreneurs. Our legislation builds on our commitment to providing assistance to women entrepreneurs. It directs the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership to develop programs to bolster the growth of women-owned small businesses by providing support for business operations, manufacturing, technology, finance, Federal Government contracting, and international trade. The bill also makes substantial improvements to the Women's Business Center program, which created nearly 9,000 jobs in the last fiscal year, including an expansion of the types of entities that are eligible to host WBCs to economic development organizations, state-chartered development organizations, and public or private colleges and universities. Finally, the bill directs the SBA to provide a minimum of $150,000 in funding annually to all new WBCs that are in their first 5 years of operation, allowing new centers to become fully established before they have to compete for federal funding. The bill also reauthorizes SCORE, a non-profit association that matches business-management counselors with small business clients. SCORE volunteer counselors share their management and technical expertise with both existing and prospective small business owners. With its 10,500 member volunteer association, sponsored by the SBA, and more than 389 service delivery points and a website, SCORE provides counseling to small businesses nationwide. The national SCORE organization delivers its services of business and technical assistance through a national network of chapters, an Internet counseling site, partnerships with SBA, the SBDCs and WBCs, and with the public and private sectors. In 2008, SCORE created or retained 25,000 jobs, and this act will help improve this program by raising the authorization level to $13 million in fiscal year 2012. In addition to reauthorizing SBA's ED programs and increasing their funding levels, this bill also addresses the crisis small businesses face when it comes to securing quality, affordable health insurance. Health insurance costs have increased by 89 percent since 2000. This has led to a disturbing trend of fewer and fewer small businesses being able to offer health insurance to their employees. A key provision in this bill would establish a grant program to provide information, counseling, and educational materials to small businesses, through the well-established national framework of the SBA's technical assistance partners including SBDCs, WBC, Veteran's Business Centers, and SCORE. Research conducted by the non-partisan Healthcare Leadership Council found that with a short educational and counseling session, small businesses were up to 33 percent more likely to offer health insurance to their employees. It is therefore vital that we provide the SBA's resource partners with the resources necessary to give small businesses the critical health care education they need to navigate the complex insurance market. The SBA's entrepreneurial development programs provide tremendous value for a relatively small investment. I am committed to ensuring that Americans have the necessary resources to start, grow and develop a business. I believe that it is our duty to do everything possible to sustain prosperity and job creation throughout the U.S. I urge my colleagues to support this vital piece of legislation.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the successful and thriving business of a young and insightful entrepreneur from my home State of Maine whose line of dog treats is truly one of a kind. Barkwheats Dog Biscuits was founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Chris Roberts. A native of the Bangor area, Mr. Roberts left Maine to attend college and pursue a career as a recording engineer in Nashville. Upon returning to Maine, Mr. Roberts found himself baking frequently, a skill he developed while a baker at the University of Maine. This gradually led Mr. Roberts to begin baking for his two dogs, Baxter and Sabine, both rescued mixed-breeds. His passion for cooking soon led him to open Barkwheats, and he began making two varieties of all-natural dog biscuits: sea vegetables and chamomile, as well as ginger and parsley, the latter of which provides relief from dogs' bad breath. In November 2007, Mr. Roberts began selling the biscuits at local farmers markets and organic cooperatives in the midcoast Maine region, near his home in Stockton Springs, as well as online. In very short order, the product gained immense popularity, due in large part to tourists who purchased the biscuits for their dogs. Upon returning home, these people began clamoring for Barkwheats at their local stores. He now ships his biscuits to dozens of pet stores across the country, including as far away as Alaska. Additionally, Barkwheats' products have been featured in newspapers, blogs, and magazines across the country, including Animal Wellness Magazine and ModernDog. To keep up with the demand, Mr. Roberts also purchased a machine that makes 2,300 biscuits per hour! Barkwheats biscuits are completely organic, and over 95 percent of the ingredients come from local, Maine farmers in neighboring towns and counties. To support the State's economy and ensure that all items are fresh, Mr. Roberts purchases buckwheat from farmers in Union, eggs from Gouldsboro, parsley from Pittsfield, honey from Swanville, and even seaweed from off the Machias coast. Unable to find a farmer who produced ginger locally, he collaborated with Sustainable Harvest International, a Maine company that helps Central American farmers improve their lives while simultaneously restoring tropical forests, to purchase ginger from southern Belize. As a result of its efforts, Barkwheats Dog Biscuits is expected to be named the first Fair Trade Certified pet treat later this summer. Additionally, in an effort to care for the environment, Barkwheats dog biscuits are packed in 100 percent compostable recycled boxes, as well as bags made from wood pulp. Chris Roberts' tasty treats represent a truly innovative way to combine supporting the local economy and giving pet owners a healthy, gluten-free option for their dogs. I commend Chris Roberts for his innovation and determination, and wish him continued success with his burgeoning business.