Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, as the designee of Mr. Carney of Pennsylvania, I offer an amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, small business development centers, which are accredited for their technology services, are particularly well-positioned to provide support for companies preparing SBIR applications. It is appropriate that FAST grant applications that incorporate the services of those SBDCs that are accredited for technology services should be viewed favorably by the SBA. The amendment will ensure that the Small Business Administration includes this preference in the grant selection criteria it develops for the FAST program. I support this amendment. I yield time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 5819, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, section numbering and cross-referencing, the insertion of appropriate headings, and to conform the table of contents.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I submit the following CBO cost estimate for the bill H.R. 5819. H.R. 5819--SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act Summary: H.R. 5819 would extend programs that require certain agencies to set aside portions of their research and development budgets for small businesses. The bill also would authorize appropriations to improve efforts to develop products funded through those programs that can be sold commercially. Finally, the bill would require participating agencies to develop new databases for program evaluation and business development. Based on information from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other agencies, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5819 would cost $263 million over the 2009-2013 period, subject to appropriation of the specified and necessary amounts. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues. H.R. 5819 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget functions 050 (national defense), 250 (general science, space, and technology). 270 (energy), 300 (natural resources and environment), 350 (agriculture), 370 (commerce and housing credit), 400 (transportation), 500 (education, training, employment, and social services), 550 (health), and 750 (administration of justice). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the resolution (H. Res. 1082) recognizing the plumbing industry and supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Plumbing Industry Week''.

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 resolution under consideration.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the House Small Business Committee, I rise to support this resolution recognizing the contributions of the U.S. plumbing industry during National Plumbing Industry Week. I am pleased to be joined by my ranking member, Representative Steve Chabot, in offering this legislation. I stand before you today to honor a sector of the U.S. small businesses that provide vital contributions to the lives of millions of Americans. The plumbing industry is one of the oldest trades in the country. It employs thousands and serves every American. In fact, over 90 percent of the firms in this sector are led by entrepreneurs. And their companies create jobs in every city and town across the Nation. In the coming weeks, one of the leading trade associations representing these plumbers will be celebrating its 125th anniversary. The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association was founded in my home city of New York in 1883. This resolution highlights the contributions of many of its members, as well as those of other American plumbing professionals. During National Plumbing Industry Week, many of them will visit Capitol Hill, as they have done in previous years, to advocate issues of critical importance to their trade. The industry will also use the observance to promote greater energy efficiency, water conservation and worker training. On this last point, it is worth noting that because the plumbing industry has placed such emphasis on professional skills, it has one of the best and most extensive training programs in this country. That program has been vital in meeting the demands of the new green economy. Consumers in every community are benefiting from its careful design and unparalleled success. To accommodate the growing needs of our greener economy, the plumbing trade also has a newly developed apprentice and education program. It will create new opportunities and further showcase the positive impacts of green jobs. Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that this resolution will focus the country's attention on the important role that plumbing contractors play in our daily lives. Their industry is vital to our economy for its work and for the job opportunities it provides thousands of our fellow Americans. Mr. Speaker, without this industry, it would be difficult to be assured that the water our family uses to drink and bathe in is safe and nontoxic. We are proud this House will take a moment to thank such an important part of our Nation's infrastructure and economic base, our plumbers. I urge my colleagues to join me and Mr. Chabot in passing this resolution, and I urge support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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. Mr. Speaker, as Members of this Chamber know, our Nation's small businesses come in all types and a broad range of sizes. Each one makes an important contribution to our society and is an essential part of the great economic engine. In fact, there is no other nation on Earth where a person's dreams of service and innovation can be translated so effectively into the brand of success that yields both wealth and concrete benefits to communities. Entrepreneurs are the reason for this. They are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Moving forward, we should remember that these hard-working business people, including those who are part of the plumbing trade, are the reason our Nation has thrived. So in recognizing the men and women of the plumbing industry today, we extend our salute to every small business person across America. We thank plumbers for their invaluable effort and encourage the American spirit of service, progress and business excellence. That is the hallmark of our Nation's small firms, and it is one we should all be proud of. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and achievements of Johnnie L. Albertson, a 32-year employee of the Small Business Administration who died on December 26, 2007, at the age of 83. She leaves behind a legacy of leadership, especially in her dedication to equal rights and the development of programs to improve the success rate of minority- and female-owned small businesses. Following a career in business and advertising, Ms. Albertson served at the Small Business Administration from 1973 until her retirement in 2005. She was the first Associate Administrator for the Small Business Development Center program and proved instrumental in the success of the initiative, which assists more than 600,000 small businesses every year. In recognition of her outstanding service, Ms. Albertson was the first recipient of the SBA's Lifetime Achievement Awards, and was honored with the Silver Medal for Meritorious Service for her work developing a national training program for women entrepreneurs. Johnnie Albertson broke through gender and class barriers at every stage of her life. During World War II, she served in the Women's Air Force Service Pilots corps as a pilot and ferried replacement aircraft across the Pacific. She later became the first female to sell advertising space for three major newspapers: The Washington Post, The New York Times and the New York Herald Tribune. At the Small Business Administration, she rose to become the first female Senior Executive-- the highest rank possible for a civil servant without a congressional appointment. Born in North Carolina, Ms. Albertson was self-educated and a voracious reader. She overcame many difficulties in her life, including the loss of her parents at a young age, to achieve great successes. Beloved by all who met her, she is remembered by her friends and family for her outrageous and irreverent sense of humor, owl glasses, love of jazz music, generosity, and fierce determination. It is my honor, as chairwoman of the Small Business Committee, to acknowledge Johnnie Albertson's life accomplishments and celebrate her contributions to small business, entrepreneurship, and our nation as a whole. She was an inspiration to many and a friend to all. Her pioneering spirit, courage, and leadership will be missed, but her legacy will endure.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, this body has heard time and again of the courage, discipline and selflessness with which our veterans serve this Nation. What is less well known, however, are the contributions that veterans make to our Nation's economy. Last month, 407 Members of this House voted to pass H.R. 4253. This bill represented an important step toward a comprehensive update of the Small Business Administration's veterans assistance programs, programs which remove barriers to veterans' self-employment and provide veteran entrepreneurs with support for growth and expansion. Again, I wish to commend Congressman Jason Altmire and Congressman Vern Buchanan for their leadership on this legislation. Not long after this body passed H.R. 4253, the Senate took up the legislation and offered a number of changes. The resolution we are considering today provides for the concurrence in the Senate amendment and makes additional changes of our own. The amendment in this resolution does two things. First, the amendment makes technical revisions to clarify language in the bill. Second, the amendment removes a nongermane provision that was inserted by the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue, the number of returning veterans will only increase. Our support for veterans, however, does not end with their deployment. We must continue to work to support these budding entrepreneurs as they reach for the American dream of business ownership. I believe the underlying bill is a major step towards realizing this goal, and I strongly support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, but I reserve the right to close.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I just want to take the opportunity again to thank Ranking Member Chabot and Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Altmire and also the staff from the Democratic side and the Republican side for working in a bipartisan manner to help achieve this goal of providing the tools necessary for the veterans who are returning home. With that, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 921. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 921) providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253, with an amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, a lead sponsor of the bill, Mr. Jason Altmire, as much time as he may consume.

