Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

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

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

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 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.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3743) to amend the Small Business Act to improve the disaster relief programs of the Small Business Administration, 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. 3743, as amended.

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

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I just would like to comment to the previous speaker that it seems like the American public didn't buy the argument that the other side has a better idea, and that is why they are in the minority today. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Ellsworth from Indiana. I would like to inquire from the ranking member if he has further speakers at this time?

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I reserve my time.

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

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, if the gentleman is prepared to yield back, we are prepared to accept the amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Certainly times are tough and many Americans are hurting because of the economic downturn. But, as they have done before, American entrepreneurs will lead us out of this downturn and begin rebuilding our economy. This amendment is about harnessing the job-creating potential that exists in communities that are suffering the worst of the downturn. It is about using the American entrepreneurial spirit to deliver hope to places that need it most. As part of the Recovery Act, we aimed to help small businesses with short-term, interest-free loans. So far, this program has funneled $115 million to 3,500 businesses. With this amendment, we will make more of these loans available to businesses in economically distressed areas. By giving these businesses more time to start repayment, we will provide them a better chance to stay afloat and ultimately grow and create jobs. This is a good amendment. I thank the gentleman from Michigan for offering it. I urge its adoption. I now yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments that he may have.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman is prepared to yield back, I am prepared to accept the amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, if the gentleman from Michigan is prepared to yield back, we are prepared to accept the amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, virtually every sector of the economy has suffered at the hands of the downturn. The construction industry, however, has seen some of the most significant declines. According to a study by the Associated Equipment Distributors, two out of every 25 jobs lost in the recession were construction jobs. Nationwide, the industry has shed 37 percent of its workforce. Those losses are larger than either the automobile or financial sectors. Clearly, we need to be addressing this issue. By providing better terms for 7(a) loans, this amendment will give small construction firms the flexibility to hire new workers. Allowing these businesses to defer repayment for up to 12 months also means they have greater capital for new investments. After all, equipment purchased, items such as cement mixers and bulldozers, are expensive. Most small firms rely on loans in order to buy these items. With the housing market recovering and the new transportation bill working its way through Congress, we should see new opportunities for small construction firms. Mr. Kissell's amendment gives the resources they need to take advantage of those opportunities, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments that he might have.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chair, we are prepared to accept the amendment if the gentlelady from Michigan is prepared to yield back.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman is ready to yield back, we are prepared to accept the amendment.