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise today to join with Senator Landrieu to introduce the Entrepreneurial Development Act of 2009, a bill that would reauthorize and improve the U.S. Small Business Administration's, SBA, Entrepreneurial Development programs. I have long fought to expand the power and reach of the SBA's entrepreneurial development tools, which are used by millions of current and aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses across the U.S. These programs demonstrate how Congress can play a positive role in enhancing private- sector financing for start-up companies. We must continue to strengthen these core SBA programs because they have proven invaluable in aiding the efforts and dreams of America's entrepreneurs, and in bolstering small business job creation. The bill that I am cosponsoring today is the product of the type of bipartisan, consensus work product for which the Senate Small Business Committee has come to be known. The provisions contained in this legislation are a compilation of ideas and initiatives put forward by myself, Senator Landrieu, and other Committee members. Much of the language in the Entrepreneurial Development Act of 2009 was contained in S. 2920, the SBA Reauthorization and Improvements Act in the 110th Congress, the individual provisions of which were each passed unanimously by the Senate Small Business Committee during the 110th Congress. Unfortunately, that bipartisan bill never passed the Senate. This act, among other things, builds upon the aforementioned successes of SBA's Entrepreneurial Development programs, which collectively created or retained 200,000 jobs in 2008 alone. Since their inception, Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, have been essential in the delivery of management and technical counseling assistance and educational programs to prospective and existing small business owners. The SBDC program has served over 11 million clients with new business starts, sustainability programs for struggling firms, and expansion plans for growth firms. For every dollar spent on the SBDC program, approximately $2.87 in tax revenue is generated. According to a recent report conducted at Mississippi State University, as a direct result of its counseling programs, SBDC clients generated approximately $7 billion in sales and created over 73,000 new jobs in 2006. Therefore, it is imperative that in such troubling economic times we ensure that this program has the resources necessary to successfully aid small businesses. Through this legislation, which increases the SBDC program's authorization to $160 million by fiscal year 2012, this program will be in a better position to continue helping entrepreneurs succeed. The Women's Business Center, WBC, program, established by Congress in 1988, promotes the growth of women-owned businesses through business training and technical assistance, and provides access to credit and capital, federal contracts, and international trade opportunities. The WBC program served more than 159,000 clients across the country last year, providing help with financial management, procurement training, marketing and technical assistance. WBCs also provide specialized programs that include mentoring in various languages, Internet training, issues facing displaced workers and rural home-based entrepreneurs. Our legislation builds on our commitment to providing assistance to women entrepreneurs. It directs the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership to develop programs to bolster the growth of women-owned small businesses by providing support for business operations, manufacturing, technology, finance, Federal Government contracting, and international trade. The bill also makes substantial improvements to the Women's Business Center program, which created nearly 9,000 jobs in the last fiscal year, including an expansion of the types of entities that are eligible to host WBCs to economic development organizations, state-chartered development organizations, and public or private colleges and universities. Finally, the bill directs the SBA to provide a minimum of $150,000 in funding annually to all new WBCs that are in their first 5 years of operation, allowing new centers to become fully established before they have to compete for federal funding. The bill also reauthorizes SCORE, a non-profit association that matches business-management counselors with small business clients. SCORE volunteer counselors share their management and technical expertise with both existing and prospective small business owners. With its 10,500 member volunteer association, sponsored by the SBA, and more than 389 service delivery points and a website, SCORE provides counseling to small businesses nationwide. The national SCORE organization delivers its services of business and technical assistance through a national network of chapters, an Internet counseling site, partnerships with SBA, the SBDCs and WBCs, and with the public and private sectors. In 2008, SCORE created or retained 25,000 jobs, and this act will help improve this program by raising the authorization level to $13 million in fiscal year 2012. In addition to reauthorizing SBA's ED programs and increasing their funding levels, this bill also addresses the crisis small businesses face when it comes to securing quality, affordable health insurance. Health insurance costs have increased by 89 percent since 2000. This has led to a disturbing trend of fewer and fewer small businesses being able to offer health insurance to their employees. A key provision in this bill would establish a grant program to provide information, counseling, and educational materials to small businesses, through the well-established national framework of the SBA's technical assistance partners including SBDCs, WBC, Veteran's Business Centers, and SCORE. Research conducted by the non-partisan Healthcare Leadership Council found that with a short educational and counseling session, small businesses were up to 33 percent more likely to offer health insurance to their employees. It is therefore vital that we provide the SBA's resource partners with the resources necessary to give small businesses the critical health care education they need to navigate the complex insurance market. The SBA's entrepreneurial development programs provide tremendous value for a relatively small investment. I am committed to ensuring that Americans have the necessary resources to start, grow and develop a business. I believe that it is our duty to do everything possible to sustain prosperity and job creation throughout the U.S. I urge my colleagues to support this vital piece of legislation.