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

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today is a historic day for America. This legislation blazes a trail by putting small businesses at the forefront of solving our energy problems. It is clear there is no greater obstacle to our long-term economic growth than the rising costs of energy. With this bill, we are not only addressing this challenge today, but also for future generations, and leading the effort will be this Nation's entrepreneurs. This legislation will enable small farmers to produce more clean energy. Small businesses already make up 85 percent of the renewable fuels industry, and this ensures they remain viable in a global economy. The establishment of the Renewable Fuels Capital Investment Company will only increase the number of small firms involved in producing ethanol and biodiesel. Small manufacturers are also expected to expand their efforts in improving energy conservation. With greater access to capital for developing clean technologies, these firms can use these resources to innovate and create designs to enhance efficiency. When people talk about a green economy and green collar jobs, they talk about small businesses. Mr. Speaker, these reforms sustain and expand the efforts of small businesses in adding stability to our energy markets. This will be accomplished by reducing energy usage, encouraging conservation and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The bill before us shows that meeting the needs of our environment doesn't mean we cannot meet the needs of our economy. In short, Mr. Speaker, I commend the leadership on this important bill, support its immediate passage, and urge the President to sign this into law.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this historical energy legislation now before us. This legislation moves us toward energy independence and meets the needs of this Nation's entrepreneurs. Small businesses are not just the most impacted by high energy costs, but small businesses are also leaders in domestic protection of energy. They make up 80 percent of all renewable fuels producers in this country. This legislation makes them part of the solution. It does this by developing innovative new technologies, reduces carbon emission, increases clean renewable energy production, and modernizes our energy infrastructure. Much of this was accomplished under the leadership of Congressman Heath Shuler, whose legislation, the Small Business Energy Efficiency Act, is contained in this bill. It's initiatives provide entrepreneurs with increased access to financing and technical assistance to improve their energy efficiency. It also establishes the Renewable Fuels Capital Investment Company Program that will provide capital for small businesses involved in the production of renewable energy. Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Small Business Committee, we held over 50 hearings. We have been in every part of this country. And when small businesses talk to us, before they even talk to health care, and not even taxes, they tell us that we've got to do something about energy costs. This bill is good for consumers, good for the environment; it's good for the small businesses; and, most of all, it's good for our economy. Vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4253) to improve and expand small business assistance programs for veterans of the armed forces and military reservists, and for other purposes.