Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to say I join with the chairman in supporting this amendment. Anything we can do to speed the processing of loans is beneficial, not only for SBA, but also for the gentleman's constituents and small businesses.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3843, the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000. The passage of this bipartisan legislation will provide our Nation's small businesses with the critical assistance they need to succeed. As many in this Chamber are aware, we are currently experiencing one of the greatest economic booms in this Nation's history. It has been said that small business, which makes up 51 percent of the gross domestic product and contributes 47 percent of all sales in this country, are the engine that has driven this economic growth. And if small business has been this engine, then the Small Business Administration, with its loan and technical assistance programs, has been fuel for that engine. SBA fills a critical gap in our small business community, helping those entrepreneurs who often have great ideas, energy, and drive, but lack that last element they need to succeed. SBA helps put those pieces in place, whether through mentoring, assistance with a business plan, or helping with a loan. The legislation before us today provides record funding for such critical programs as SBIC, 7(a), Microloan, and SBIC. These programs have played a major role in helping our Nation's small businesses create and maintain our unprecedented economic growth. However, to continue assisting our Nation's small businesses, access to capital must be available. To assist with this critical issue, SBA has several loan programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs launch their businesses. The flagship of these loan programs is the 7(a) program. Since its inception, this program has made loans to more than 600,000 businesses, totaling approximately $80 billion. With the passage of today's legislation, we will be making $1.3 billion more in loans available to small business. That will give companies like Woodman's Precision Machine in Massachusetts, that used 7(a) to go into a low-income area and expand its business, increasing its employment by 20 percent, the chance to revitalize our urban communities and create new jobs. The 504 program helps entrepreneurs purchase their place of business or new equipment. Oftentimes during a debate the question is asked, are we giving taxpayers a good value for their dollar? I would say to my colleagues that the 504 program, which is totally run on fees, with no cost to the taxpayer, is a perfect example where the taxpayer clearly gets his money's worth. With today's reauthorization, the program's fees will make sure that people like Fox Racing USA, a northern California family-owned business that designs, manufactures and sells motor cross and mountain bikes apparel, will succeed. Fox Racing USA, through a 504 loan, was able to purchase a new building, which expanded its business and tripled employment to 137 full-time jobs. Now, that is economic growth. SBA programs have also played a critical role in moving individuals off of welfare. Moving from welfare to work is difficult in itself, but moving from welfare to owning your own business is pure inspiration, and SBA has made this happen through its Microloan program. It helps people like a welfare mother in rural Appalachian Valley, Ohio, obtain a Microloan to start a home health care business that first helped move her family off welfare. Eventually, she was able to hire 52 additional employees, 50 of which were welfare recipients. Today, with the passage of H.R. 3843, we ensure that these programs will continue to stand as a foundation as we look ahead to take on the new frontiers of technology, expansion, e-commerce, and continue to help bring economic development into low-income, rural and urban communities. These are the new challenges facing our Nation's small businesses. And by acting today and passing this legislation, we are taking that first step on the critical path toward choosing a new course for tomorrow. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to voice my strong support for the rule and the underlying legislation, H.R. 3845, the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000. This bipartisan legislation will provide critical funding for such vital programs as SBIC, 7(a), Microloan, and SBDC, allowing increased lending and technical assistance to our Nation's small businesses. These programs have played a large role in helping our Nation's most small businesses create and maintain this unprecedented economic growth. This rule is fair and will allow Members to offer any germane amendments to the legislation. This clean numbers-only reauthorization bill is the first in recent memories. H.R. 3845 contains no new programs or policy changes and is due in large part to the hard work of the chairman and members of the Committee on Small Business that has passed 13 pieces of legislation, eight of which have been signed by the President. This type of regular order is not often found in Congress these days, and I would like to commend the chairman and the members of our committee for their hard work. With the passage of this reauthorization, we will assist in making the kind of economic decisions that not only will help close the widening economic gap in this country, but will hopefully keep us on the right track for continued prosperity in the future.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) the ranking Democratic member on the Subcommittee on Government Programs and Oversight. (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones). (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn McCarthy), the ranking Democratic member of the Subcommittee on Tax, Finance, and Exports.