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, I rise today to recognize the outstanding service Erik Necciai has provided to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in his capacity as a professional staff member and counsel. When Erik joined the Committee staff just--over 2 years ago--in June 2007 I knew that I had selected a top-notch staffer who cared deeply about making a difference in peoples' lives, and I will feel a deep loss with his departure from Capitol Hill later this week. Indicative of the dedicated person Erik is, he began his work on the committee the day after he arrived home from his honeymoon in romantic Italy with his new bride, Tina. During his first weeks here, Erik was focused on preparing for a committee roundtable regarding legislative suggestions to improve the Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR, program. He was simultaneously studying for the Maryland bar exam--no small feat! As if that was not enough, Erik faced a daily commute of roughly 2 hours each way, coming from his home in Solomon's Island, MD. After a whirlwind first month, Erik settled in quickly, remaining a proactive staff member who consistently sought new and critical avenues to increase contracting opportunities to small businesses and reform the Small Business Administration's HUBZone program. Over his 2 years on the Hill, Erik has helped me develop thoughtful and probing legislation regarding small business contracting and procurement. Committee Chair Mary Landrieu and I will soon be introducing crucial legislation to reauthorize and make significant improvements to the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer, STTR, programs, and Erik was instrumental in helping us craft this bill. Additionally, Erik always prepared comprehensive and insightful background materials for me that included meticulously researched statistics for committee hearings and roundtables. He has also been personally responsive to small businesses seeking help navigating the confusing and difficult maze known as Federal contracting. And Erik has been an aggressive watchdog, exhorting government agencies to not just meet but exceed their small business contracting goals. Prior to joining the committee staff, Erik had already assembled an impressive and varied resume. A contracting specialist and procurement technician and Navy acquisitions consultant for the Department of the Navy, Erik came to the Senate armed with the necessary experience and knowledge to hit the ground running in procurement. A 2006 dean's list graduate of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan, Erik has also interned for the circuit court of his home county in Frederick, MD, in addition to serving as a law clerk for the District Court of Ingham County, MI. These experiences all led to the in-depth and extensive knowledge Erik possess about contract law. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 2002 with a major in biology and chemistry. This led to his work in 2003 as a research scientist for the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Prior to taking that position, Erik went overseas to South Africa to take part in student research. He organized and presented several lectures on government and conservation issues, including voting rights and the AIDS epidemic. Erik has also given generously of his time in the service of others. He has been a dental assistant at the Virginia Homeless Dental Clinic, and received the Volunteer of the Year Award for his stellar work as a hospital operating room assistant. A division I varsity scholarship athlete in track and field--who was named a 2002 Virginia Tech Athlete of the Year--Erik has also combined his athletic prowess and engaging speaking skills to participate as a motivational speaker for Special Olympics athletes. Erik's perpetual smile and charming demeanor make him eminently likeable and easily approachable. His responsible nature and insightful analytical skills make him a key member of any group, and a talented Hill staffer. The consummate team player, Erik never seeks credit or recognition for himself, but always looks for ways that government can empower people to improve their lot. A proud native of Maryland, Erik Necciai has already led an exciting life. But on Thursday, Erik leaves the Senate to begin a new chapter as the director of an international consulting firm headquartered locally in Northern Virginia. I only hope that he can find a way to reduce his commute time. That said, Erik's determination, sincerity, thoughtfulness, and character will be sorely missed in the halls of the Russell Building. I wish Erik and his beautiful wife Tina the best in all of their endeavors, and sincerely thank Erik for his remarkable commitment to public service.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise to speak about the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, but before I do I want to compliment the Senator from Oregon for his passion and his eloquent statement on behalf of renovating and reforming our health care system. That certainly will be a historic occasion. I have worked with him on so many instances in the past, in a bipartisan fashion, on key issues, such as prescription drugs and adding the critical Part D benefit to the Medicare Program. That also was a historic event in the Medicare Program--the first major expansion of Medicare since its inception. I look forward to working with him in a genuine bipartisan way to build a consensus for this historic occasion that is so essential and so important to all Americans. It is important to get it right. It is important that we work together in a concerted fashion, as we have in the past. And certainly on the Senate Finance Committee, as we begin to proceed to mark up legislation in the future, I certainly am looking forward to working with him.

