Nydia Velázquez

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise on behalf of American children, and in opposition to the Dingell amendment allowing criminals to buy guns at gun shows, and in support of the McCarthy-Conyers amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the United Senior Center of Sunset Park as they celebrate 25 years of service to the elderly citizens throughout the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn. The organization provides fellowship and lends a helping hand whenever, wherever and to whomever it is needed. First started in 1974, the center, then located at 56th and 6th Avenues, quickly became a vital part of the communities it served. As it grew, the need for their services was so great that they soon had to relocate to larger space at their current location of 53rd and 3rd Avenues where they have been for twenty years. As the center expanded it began to address the diverse cultural needs of the communities they serve. They began by offering services in Spanish and, soon after that, added staff and programs in Chinese. These enhancements made the United Senior Center in Sunset Park more responsive and a more integral part of the rich cultural fabric of Brooklyn. The diverse groups of seniors in Sunset Park can take advantage of the United Senior Centers many recreational programs, including tai- chi, bingo, arts and crafts, and swimming. Additionally, the center also offers important English as a Second Language courses to help individuals improve their day-to-day lives. There are citizenship programs, and nutrition-education seminars, as well as a variety of programs designed to assist seniors regarding senior's rights and entitlement benefits. The dedicated staff and leadership of the United Senior Center of Sunset Park has done an exemplary job of helping seniors in our communities. Through their efforts they help an estimated 36,000 people a year. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the leaders and staff of the United Senior Center of Sunset Park on their 25th anniversary. The center is an integral part of our diverse culture in Brooklyn, and I wish them continued success for the next 25 years and beyond.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating special graduates of the 12th Congressional District of New York. I am certain that this day marks the culmination of much effort and hard work which has lead and will lead them to continued success. In these times of uncertainty, limited resources, and random violence in our communities and schools, it is encouraging to know that they have overcome these obstacles and succeeded. These students have learned that education is priceless. They understand that education is the tool to new opportunities and greater endeavors. Their success is not only a tribute to their strength but also to the support they have received from their parents and loved ones. In closing, I encourage all my colleagues to support the education of the youth of America. With a solid education, today's youth will be tomorrow's leaders. And as we approach the new millennium, it is our responsibility to pave the road for this great Nation's future. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives I ask you to join me in congratulating the following Academic Achievement Award Recipients: Lizandro Gonzalez and Aris Rodriguez.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise on behalf of all the American children and in support of the McCarthy-Roukema amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating special graduates of the 12th Congressional District of New York. I am certain that this day marks the culmination of much effort and hard work which has led and will lead them to continued success. In these times of uncertainty, limited resources, and random violence in our communities and schools, it is encouraging to know that they have overcome these obstacles and succeeded. These students have learned that education is priceless. They understand that education is the tool to new opportunities and greater endeavors. Their success is not only a tribute to their strength but also to the support they have received from their parents and loved ones. In closing, I encourage all my colleagues to support the education of the youth of America. With a solid education, today's youth will be tomorrow's leaders. And as we approach the new millennium, it is our responsibility to pave the road for this great Nation's future. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, I ask you to join me in congratulating the following Academic Achievement Award Recipients: Christian Nitti and Joshua Romero--PS 16. Massiel Santana and Josette Dueno--PS 18. Pearl Ramos and Andrew Vasquez--PS 19. David Rodriguez and Cindy Escoboza--PS 84. Lasnette O'Garro and Jose Lozada--PS 147. Steven Rodriguez and Jamyra Quinones--PS 196. Giselle Burgos and Christina Santiago--PS 250. Kimberly Gonzalez and David Quinga--PS 257. Michelle Rivera and Ior Kretowicz--Most Holy Trinity R.C. Jennifer Pascual and Nicole Medici--St. Nicholas R.C. Marcus Copeland and Ann Liriano--PS 380. Kaity Cheng and Yu Chen--I.S. 318. Sabrina Ramphal and Yamil Tavarez--I.S. 49. Fances Dover and Wendy Morel--J.H.S. 50. Abner Rodriguez and Monica Aldana--I.S. 71. Nella Bastien and Raquel Aponte--H.S. Enterprise Business & Tech. Essanai Velasquez and Luis Ramos--El Puente Academy/Peace & Justice. Keith Madden and Zorielle Rodriguez--Transfiguration R.C. School. Desirae Nazario and Joann Danio--Saint Peter & Paul R.C. Jennifer Chavez and Gabriella Padilla--All Saints R.C.