Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, the Small Business Administration has always worked to promote entrepreneurship amongst underrepresented groups and within underserved parts of the country. For this community, small business growth means more than just new jobs; it means economic development. That is why SBA offers a number of programs designed to encourage women and minorities to start their own ventures. H.R. 1834, the Native American Business Development Enhancement Act, builds on that tradition of growth through diversity. As our economy continues to struggle, we need to be creating jobs everywhere we can. This rings especially true amongst underserved groups like Native Americans. After all, few segments of the population are in greater need of job creation. Within the Navajo tribe, the largest in the Native American community, unemployment has long hovered at 50 percent. On certain tribal reservations, it has reached a staggering 80 percent. In a recent speech to various tribal leaders, President Obama stressed the need for Native Americans to become ``a full partner in the American economy.'' Mr. Speaker, what better way to forge that kind of partnership than through entrepreneurship? While their community faces significant challenges, Native Americans have never shied away from starting their own ventures. In recent years, entrepreneurship among Native Americans and Alaska Native women has soared by 69 percent. With this bill, we can build on that growth, supporting the kind of job creation that the Native American community so sorely needs. As of 2002, there were over 200,000 Native American firms nationwide. While those businesses span a broad range of tribes and industries, they are unified in their need for resources like technical assistance and affordable capital. This bill helps them access those tools. Importantly, it establishes an office focused solely on Native American small businesses, one that can address their unique needs head on. Like many small business owners, Native American entrepreneurs have been battered by the recession. As a result, many of these men and women are struggling with obstacles like access to capital. For these business owners, entrepreneurial development programs, such as those that provide training for loan applications, can go a long way in easing challenges. H.R. 1834 puts critical training resources within reach, and tailors them to the specific strengths of the Native American firms. By better customizing these programs, we can give Native American entrepreneurs the tools they need to grow and the resources they need to create jobs. This is an important piece of legislation, and I thank Representative Kirkpatrick for her work in helping it come together. I urge its support, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1834) to amend the Small Business Act to expand and improve the assistance provided to Indian tribe members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1839) to amend the Small Business Act to improve SCORE, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, when first starting out, entrepreneurs often struggled with basics, like marketing their services, accessing capital, and learning to navigate the tax code. In the earliest stages of development, mistakes in these areas can mean the difference between a venture's success and its failure. That is why the SCORE program was established to help fledgling business owners learn the ropes of entrepreneurship. By matching new business owners with practiced hands, SCORE helps entrepreneurs trade best practices and learn from the mistakes of their forerunners. The program functions as a mentoring service, one that allows retired business owners to continue giving back to their communities. This is a laudable goal to be sure. But unfortunately, SCORE has not kept pace with the shifting marketplace. H.R. 1839 will update and enhance the program, tailoring it to meet the needs of today's entrepreneurs. With the economy in flux, small firms require specialized training in areas not previously offered. To begin, technology plays a vastly more important role in entrepreneurship than it has in the past. This bill recognizes that fact and modernizes the SCORE to deliver the kind of training that is critical to doing business in the information age. Just as the business world is changing, so, too, is the face of entrepreneurship. In recent years, we have seen a surge in the number of women and minorities starting their own firms; and yet for some reason, SCORE has failed to reflect that trend. Mr. Buchanan's bill will promote greater diversity within the program. That way, we can better match small business owners with mentors and be sure every entrepreneur, regardless of race, gender, industry or region, has access to the specialized resources they need to be successful. This bill helps train the next generation's small business innovators. It allows them to sidestep the pitfalls of early entrepreneurship and get straight to work doing what they do best: creating jobs and growing our economy. H.R. 1839 is an important piece of legislation, and I thank Representative Buchanan for his contribution. I urge support and reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Will the gentleman yield again?