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 15 minutes as in morning business.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Madam President, I am proud to join my colleagues in expressing first and foremost my admiration for Senator Kennedy, for his longstanding, vigorous leadership, which has been the impetus behind this legislation. Undeniably, Senator Kennedy continues to serve as the strongest of champions on so many matters relating to health care, and I am certainly, as we all are, grateful for his tireless contributions to this major initiative. I also commend Senator Dodd, who has been guiding this legislation here in the Senate, and I certainly appreciate all of his efforts to make sure that this legislation becomes a reality. I also appreciate the public health agencies and advocates who work ceaselessly to address these serious public health problems associated with tobacco, as we all well know, and who are committed to the task of reducing youth smoking. I certainly want to commend States such as Maine that have used their funds from the 1998 tobacco settlement to reduce smoking rates. First and foremost, it is regrettable as the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close that we are even having this debate when the American Lung Association reports that cigarette smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to cause cancer, and that smoking is directly responsible for approximately 90 percent of lung cancer deaths, and that 8.6 million people in the United States have at least one serious illness caused by smoking. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that smoking costs the country $96 billion a year in health care costs and another $97 billion a year in lost productivity. It didn't have to be this way. Looking back over the last several Congresses, I can tell you that many of my Senate colleagues have engaged on this issue of tobacco usage's ill effects for the better part of a decade. I well recall during the 105th Congress at least five comprehensive tobacco policy bills which were introduced in the Senate. The Senate Commerce Committee, on which I have served, held no fewer than 10 hearings on issues ranging from how to implement the tobacco settlement to protecting children from the health risks of becoming a smoker to reviewing marketing and labeling restrictions that were under consideration at the time. In 1997, Senator McCain, who then chaired the Commerce Committee, introduced the National Tobacco Policy and Youth Smoking Reduction Act, which contained many of the very same safeguards as the measure currently before us. While on the one hand it is irrefutable that protecting youth from the harms of smoking and ensuring tobacco products are manufactured under high standards was the correct course of action in 1997, how is it conceivable it has taken 12 years to get this right? Why, after the first warning 25 years ago by the Surgeon General on the hazards of smoking, has that message not been translated into law? Why is Congress taking this action now? What has changed since 1997 to prompt this renewed action? For one, there has been a justifiable drumbeat of outrage over fraudulent findings that has grown louder by the decade as the tobacco industry has been less than forthcoming, and at times deceitful, in providing consumers with information to make informed decisions about smoking. In fact, in August of 2006, a district court judge found that several tobacco companies intentionally manipulated information, lied, and conspired ``to bring new, young and hopefully long-lived smokers into the market in order to replace those who die or quit.'' Furthermore, the Harvard School of Public Health study in 2008 found that cigarette companies strategically manipulated menthol levels in cigarettes to attract and addict young people. It is bad enough Congress could have acted and chose not to do so, but what makes the situation even worse is that, in the interim, tobacco companies have ratcheted up their marketing campaigns. Congress is tackling the tobacco issue again in the wake of discovering how tobacco manufacturers add substances to cigarettes to increase their addictiveness, enhance the taste--and this is unbelievable--making them more palatable to children. Menthol makes an individual's airways less reactive to the harsh effects of smoking, and ammonia is often added to speed the delivery of nicotine to the smoker's brain. That is not to say we haven't made progress in trying to limit some of the negative health effects of cigarette smoking. We have. Since 1983, the proportion of Americans who smoke has declined from 30 to 24 percent, and since the landmark 1964 Surgeon General report, our knowledge of health risks of tobacco has expanded greatly. And yet, without substantial initiatives by Congress, in the past 10 years the rate of tobacco use has not dropped but merely stabilized. Today, approximately 1 in 5 youth and adults smokes regularly. The first step toward addressing the enormous toll taken on our Nation by smoking is to equip the Federal Government with the tools it requires to hold purveyors of tobacco to account. For too long, there has been a vacuum in authority when it comes to regulating smoking at the Federal level. Our bill, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, would create the kind of restrictions that the Food and Drug Administration unsuccessfully tried to impose on the tobacco industry in 2000. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court held that Congress had not yet granted the FDA explicit authority to regulate tobacco. The purpose of the FDA restrictions was to prevent the tobacco industry from marketing its products to kids or to create products that are specifically attractive to children, such as flavored cigarettes. Granting FDA the authority to protect the children from these potentially deadly products is paramount. Thus, the legislation before us would allow regulation of manufacturers of tobacco products in order to ensure standards of content, label, and marketing. Under our bill, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would be authorized to develop regulations that impose guidelines on the advertising and promotion of a tobacco product consistent with and to the full extent permitted by the first amendment to the Constitution. These regulations would be based on whether they would be appropriate for the protection of public health. It is imperative that we provide the FDA the flexibility to respond to inevitable tobacco industry attempts to circumvent restrictions, while acknowledging the rights of the tobacco industry to sell its products to consenting adults. While this bill allows that informed adults ought to be able to purchase tobacco products, we must also understand that many smokers want to quit smoking. In 2006, 44 percent of smokers stopped smoking at least 1 day in the preceding year because they were trying to quit smoking completely. Undoubtedly, for some, cessation is more difficult, and as they struggle to limit their risk, those individuals will seek out products which they understand to be less hazardous, such as lower tar and nicotine products. While these actions are admirable, their benefits are indisputably limited. That is partially because the tobacco industry has waged a marketing campaign to convince consumers that they can continue to smoke and mitigate the negative health impacts of smoking by choosing alternatives, such as light, low tar, and low nicotine cigarettes. Again, an FDA with the authority to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products is the most viable answer. Our approach would also ensure that the scientific expertise of the FDA is applied to appropriately regulate tobacco. Current smokers deserve to learn more about the products they consume. Additionally, we must have much improved marketing oversight, so that children and adults are not targeted with false or deceptive advertising of a dangerous product. To that end, I was pleased to join with Senator Lautenberg in sponsoring legislation that would end the fraud of allowing the tobacco industry to perpetuate the Orwellian idea of the safer cigarette. The Truth in Cigarette Labeling Act was a bill Senator Lautenberg and I introduced to prohibit the cigarette companies from using the ``FTC method'' for measuring tar and nicotine, which had been found to be a deceptive method of presenting data on tar and nicotine exposure through smoking. Thankfully, the Federal Trade Commission agreed to implement the Lautenberg-Snowe bill by not allowing tobacco companies to label their products with low tar, low nicotine, and light. To augment that effort, Senator Lautenberg and I sent a letter to the FTC supporting the decision to curtail these deceptive marketing tactics and finally holding cigarette producers to higher standards in advertising their products. As I stated at the outset, since 2000, efforts at smoking reduction have largely atrophied. A Harris poll released just last year demonstrated that after two decades of reduction in smoking rates, progress has stalled. In 2009, do we really want to say that one in four Americans smoking is an acceptable statistic, and that we will turn a blind eye to the fact that all too many young Americans have taken up smoking? Do we really want to say that although in the last 12 years America created YouTube, the IPod, the Iphone and more--yet we can't keep children from smoking altogether or substantially lower the instances of smoking by adults. Our response must be nothing less than the bill we are championing today. And make no mistake, time is of the essence. The reality is the average smoker begins at age 19. So many individuals take up tobacco use before they can ever legally purchase the product. And let there be no mistake about it--our youth are targeted to be the next generation of tobacco consumers. In fact, in my home State of Maine, 1 in 7 high school students currently smokes, and each year, 1,600 youth become new daily smokers. And most concerning, an estimated 27,000 youth now living in Maine will die prematurely from health consequences related to cigarette smoking, and health care costs in Maine directly caused by smoking have reached a whopping $602 million annually. Maine has responded with a comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program known as the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine which is funded with proceeds from the tobacco settlement. And I am proud to say that Maine is among the States that have maximized their tobacco settlement money for the purpose of reducing smoking rates and easing related health problems. That is why Maine has established Healthy Maine Partnerships, including 31 local partnerships that span the entire geography of Maine, which are engaging in more than 156 policy and environmental change efforts to reduce tobacco use, increase physical activity, and encourage healthy eating at local schools, worksites, hospitals, recreation centers and other community sites. While I commend the efforts of States such as Maine in attempting to stem the tide of youth smoking, what we have not yet dealt with is the known practices of tobacco companies marketing directly to our children. The fact is, the industry has not only targeted children as its new customers, but it has designed products for them as well. Even as one prohibition is imposed--such as restricting the use of cartoon characters like ``Joe Camel''--we find that the tobacco industry