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jose Orlando Mejia, the Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and the Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. Board certified in three specialities--Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine--Dr. Mejia is an expert in asthma, emphysema, smoking-related illness, and diseases of the lungs, respiratory system and heart. Graduated from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo School of Medicine in the Dominican Republic, he has received advanced training through a Pulmonary Medicine Fellowship at the Long Island College Hospital, and a Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Hospital. For nearly twenty years, Dr. Mejia has dedicated his work to caring for the people of our communities. He has taken a holistic approach to care-giving--not only working to heal the patient, but care for the community as well. He is a keen diagnostician and excellent communicator--speaking to patients in both English and Spanish. As such, he can provide a unique type of care--providing a level of comfort and support emotionally while healing people physically. Dr. Mejia's special interest in asthma is particularly important to the communities I represent in New York's 12th Congressional District, where air pollution is an enormous problem. Due to the traffic and waste-transfer sites that are located throughout Brooklyn, asthma and other respiratory problems are particularly high--especially among children. Dr. Mejia's work addresses these problems in a direct and critical way. Many times people who make valuable contributions to our communities go unrecognized. I would like to urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Mejia for the work he has done, the people he has helped, and the strength he has given to our communities. Because of his work the 12th Congressional District is a better place, and I thank him and wish him continued success.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the leaders and members of the School Settlement Association for ninety-eight years of service to the Brooklyn community. The work they have done over the years has had an impact on thousands and thousands of lives. They have seen the critical needs that exist in our communities and addressed them. They have stepped in and filled gaps where children and older people in our communities are at risk. Unlike so many others who have tried and failed, the School Settlement Association here in Brooklyn has succeeded. As the only remaining School Settlement Association in Brooklyn, their longevity is a testament to the strength of their vision, the importance of their mission, and the quality of their teachers, service providers and leaders. Not only have they remained strong for these ninety-eight years, but they have grown and expanded. Their initial objective of helping strengthen the attendance and performance of young students in school has broadened. Now, they successfully work to enhance children's health and nutritional needs. They have implemented summer and after-school programs, literacy programs, as well as college and career seminars that help students prepare for a successful future. In addition to this, their outreach now includes the needs of many of our community's older adults. Many of our seniors who might otherwise go without the proper medical assistance and healthcare services can safely rely on the School Settlement Home Attendant Service Corporation and home Health Care Service. Finally, as the scope of their mission has expended, so have the number of neighborhoods in which they operate. Originally founded in Ridgewood, they now reach out to Williamsburg, Greenpoint and other areas around Brooklyn. The large area they now help is reflective of the deep concern they have shown for everyone in our neighborhoods. As we look to the future, and they prepare to celebrate their 100th anniversary, on behalf of the 12th Congressional District, I want to thank them for all they have done. They have helped keep the fabric of our communities strong, and our future bright. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the School Settlement Association. May their next 100 years be better than the last.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Wyckoff Heights Medical Center located in Brooklyn, New York which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. For 10 years, the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center has been helping women and children in communities throughout Brooklyn. It has contributed many positive things to the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and I would like to thank its leadership and the many others involved in its success. The Wyckoff Heights Medical Center is the hub of the WIC program in our area. Along with its satellite clinics at the LaMarca Family Health Center in East New York, Queensbridge Family Heath Center in Long Island City, Park Slope WIC in Park Slope, and the Red Hook WIC in Red Hook, Wyckoff serves an average of 5,800 women, infants and children a year. Like the National WIC program, which this year celebrates its 25th Anniversary, the Wyckoff WIC program has been enormously successful. Nationally, WIC has helped provide nutrition education, health care referral, breastfeeding support and supplemental nutritious foods to nearly 7.5 million women, infants and children through 10,000 clinics nationwide. In addition to its success implementing the mandated WIC services, the Wyckoff WIC program has sought to enhance its outreach by conducting seminars and workshops throughout Brooklyn. These efforts have included breastfeeding promotion and immunization screening seminars. These initiatives have also been enhanced by the work of Mr. William F. Green, Vice President of Ambulatory Services, who is being honored by the Wyckoff WIC this week. Mr. Green has been a strong supporter of the Wyckoff WIC program since its inception in 1989, and he has helped initiate some unique programs. For example, Mr. Green created a monthly Mother's Day which helps create a consistent outreach to women and children. He also has been supportive of the Wyckoff's special holiday programs, which during the major holidays, makes an extra effort to reach out to the women and children of our communities who are in need of vital services. Mr. Green has made a good WIC program great and on behalf of the community, I thank him and congratulate him on his special award. I would also like to congratulate the fifty WIC children who are graduating this week. These children, all who recently turned five years old, are being honored in a very special way because they have successfully completed their participation in the Wyckoff WIC program. They represent the future--a future of strong, healthy children and mothers who have the chance to realize the American dream. I urge my colleagues to join me in applauding the Wyckoff WIC program on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary, Mr. Green for his long-time support of the Wyckoff WIC, and most importantly the 50 young WIC graduates and their mothers for a healthy future--congratulations and continued success.