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, with the passage of this legislation, we will be giving those with vision and drive a chance to succeed. As discussed earlier, these programs have helped countless individuals. From New York and Massachusetts, across this country to California, urban to rural, family-owned businesses, to welfare recipients, SBA programs have helped all of them succeed. This has been made possible through access to over $11 billion in loans annually and their flexible approach to counseling. I would like to commend the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent) for his fairness and hard work on this legislation. We have a unique opportunity to prepare our Nation's entrepreneurs for a new economy that is more global, more diverse, and increasingly driven by technology. With the passage of this reauthorization, we will assist in making the kind of economic decisions that not only will help close the widening economic gap in this country but will hopefully keep us on the right track for continued prosperity in the future. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 3845, I rise in strong support of this legislation that continues to build on a program that has been critical to the success of this Nation's small businesses. Mr. Speaker, as many Members of this body are aware, the Small Business Investment Company program created in the 1950s has been one of the most successful tools in helping this Nation's entrepreneurs succeed. This private-public partnership has provided access to capital, resulting in more than $15 billion worth of investment in 90,000 small businesses. Of that, $600 million has gone to businesses located in low- and moderate-income communities. SBICs have helped such household names as Apple Computers, Federal Express, and Callaway Golf get off the ground. With today's passage of H.R. 3845, we will build on work already undertaken by this body last year that passed, and the President signed, legislation that streamlined the SBIC program. These changes increased flexibility, allowing more businesses to receive the vital financing that they need. But given last year's passage of sweeping financial modernization legislation that allowed banks, insurance companies, and investment firms to compete in all sectors of financial services, it is critical that we update the SBIC program. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley legislation, while providing an important new service to small business, has had a rippling effect throughout the entire financial community, including the SBIC program. Banks are no longer required to use the SBIC program for venture capital investments, and the new realities of venture capital are that we must, too, make some adjustment that will ensure this program continues a strong record of service. Let me give my colleagues an example of the types of changes we must make. Since the program was created in the 1950s, it was established that, in order to be deemed a long-term investment, the investment must be held for 5 years. However, when we passed financial modernization, the definition of long-term investment was set at 1 year. If the SBIC program is to continue as an attractive investment option, rules like what is considered a long-term investment must be consistent with the rest of this Nation's financial laws. The legislation also addresses the critical issues of control. When the SBIC program was originally created, it was clear that SBICs would not serve as holding companies. Over the life of the program in recognition of the changes in venture capital investment, several exceptions have been put in place that will allow for limited control. Unfortunately, rather than updating the program, this has created a complicated and burdensome system for both the SBIC and SBA that, in the end, limits assistance to small businesses. This legislation recognizes that today's SBICs act as incubators of business ideas. It is still the intent that SBICs do not become holding companies; but in many cases, SBICs may need to create, capitalize, and operate small business concerns in the early years. The other changes under consideration ensure that the fees are not overburdensome and that the SBICs will be given the maximum flexibility with tax distribution to help with the cash flow. I want to also commend the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent), the chairman, and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) for their hard work on this legislation. These changes will continue to make the SBIC program the current flagship program that it is. I believe it is important to act quickly to ensure that the SBIC program continues its mission of creating future companies that, in turn, become common household names. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association (BCA) in honor of its Twelfth Anniversary. An ancient Chinese proverb states: ``If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people'' Twelve years ago, the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association did just that. The Association started out as a small, social services agency with a mission to provide assistance to the growing Asian-American community in Sunset Park, Borough Park and Bay Ridge sections of Brooklyn. Since then, the Asian-American community has seen tremendous growth and recent estimates show that more than 200,000 people of Asian descent now live throughout the borough. As a result, Sunset Park and its surrounding neighborhoods are commonly known as ``Brooklyn Chinatown.'' BCA has expanded throughout the years to meet the growing need of Asian-Americans by providing day care and senior centers, with