devises a new scheme. We witnessed the new flavored products in packaging which was designed to appeal to a new generation. Many ``child-oriented'' flavors have been developed including such varieties as chocolate, vanilla, berry, lime and the package I am holding-- coconut-and-pineapple-flavored Kauai Koala. Although State-level bills to ban flavored cigarettes have been introduced in New York, Minnesota, West Virginia, Connecticut, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas--a move in the right direction to be sure--there is more we must do. It is time for Congress to act to protect our youth--to safeguard our children and in the process send a clear message to those in the tobacco industry that we will not permit them to recruit our children at increasingly younger ages to become lifelong cigarette smokers. Our bill will achieve what we failed to accomplish 12 years ago, and we can ill afford to allow this opportunity to pass. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this timely and necessary legislation to protect the health of all Americans, especially the millions of children at risk of becoming cigarette smokers. I yield the floor.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Small Business Export Opportunity Act of 2009, a measure that would provide improved and expanded support for small businesses, through critical programs and reforms, to help them compete globally and export their goods and services to foreign markets. 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 small businesses to sell their goods and services in new markets, not enough small businesses are taking advantage of these international opportunities. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, only 266,457 of the approximately 27 million small businesses, or less than 1 percent, currently sell their products to foreign buyers. Small businesses are a vital source of economic growth and job creation, generating approximately 75 percent 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 will not 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. This legislation gives small businesses the resources and assistance needed to explore potential export opportunities, or to expand their current export business. The bill includes provisions I have supported for many years, during my tenure as both Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee. For instance, I first introduced legislation in 2001, in the 107th Congress, to establish a U.S. Trade Representative for Small Business, in order to ensure that small business interests are reflected in U.S. trade policy and trade agreement negotiations. The legislation I am introducing today includes this vital provision. The legislation also 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. It also includes provisions requiring that the SBA immediately fill its trade specialist positions that have been vacant for years. The Small Business Export Opportunity Act of 2009 would also bolster the SBA's technical assistance programs, and will improve export financing programs so that small businesses have access to capital needed to support export sales. Furthermore, the legislation 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. The legislation also provides small businesses with matching grants, of up to $5,000, for expenses relating to activities that help them start or expand export activity. It creates a new Office of Small Business Development and Promotion at the SBA, and it improves the SBA's network of international trade counselors. This legislation increases the maximum size of SBA-guaranteed export working capital and international trade loans, and it establishes a permanent Export Express program. It also establishes a program to provide support for small businesses related to trade disputes and unfair international trade practices. 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 U.S. spends just \1/6\ of the international average 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. This legislation will help small businesses stay competitive, help them grow, and speed the recovery of our economy as a whole. 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

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Small Business Export Opportunity Act of 2009, a measure that would provide improved and expanded support for small businesses, through critical programs and reforms, to help them compete globally and export their goods and services to foreign markets. 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 small businesses to sell their goods and services in new markets, not enough small businesses are taking advantage of these international opportunities. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, only 266,457 of the approximately 27 million small businesses, or less than 1 percent, currently sell their products to foreign buyers. Small businesses are a vital source of economic growth and job creation, generating approximately 75 percent 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 will not 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. This legislation gives small businesses the resources and assistance needed to explore potential export opportunities, or to expand their current export business. The bill includes provisions I have supported for many years, during my tenure as both Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee. For instance, I first introduced legislation in 2001, in the 107th Congress, to establish a U.S. Trade Representative for Small Business, in order to ensure that small business interests are reflected in U.S. trade policy and trade agreement negotiations. The legislation I am introducing today includes this vital provision. The legislation also 