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry, an organization that has become an integral part of our diverse community in New York. It is an organization that understands the importance of diversity, and seeks to tap into the vast spectrum of talent and initiative of the Chinese- American community. The association has always worked to strengthen families and businesses throughout our city. Started in 1992, the American Fujian Association of Commerce and Industry has been dedicated to helping Chinese-American business owners who immigrated to this country. The Association's 1,000 members truly epitomize the American Dream. They came to America from poverty. Once in the land of opportunity, they seized their chance and worked to make their dreams a reality. Through hard work, discipline, and sacrifice, they have become successful and productive American citizens. Their efforts have helped build strong families and strong communities. The association takes a dynamic approach to their mission. Though they focus on business and economic development, they do a great deal of work in other key areas. The American Fujian Association understands that economic development must be accompanied by many important attributes. For this reason, the American Fujian Association is active in the community in humanitarian efforts, immigration support, job training, and health services for families. By ensuring that these services are available, the association gives back to their communities and America. I would urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the American Fujian Association for Commerce and Industry for their contribution and the efforts they make on behalf of Chinese-Americans and all Americans in the New York community.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Catherine O. Spatola, the principal of P.S. 123K in Brooklyn, New York. For over 20 years Ms. Spatola has been a beacon in the community and a role model to her students, and this week her service to the community will be officially recognized as the auditorium at P.S. 123K is named in her honor. This honor is fitting for a woman who has worked so hard and touched so many lives in so many ways. Her teaching and her leadership have been dynamic. She has sought to bring out the best in the students and the best in the community by ensuring that the educational experience at P.S. 123K has been complete, engaging and dynamic. Using her experience as an accomplished drama and music instructor, she worked to develop special initiatives such as Glee and Dance Clubs which perform city-wide. Her program has developed outstanding performers who enrich the community while improving themselves. She has created and implemented essay, art and storytelling competitions within the school that has helped students tap into and expand their creative powers. Because of her efforts, students are participating in state, city and district-wide writing and art contests. The program she created boasts the citywide winner of the 1992 Storytelling Contest and the first place statewide winner of the 1993 SABE Essay Contest. Ms. Spatola challenges students' thinking by holding school-wide celebrations which honor the rich and varied cultures and traditions reflected in the community. The celebrations honor Puerto Rico Discovery Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and African-American History, Pan-American Day, as well as Asian, Italian, Jewish and Irish heritages. By exposing her students to these diverse traditions, she not only enhances their educational experience, but deepens the roots of the community and strengthens its fabric. In addition to ensuring that students have the tools to succeed in the future, Ms. Spatola has worked to provide them with an inside view into the working world by creating a Career Conference Day. Through this initiative, students are able to meet with individuals from a variety of fields and a number of different occupations. This forum gives the students a chance to explore ideas and possibilities that exist for them, and find out the challenging and exciting futures that they can pursue. All of these attributes make Ms. Spatola an important member of P.S. 123K and a valued member of our community. She stands out to all of us as a model for leadership and her contributions underscore the important role that educators play in the lives of our children and in the future of our communities. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ms. Spatola and wishing her well as she continues to touch the future.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, while H.R. 833 provides a plan for overhauling our Nation's bankruptcy law, there is one issue that, while seemingly small, will have a great impact on this Nation's small businesses. That is the way that the bankruptcy process leaves small businesses who are creditors on the outside looking in. To solve this problem, I am offering an amendment that will quickly and fairly address the issue by ensuring more small business involvement and greater communication in the bankruptcy process. My amendment will make two simple changes. First, it would allow a small business involved as a creditor in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case to be added to the creditor committee by the court. The court could make such an appointment by comparing the amount of the claim as a proportion of the business' gross annual revenue, thus showing that a business is disproportionately affected. Second, my amendment will ensure that those small businesses not included on the creditor committee will have access to critical information regarding the credit committee's actions. This could be achieved by simply making the committee open to comments from and required to provide additional information to those small businesses not included on the committee but who will nonetheless be affected by the outcome. I urge the adoption of these measures which will help small businesses. The need to take them can be underscored by looking at just one example of a company that was nearly devastated when one of its customers filed for