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. For too long, millions of Americans have suffered without access to the medical treatment they need. Right now, as we debate this measure, too many Americans are worrying about how they will find health care coverage if they lose their jobs. On this day alone, 14,000 Americans will lose their coverage, and millions of other citizens, including one in every three Hispanics, lack health insurance coverage. Today all of that changes. This is the moment. No longer will insurance companies abandon Americans when they most need help. This bill will end the practice of denying Americans coverage because of preexisting conditions. The 36 million uninsured Americans will finally have coverage. Choice, competition, and transparency will be brought to the insurance market, meaning better care at lowered costs. I say this to my colleagues: It has been too long. Let us pass this bill.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of health care reform as it will empower millions of women, particularly of low income, with information they need to make wise decisions for themselves and their families.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I continue to reserve, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1845, as amended.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1845) to amend the Small Business Act to modernize Small Business Development Centers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1845, introduced by Representative Schock, which would modernize the Nation's Small Business Development Centers, and I would like to take the opportunity to commend the gentleman for his great work on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, in today's challenging business environment, entrepreneurial assistance is a critical tool for the success of a small business. After all, even in good times, starting and running a small business is no easy lift. In fact, businesses that receive this kind of help are twice as likely to succeed. During economic downturns, Small Business Development Centers are critical to help aspiring entrepreneurs get their ventures off the ground. The SBDC program is an important resource for both new entrepreneurs and more established small business owners. H.R. 1845 builds on this successful model, improving existing initiatives and giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to flourish. In this bill, we streamline the SBDC program, taking important steps to develop new service offerings for small businesses. One example is the bill's access to capital program for aspiring entrepreneurs that need to secure capital and repair damaged credit. By connecting these entrepreneurs and displaced workers with seed money, this initiative will help get more ventures off the ground. For more established firms, this legislation will help businesses tap into the booming Federal marketplace. Billions of stimulus dollars are now in play, making the Federal Government an even better customer for small businesses. In order to assist small firms in winning Federal contracts, this bill establishes a new procurement program. This will enable SBDCs to work with local agencies in identifying suitable small business contracts. Mr. Speaker, SBDCs are important resources for expert information and business development assistance for small firms. This legislation will make sure they are running at full capacity, giving entrepreneurs powerful tools to invest in their own success. With a renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship, the Nation can emerge from the current recession stronger and more resilient. This bill is an important step in allowing that to happen, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3743, the Small Business Disaster Readiness and Reform Act of 2009. The Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program is an important lifeline for businesses struggling to recover following natural disasters. Low-interest loans offered through the program help entrepreneurs rebuild their firms and get back on their feet. These loans also help small businesses avoid the economic shocks that often accompany disasters. While these programs are valuable in helping our communities recover from crises, they have not reached their full potential. Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office examined the SBA's disaster recovery programs, including the agency's new measures following Hurricane Katrina. In July, the GAO testified to the Small Business Committee that the Small Business Administration has not done enough to prepare for major emergencies. The GAO's findings give cause for concern that the SBA will fall short of the needs of entrepreneurs during critical times. The legislation we are considering today will help the SBA better meet the needs of those recovering from natural disasters. This bill will improve how the SBA disburses assistance, ensuring small firms get help more quickly. This legislation will also require SBA to establish regional disaster working groups. These groups will develop localized disaster preparedness plans, putting the SBA in a better position to address the unique challenges facing small businesses recovering from disasters. Mr. Speaker, small businesses need access to capital to make payroll and carry on their daily operations. However, for firms recovering from natural disasters, finding an affordable loan can make all the difference between staying open or closing forever. The legislation before us will ensure entrepreneurs can receive the help they need when times are tough. I commend Mr. Griffith, who is the sponsor of this bill, for his work on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3743, as amended.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1838, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act. In America today, the face of business is changing. A big part of that change is the growing role of women business owners. Female entrepreneurs are bringing new thought processes and ingenuity into our economy. The Small Business Administration's women's business centers enable women to take these great ideas and put them into practice. Not only do these centers provide the technical training and advice that are available at other SBA centers, but they offer guidance that is specifically tailored to female business owners. H.R. 1838 will supply these organizations with needed stability. Through technical assistance and counseling, the bill would also renew the program's original mission, bolstering low-income communities. More women than ever before are going into business for themselves. For minorities and socially disadvantaged women, launching your own enterprise is an especially important option. We have heard time and again stories of women lifting themselves out of poverty by starting their own enterprise. Mr. Speaker, women-owned businesses are increasingly important to our national economy. They generate $3 trillion in economic activity and are responsible for 16 percent of the U.S. jobs. By strengthening and improving the SBA's network of women's business centers, H.R. 1838 will expand this success, offering greater economic opportunity to women everywhere. I will take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin) for the work that she put into this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire if the gentlelady has further speakers. I don't have additional speakers on this side, so I am prepared to yield back if you are prepared to yield back.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1838) to amend the Small Business Act to modify certain provisions relating to Women's Business Centers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1838, as amended.