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. It also includes provisions requiring that the SBA immediately fill its trade specialist positions that have been vacant for years. The Small Business Export Opportunity Act of 2009 would also bolster the SBA's technical assistance programs, and will improve export financing programs so that small businesses have access to capital needed to support export sales. Furthermore, the legislation 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. The legislation also provides small businesses with matching grants, of up to $5,000, for expenses relating to activities that help them start or expand export activity. It creates a new Office of Small Business Development and Promotion at the SBA, and it improves the SBA's network of international trade counselors. This legislation increases the maximum size of SBA-guaranteed export working capital and international trade loans, and it establishes a permanent Export Express program. It also establishes a program to provide support for small businesses related to trade disputes and unfair international trade practices. 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 U.S. spends just \1/6\ of the international average 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. This legislation will help small businesses stay competitive, help them grow, and speed the recovery of our economy as a whole. 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

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to join with my colleague, Senator Klobuchar, to introduce legislation that I believe continues to be crucial in the effort to improve aviation safety. Before I begin, I want to recognize the deliberate and unflagging efforts of Senator Klobuchar, whose commitment to improve the safety of commercial aviation in this country is so admirable. We all remember last spring's news: a U.S. carrier continued flying aircraft even though critical safety checks involving cracks in their fuselages had not been performed on approximately 50 jets. In fact, an independent review concluded that these flights potentially endangered over six million passengers. What was the punitive or disciplinary action taken against the inspector who condoned--in fact, encouraged-- those aircraft to continue flying? Nothing. The PMI, or supervising inspector, continued in his role. Also, as many of you will recall, last April, American Airlines cancelled nearly 2,000 flights in order to catch up on inspections of aircraft wiring--inspections that should have been performed previously under its agreement with the FAA. This startling news was compounded by a Department of Transportation Inspector General's report in June disclosing so-called safety inspectors are turning a blind eye to violations. Now, according to a New York Times article dated June 4, an inspector reported to his superiors that Colgan Air had been having trouble with their most recent purchase, the Bombardier Q400. The same aircraft that crashed outside of Buffalo, New York this past March. What did his superiors do with this information? They transferred the inspector to a different job, and reportedly buried the report. The FAA's overarching role is to serve as a protector of the public trust; not as a public relations and management tool for the commercial airlines. What I find most offensive throughout these reports is the willingness by the FAA to ignore safety concerns or inspection violations, to presume that due to the tremendous level of success regarding safety protections for so long, they no longer are required to follow the procedures that created that high level of safety, instead, as the Inspector General's report indicated, they want to ``avoid a negative effect on the FAA'' by enforcing those measures. That is why Senator Klobuchar and I are committed to closing the revolving door between the airlines and the FAA. We need to codify our safety expectations into law and hold anyone who tries to undermine the integrity of the safety process accountable. By establishing a cooling- off period so that FAA inspectors cannot immediately go to work for an airline they used to inspect, and demanding that the FAA establish a national review team of experienced inspectors to conduct periodic, unannounced audits of FAA air carrier inspection facilities will guarantee that aircraft inspections are carried out in a rigorous and timely fashion. The American people, not the airlines, are the primary responsibility of the FAA. It is my hope that these provisions will assist in returning the FAA to their core mission: safety.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to join with my colleague, Senator Klobuchar, to introduce legislation that I believe continues to be crucial in the effort to improve aviation safety. Before I begin, I want to recognize the deliberate and unflagging efforts of Senator Klobuchar, whose commitment to improve the safety of commercial aviation in this country is so admirable. We all remember last spring's news: a U.S. carrier continued flying aircraft even though critical safety checks involving cracks in their fuselages had not been performed on approximately 50 jets. In fact, an independent review concluded that these flights potentially endangered over six million passengers. What was the punitive or disciplinary action taken against the inspector who condoned--in fact, encouraged-- those aircraft to continue flying? Nothing. The PMI, or supervising inspector, continued in his role. Also, as many of you will recall, last April, American Airlines cancelled nearly 2,000 flights in order to catch up on inspections of aircraft wiring--inspections that should have been performed previously under its agreement with the FAA. This startling news was