bankruptcy. Unicare Corporation, a small business located in Ohio, was caught off guard when one of its largest customers filed for bankruptcy. The debt to Unicare represented almost 10 percent of the company's annual revenue. The bankruptcy court created an unsecured creditors committee based on total outstanding debts owed. Not only did Unicare not qualify as a member of the credit committee, but it was left on the outside looking in with no involvement in the process. This made Unicare's future uncertain, forcing it to reduce staff and revise plans for expansion. Fortunately, because of hard work and strong strategic planning, Unicare was able to recover, and today it continues as a very strong business. But, Mr. Chairman, if each of us were to look around our districts, we will find that we will have many small businesses that could face the same unfair challenge, which is why we need to adopt this uniform and practical solution. Because, unlike Unicare, many businesses in our communities might not be so fortunate. If small businesses had the ability to appeal to the court based on their claim compared to the overall effect on the company, devastating problems might be averted. Finally, Mr. Chairman, when we reconvene in the full House, I will submit for the record a letter of support from Small Business United, this Nation's oldest small business trade association. Their support reflects the same concern that I have heard from small business owners. They need access to the bankruptcy process. We must insure that small businesses are not financially crippled through no fault of their own and that their hard work is not undone by the failures of others. I urge the adoption of this amendment.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I would like to close. Mr. Chairman, for too long small businesses who are creditors have been hurt when customers and clients have been unable to pay their bills. For small businesses, the bankruptcy of other companies can mean an uncertain future. The adoption of my amendment provides small businesses with some peace of mind. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to support small businesses. Mr. Chairman, I include the following letter for the Record: National Small Business United, Washington, DC, May 3, 1999. Hon. Nydia Valazquez, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Velazquez: As the House Rules Committee, and subsequently the entire House of Representatives, considers H.R. 833--the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1999--NSBU fully supports your amendment protecting small businesses. National Small Business United, the nation's oldest small business advocacy organization, is a member of the Coalition for Financial Responsibility and has been a leading participant in this important debate for many years. We see your amendment as an important addition to the bill that has already cleared the Judiciary Committee. Your amendment provides vital language that would allow for greater small business representation on the unsecured creditors committees, the key working group that structures and partitions the payments a bankrupt company owes its creditors. Traditionally, those companies that are owed the greatest lump sum of money have been placed on these committees, with little to no requirement to keep other interested companies informed of the situation. Your amendment would allow for greater communication and a more vital small business involvement in this process. For too long, small businesses have been hurt when customers and clients have been unable to pay their bills without representation. This practice would be limited by this important legislation and has the full support of our 65,000 members nationwide. If there is anything else we can do to assist you in your efforts on before of the nation's 23.3 million small businesses, please let us know. Sincerely, Todd McCracken, President. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment made in order by the rule.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Reverend Robert M. Nervig for his service to the people he has served and the communities he has enriched in his 43 years as a minister in Brooklyn and throughout the city and across the country. Reverend Nervig began his ministry in 1956 when he was ordained into the Holy Ministry at the Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Soon after that he began his religious ministry at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. Three years later he moved to Our Savior Lutheran Church serving the Staten Island community. And in 1988, Reverend Nervig returned to Trinity, Brooklyn where he continued his ministry in this multilingual, multi-cultural parish. During this time he also served as president of Augustana Academy, a school that broke all barriers by providing academic opportunities to children of all races and economic position. Reverend Nervig has been a powerful force in our community, because of his strong commitment to serve diverse communities. His ministry is not bound by the constraints of language or culture, and extends to the many diverse groups of people in the communities to which he ministers. His parish is surrounded by the sounds of prayers in many languages, and each Sunday his multi-cultural parish prays in three languages-- English, Norwegian and Spanish. His efforts to reach out and unite people involved him in the organization of 65 congregations of the former American Lutheran Church. And beyond this, Reverend Nervig has touched the lives of thousands, of young adults in the community through his activities in youth ministries, where he is known as ``Pastor Bob.'' As president of Augustana High School, he has helped strengthen and expand that diverse institution--a place where students rich and poor from many backgrounds and many nations can learn in a dynamic environment. He has organized youth outreach programs and national Lutheran youth gatherings that have become enormously successful, and have touched young people across the country. Reverend Nervig is a model for our community in Brooklyn and a model for communities across the country. I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in honoring reverend Robert M. Nervig for his 43 years of service to many communities--a ministry and a man that can be condensed into these words--a love for all God's children--no matter the age.