a main community center and ten other service sites in Sunset Park, Borough Park, Bay Ridge, Sheepshead Bay and Bensonhurst. Through its programs and services, BCA provides assistance to more than 800 individuals a day. Stepping into a new Millennium and its thirteenth year of community services, offering a wide array of new programs including comprehensive bilingual social services and other programs to meet the growing challenges in this new century. What started out as a small agency has flourished into the largest community-based, multi-human services community development organization, providing assistance to Asian-Americans throughout the borough of Brooklyn as well as other parts of the city. I congratulate BCA on its Twelfth Anniversary and wish the Association continued prosperity as it offers members of the Asian- American community guidance today, tomorrow and into the future.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained earlier today. If I had been present for rollcall No. 32, I would have voted ``yes.'' If I had been present for rollcall No. 33, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincerest congratulations to Missionary Life Member, Evelyn G. Sumter of Bushwick, Brooklyn, who on March 11, 2000, will be Honored at the New York Annual Lay Organization Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. ``Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,'' Matthew 28:19 speaks volumes for the work and contributions, Mrs. Sumter has made to her community. As a member of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Harlem, New York, Mrs. Sumter has also given valuable love and tireless energy as a mother, grandmother, and care giver to 52 foster children in Brooklyn and Harlem. In dedicating her life to community service work, Mrs. Sumter has served as the Housing Chairperson of the Community Corporation; Director of the Young People and Children's Division of her church; Chairperson of the New York Lay Organization's Social Action Committee; New York HIV/AIDS Program; Operator of her own private day care center; Director of the Bushwick Neighborhood Coordinating Day Care Center; Director of the Bushwick Family Life and Education Project Counseling Services; Parliamentarian of Woodhull Medical and Mental Hospital Advisory Board; Director of the Bushwick Youth Community Support Program; and Family Counselor for the Horace E. Green Day Care Center. Currently she is the Director of the Palmetto Garden Senior Center; Member of the Together With Love Food For Survival Program; 1st Vice Chairperson of the Bushwick Community Action Association, Inc.; and Board Member of the Bushwick Community Service Society. Mrs. Sumter holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Antioch University in Yellowspring, Ohio and a Master's in Social Work with credits in Special Education from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. In 1951, Mrs. Sumter became the first Lay delegate of the New York Conference to the biennial Convention Tulsa, Oklahoma. And a year later, she became the President of the Rosa B. Williams Women's Missionary; and Dean of the Manhattan Area Institute. As President John F. Kennedy once said ``Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.'' I believe Evelyn G. Sumter understands that which is why she has been such an inspirational figure in her community, and has dedicated her time and spirit in enhancing the lives of others. I am proud to offer my congratulations to Evelyn today and to personally thank her for all her contributions to society.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Madam Chairman, I come to the floor today in full support of the Mink-Woolsey-Sanchez-Morella amendment reauthorizing the Women's Educational Equity Act. The Women's Educational Equity Act encourages the training of teachers to treat boys and girls in the classroom fairly. It helps to prevent teen mothers or teens who are pregnant from dropping out of school, and it allows teachers to be trained to promote education in math, science, engineering, and technology among girls. According to the National Assessment of Education Programs, despite some gains for girls in math and science, gender differences in scores still exist. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that performance-based science classes did not ensure equal participation among boys and girls. In classes where teachers are not sensitive to gender issues, the study found that there had been even fewer opportunities to take an active role in hands-on learning. Eliminating the Women's Educational Equity Act would signify the dissolution of the only Federal program that specifically tackles the barriers to educational opportunities for women and girls. Gender equity practices, policies and principles must continue to be an integral part of the Federal education legislation. Five years ago, reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act included strong provisions for gender equity in education. We must not abandon those principles. I urge every Member to vote for the Mink amendment and support gender equity in elementary and secondary education.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for yielding me this time and I commend him for his work in authoring this important piece of legislation. I also want to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent) for their continued commitment to women business owners. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1497, the Women's Business Centers Sustainability Act of 1999. This bipartisan effort will ensure that women's business centers keep their doors open. It will establish better oversight mechanisms and will ensure that the program continues to grow, with new centers in previously underserved areas. Our committee has a track record of supporting the work of these centers, and this bill is a continuation of our commitment. Women entrepreneurs are an increasingly important part of the United States economy. Women own more than 8 million businesses and account for nearly one-third of all small businesses. Women-owned businesses provide jobs to more than 25 million people. These are not just empty statistics but rather a clear indication that women's participation in our economy creates jobs and improve the lives of millions of Americans. Impressive as these figures may be, women continue to encounter obstacles when trying to start, maintain or expand businesses. Here is where the women's business centers come into play, to help women steer clear of these obstacles and fulfill their dream of financial independence. Fulfilling our commitment to women entrepreneurs, the committee recently held hearings that found that some centers, entering their fifth and final year, were not in a sufficiently strong financial position to phase out the Federal match. We also found that in order to improve the outreach of these services, the program needs to continue growing into underserved areas. Recognizing the importance of women in today's economy as well as the important services these centers provide, our committee worked in a bipartisan fashion to resolve all of these issues. Framed within budgetary constraints, the challenge facing our committee was to find the proper balance between the need to continue growing the program and permitting those in their last year of funding to recompete. H.R. 1497 strikes that balance by setting aside a portion of the total funding for new centers and another for recompeting centers. This is an important change that will allow centers with good track records to continue to provide their services while ensuring that the program will continue to expand into new and previously underserved areas. Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of women businesses in today's economy and we recognize the important work these centers do, not only in improving women's lives but in improving their communities as well. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting women entrepreneurs across the United States by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 1497.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association, and the sixth anniversary of its Eighth Avenue Senior Center. For more than a decade, the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association has provided vital assistance to tens of thousands of the Chinese-American residents who constitute one of New York's fastest-growing communities. Six years ago, recognizing a critical need in this community, the Association opened the Eighth Avenue Senior Center, which provides daily congregate meals, citizenship classes, medical check-ups and screenings, monthly birthday parties, field trips and many other services. Operating out of modest facilities but with exceptional heart and dedication, the center has a membership of almost 2,000 and offers services to over 160 senior members daily. The centerpiece of this year's sixth anniversary commemoration is the Millennial Roundtable Celebration. Fulfilling an extraordinary and touching ceremony, tables will be organized with seating for 12 seniors who are each at least 84 years of age--totaling 1,000 years. For the first time, to commemorate the end of the century and the turn of the millennium, a Double Millennial Roundtable will be featured, with seating for 23 seniors who are at least 87 years of age and totaling 2,000 years of age. A poet wrote, ``I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colors are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me when I commend the Eighth Avenue Senior Center, and the Brooklyn Chinese-American Association, for its work to ensure golden richness in the lives of our seniors.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, we are experiencing a health care crisis in our country. Forty-three million Americans are uninsured. Almost 11 million of the insured are children. One in five uninsured adults went without needed health care in the past year. This is unacceptable. Equally unacceptable are the more than 50 percent of insured Americans who are in HMOs and are denied coverage in emergencies, access to specialists, and recourse if wrongfully denied necessary medical treatment. This bill does something about that. What matters to Americans is their ability to take care of their families in an emergency. What matters to Americans is that their children will not be turned away from an emergency room because the hospital is not on the family's HMO plan. What matters to Americans is that they will have access to the best treatment by the best doctor when they or their children are sick. This bill will protect patients. No longer will HMOs deny patients access to specialists and emergency care. No longer will HMOs gag doctors and restrict their freedom to disclose medical treatment options to their patients. Arguably, the most progressive element of this bill will allow patients to pursue punitive damages in State courts when they have been wrongfully denied necessary treatment by an HMO. It makes me sick to hear opponents of this bill try to convince the American public that we will pay inflated premiums because of this protection. I have news for them. We do not buy it. We know who will pay the price if we do not demand more accountability in health care. The American public. I urge everyone here to vote in favor of this bill. By doing so, we will take the first step toward addressing the health care needs of Americans.