compounded by a Department of Transportation Inspector General's report in June disclosing so-called safety inspectors are turning a blind eye to violations. Now, according to a New York Times article dated June 4, an inspector reported to his superiors that Colgan Air had been having trouble with their most recent purchase, the Bombardier Q400. The same aircraft that crashed outside of Buffalo, New York this past March. What did his superiors do with this information? They transferred the inspector to a different job, and reportedly buried the report. The FAA's overarching role is to serve as a protector of the public trust; not as a public relations and management tool for the commercial airlines. What I find most offensive throughout these reports is the willingness by the FAA to ignore safety concerns or inspection violations, to presume that due to the tremendous level of success regarding safety protections for so long, they no longer are required to follow the procedures that created that high level of safety, instead, as the Inspector General's report indicated, they want to ``avoid a negative effect on the FAA'' by enforcing those measures. That is why Senator Klobuchar and I are committed to closing the revolving door between the airlines and the FAA. We need to codify our safety expectations into law and hold anyone who tries to undermine the integrity of the safety process accountable. By establishing a cooling- off period so that FAA inspectors cannot immediately go to work for an airline they used to inspect, and demanding that the FAA establish a national review team of experienced inspectors to conduct periodic, unannounced audits of FAA air carrier inspection facilities will guarantee that aircraft inspections are carried out in a rigorous and timely fashion. The American people, not the airlines, are the primary responsibility of the FAA. It is my hope that these provisions will assist in returning the FAA to their core mission: safety.

Ms. SNOWE

Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague Senator Wyden in reintroducing legislation that will stop the increasing financial burden being placed on wireless consumers by discriminatory taxes. On average, the typical consumer pays 15.2 percent of his/her total wireless bill in Federal, State, and local taxes, fees and surcharges--this is compared to the 7.07 percent average tax rate for other goods and services. The Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act of 2009 would ensure that these tax rates don't increase further by prohibiting States and local governments from imposing any new discriminatory tax on mobile services, mobile service providers, or mobile service property for a period of 5 years. The bill defines ``new discriminatory tax'' as a tax imposed on mobile services, providers, or property that is not generally imposed on other types of services or property, or that is generally imposed at a lower rate. The wireless era has changed the way the world communicates. To date, there are more than 270 million wireless subscribers in the United States, and consumers used more than 2.2 trillion minutes of airtime from July 2007 to June 2008--that is more than 6 billion minutes per day! And with this growth, more people are using the cell phone as a primary communication device as well as for data and Internet services--approximately 20 percent of households have ``cut the cord'' and use cell phones exclusively. The increased mobility and access wireless communications provide have improved our lives, our safety, and the efficiency of our work and businesses. It is estimated that the productivity value of all mobile wireless services was worth $185 billion in 2005 alone. However, as more consumers and businesses embrace wireless technologies and applications, more States and local governments are embracing it as a revenue source and applying these excessive and discriminatory taxes, which show up on consumers' bills each month. In fact, the effective rate of taxation on wireless services has increased four times faster than the rate on other taxable goods and services between January 2003 and January 2007. These excessive and discriminatory taxes discourage wireless adoption and use, primarily with low-income individuals and families that still view a cellular phone as a luxury when many Americans consider it a necessity. By banning these taxes, we can equalize the taxation of the wireless industry with that of other goods and services and protect the wireless consumer from the weight of exorbitant fees, surcharges, and general business taxes. We cannot allow this essential and innovative industry as well as the consumers who benefit from its amazing services and applications to suffer excessive tax rates. Placing a moratorium on new discriminatory wireless taxes will ensure that consumers continue to reap the benefits of wireless services. Congress took similar action with the Internet--passing the Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act of 2007 last session--because of the incredible impact the Internet will continue to have on consumers and businesses alike. The future of wireless is just as bright and that is why we must ensure its continued growth. It is confounding that telecommunications, one of the most essential components of our economy and our daily lives, is one of the most highly taxed sectors. That is why I sincerely hope that my colleagues join Senator Wyden and me in supporting this critical bipartisan legislation so we can continue our efforts to curtail discriminatory taxes on these vital services so that all Americans can leverage the benefits they offer. I would like to thank Senator McCain for his past leadership on this issue and for cosponsoring this consumer-friendly legislation.