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, we cannot prepare our children for the future with an educational system from the past. We cannot lift our students up by sending them to schools that are falling down. These are simple facts which must be addressed, and they must be addressed now. Communities like the ones I represent in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side of New York are in need of resources to build and improve schools. In fact, the Sunset Park Community of Brooklyn does not have even a high school. The result of the problem can be seen in dropout rates among minorities which is 13 percent among blacks and 29 percent among Hispanics. Unfortunately, Republicans want to ignore these realities. They want to spend the budget surplus on expensive tax cuts, instead of helping our children prepare for the future. They do not want to join Democrats in fixing schools, providing technology, and hiring more teachers. They want to leave the future of America's children to chance.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the rule and H.R. 472. This is a bill that hurts the communities. It pretends to help. It represents another attempt by the majority party to railroad the census and keep minority populations in this country hidden and powerless. The 1990 census missed 5 percent of Hispanics, 4.4 percent of blacks, 2.3 of Asians, and 4.5 of American Indians. To any American who understands the meaning of democracy and fairness, these facts represent an injustice, an injustice that should be made right. But Republicans know that giving voice to the voiceless will spell trouble for them. So their response is to create the illusion of fairness while carrying out a program of injustice. It is not only Democrats in Congress who feel this way. Local officials are already worried that this bill will make the problem of undercounting worse. Republicans, who frequently talk about smaller government, want to micromanage the census. They want to force the Census Bureau to jump through bureaucratic hoops. This will not serve the people, and this will not ensure fairness. This plan will make the census a logistical nightmare and cause even greater undercounting among minorities. Mr. Speaker, this is a bad bill that is motivated by Republican fear. They know that the 1990 undercount was unfair, and they are frightened that an accurate count will give voice to those who might speak against them. Perhaps they are right. But this is America, and all voices should be heard.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, and its Executive Director Sister Mary Franciscus as they celebrate their 15th Anniversary. We are at the dawn of the 21st Century. As we look ahead there are many challenges that will face Americans in the new millennium. And while these challenges hold many opportunities and great possibility, the rewards will only be realized if people have the skills and the training they need to compete and succeed. That's why I applaud Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, and its Executive Director, Sister Mary Franciscus. For the past fifteen years, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, has been committed to the education and training of individuals throughout Brooklyn. This organization has helped thousands of people receive the skills they need to join the workforce. The training programs and educational services they offer have provided countless people with access not only to work, but have given them a chance to live the American Dream. The importance of this effort cannot be understated. Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, is one of the best examples of community activism in New York. The organization is consistently rated as one of New York's top employment agencies, and the reason for that is simple: they are not just an employment agency, but they are an organization that is deeply committed to the community and committed to the people who live and work there. Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow develops people into proficient, accountable and skilled professionals. And a graduate of the Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow program becomes a well-rounded individual, who learns self-respect and self- esteem which many times they otherwise might not have. In a highly competitive, highly technological time such as this, people must be highly skilled. Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow gives people a chance to develop the skills that they otherwise might not have. For thousands of people throughout Brooklyn, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow has provided the key to open doors of opportunity. For these reasons, I would like my colleagues to join me in applauding Sister Mary Franciscus and the leadership and membership of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow. The success of the program is directly linked to the dedication, and quality of its leaders and teachers. I congratulate them on the celebration of their 15th Anniversary and wish them the best of luck for the next 15 and beyond.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such as time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) for working with me to move quickly to pass the Microloan Program Technical Corrections Act. These changes are important for small entrepreneurs because they would allow lenders to make more loans and increase technical assistance. Everyone agrees that the challenge facing most entrepreneurs is access to capital. Now, consider the special challenges to microenterprises. It is often more difficult, if not impossible, for many microenterprises to get the financing they need. Microborrowers are either start-up or growth-phase businesses which are unable to meet a lender's collateral or credit requirements. For many private lenders, it is simply not feasible to make the small loans that entrepreneurs need to start or expand their business. To address this problem, the Small Business Administration launched the microloan pilot project in 1992. This program was designed to help underserved start-up and existing small business owners that do not have access to financing. Since its