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, we are facing a tragedy in this country's education system. Now, I am not talking about the fact that children are being forced to learn in school buildings that are literally falling apart, in classes whose size are literally bursting at the seams. I am not talking about the fact that tens of thousands of children are being kept out of Head Start or the fact that hundreds of thousands of children are losing after-school programs. I am not talking about the fact that some areas, like Sunset Park in my district, do not even have high schools, making access to education difficult, if not impossible. No, these facts make us mad; they make us angry. They make parents around the country shake their heads and wonder just what exactly we are doing in this body. But these are not the tragedies I am talking about. The tragedy is that we know what we need to do, but, thanks to the Republican leadership, we are not doing it. In fact, judging by the Labor-HHS bill they are trying to pass, we are moving backwards, while another generation of our youth is in danger of being lost, and that is the tragedy.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincerest congratulations to Elijah M. Hutchinson, Boy Scout, from Greenpoint, Brooklyn who will be honored on October 10, 1999, for his attainment of Eagle Scout. Boy Scouts are awarded the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout based on their faith and obedience to the Scout Oath. The Scout Oath requires members to live with honor, loyalty, courage, cheerfulness, and an obligation to service. The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Scout can earn. Each Eagle Scout must earn 21 merit badges, 12 of which are required. The merit badges an Eagle Scout must earn range from First Aid to Camping to Citizenship of the Community, Nation, and the World. What's more, each Eagle Scout must demonstrate leadership in the community, and must complete an Eagle Project that he must plan, finance, and execute. Elijah has accomplished all this and more. In receiving this special recognition, Eagle Scout Elijah M. Hutchinson will, I believe, guide and inspire his peers toward the beliefs of the Scout Oath. I am proud to offer my congratulations to Elijah on this exceptional accomplishment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my district on September 21, 1999. If I had been present for rollcall No. 427, I would have voted `` yes'' if I had been present for rollcall No. 428, I would have voted `` yes'' if I had been present for rollcall No. 429, I would have voted `` yes''

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts of an extraordinary member of my community. For the past decade, Agustin Rivera has demonstrated time and again his commitment and his vision for his community. Mr. Rivera was a founding member of Musica Against Drugs, a Puerto Rican and Latino, client-driven, community-based agency created to serve the needs of individual and families affected by the HIV/AIDS and drug addition epidemics in the Brooklyn, New York communities of Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick. Mr. Rivera's skills, talent, and energy helped the late Manny Maldonado, the founder of Musica, establish a program to fulfill a desperately acute need. For several years they, like too many who were on the vanguard battling the pandemic of AIDS, worked very hard with very little money. After three years of volunteer organizing, Musica received its first public grant. This gave Mr. Rivera the opportunity to become stipend/ outreach worker and, later, Outreach Coordinator. He then became the first program director of an innovative nutritional program, La Cocina del Pueblo, which provides nutritional services to people with HIV/ AIDS. Subsequently, he became the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator and, most recently, the Director of the Community Prevention Project. Even while giving his all--and then some--to Musica, Mr. Rivera found the time for some other impressive accomplishments as well. He was a founding member of the Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick HIV CARE Network. Last and hardly least, he is married to Marilyn Echevarria, and has an 11-year- old son, Austin. Robert F. Kennedy once said, ``It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.'' Mr. Speaker, Mr. Rivera has gained the respect of all who have had the privilege of knowing him, and all who have been blessed by experiencing his dedication and compassion. He has saved lives, and he has made lives better, all by his example that life is to be lived. He is a ripple of hope, and this world is a better place for his being in it.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland from yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the conferees for including in this conference report my amendment which provides funding for grants to local and State programs to combat money laundering. This program is the linchpin of the anti-money laundering strategy outlined by my bill, the Money Laundering and Financial Strategy Act of 1998. We all know how the plague of drugs continue to rock this country. In the United States alone, estimates put the amount of drug profits moving through the financial system as high as $100 billion. We need to be serious about facing down this threat. Indeed, recent revelations about Russian organized crime laundering money through the Bank of New York shows us that we need to be serious. That means giving our State and local officials the tools they need to follow the money. This appropriation will be used to stop those who bring drugs into our neighborhoods and into our kids' lives. Together with the national anti-money laundering strategy, which will soon be released, we are sending a strong message that the free ride is over.