inception, the microloan program has helped countless businesses start up and grow. Today, with over 100 participating intermediaries, the SBA microloan program is the largest Federal program of its kind. It has a proven record of giving small businesses the support they need to succeed. One of the most important aspects of the microloan program is its ability to reach women and minorities. Often women and minorities do not have the credit history or necessary capital to get a loan from a bank or other traditional channel. This is where the microloan program steps in and provides the tools to help these business owners achieve the American dream. In fact, the microloan program has become a traditional funding source for women entrepreneurs. That is why today's legislation is so important. The first thing that the Microloan Program Technical Corrections Act will do is remove the State formula caps. The caps were put in place in order to ensure equitable distribution of funds, but resulted in just the opposite. By removing the cap, we will be ensuring that all States have access to the program. Additionally, the most recent Senate amendments make sure that every State and territory gets its fair share of microloan funding. Under the latest change, if the program is fully funded, each State will receive an equal part of the full appropriations. In the case that each State receives its $800,000, any extra microloan funding will be distributed by SBA at the administrator's discretion. I would say to my colleague, by allowing lenders with successful loan portfolios to make more loans and to provide additional technical assistance, today's legislation will only help more microenterprises grow. Providing additional technical assistance to businesses will enable entrepreneurs who are on the threshold of moving forward the opportunity to do so. The microloan program has proved invaluable in helping America's small businesses grow. I am glad that we are moving quickly to pass this crucial legislation and that we are looking for ways to improve this important program. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) for yielding this time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 388, the Disaster Mitigation Pilot Program. Traditionally business owners have only been able to get help after a natural disaster has struck and caused damage to their business. For many small businesses this assistance comes too late to save them from economic ruin. The loss of revenue and time needed to recover causes countless businesses to fail. Instead of being able to rebuild, many communities are faced with loss of jobs as many businesses permanently close after a disaster. We have seen this happen again and again over the past few years. Hurricanes, floods and wildfires have threatened the economic stability and future of communities across this Nation. However, until today businesses have only been able to get help after it is too late. Today's legislation will change this story. Today we are taking an important step in being proactive rather than just reactive to natural disasters. S. 388 is identical to H.R. 818, which the House passed on March 2 of this year with only a few minor changes in wording. The result is the same. This legislation authorizes $75 million to be used by SBA in cooperation with FEMA over the next 5 years to help businesses in disaster-prone areas take preventive measures to avert or minimize damage should disaster strike. By enabling businesses to take preventive measures which mitigate the damage caused by floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters, this program will allow them to recover much faster. Therefore, instead of going out of business, they will be able to get back to business much quicker than ever before. The disaster mitigation program is a common-sense approach to helping businesses cope with disasters. The program also makes fiscal sense. Some estimates show that every dollar spent on mitigation saves $2 in money that would otherwise have to be spent on post-disaster response. Not only will businesses and taxpayers come out ahead, but the American economy will as well. Finally, I would like to thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird). His constituents face the threat of natural disaster, and his insight and hard work on this legislation have been a great help to all of us. I strongly support S. 388 and I urge my colleagues to vote for this important piece of legislation.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republican budget. The majority attack on education, seniors, and this Nation's most vulnerable is becoming an annual rite of passage for the Republican Party. Just recently the stock market broke 10,000, the highest it has ever been. Despite this wealth, however, we are here inflicting pain. What kind of message are we sending to our children when we cut funding for education by $1.2 billion, essentially crippling Head Start and undercutting Pell Grants? What are we saying to public housing residents when this budget would put 1 million of them out on the street? Where are the compassionate conservatives now? What is worse about this budget is that it does nothing to ensure the solvency of social security and Medicare, all in the name of cutting taxes for the wealthiest families in this country. This budget asks too high a price of poor Americans, and breaks the promise of a better tomorrow for our children, elderly, and working poor. I urge my colleagues to oppose this budget and support the Democratic alternative.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the chairman for moving expeditiously this legislation. I rise in strong support of H.R. 68, the Small Business Investment Company Technical Corrections Act. Last month H.R. 68 was the first piece of legislation to pass the 106th Congress. Today, after the Senate has made some technical corrections which clarified the assumed tax provisions, we will once again pass this bipartisan legislation and send it to the President. As a cosponsor of last year's bill and an original cosponsor of this legislation, I strongly support the improvements we are making to the Small Business Investment Act and the Small Business Investment Company program to date. These changes will only serve to make the SBIC program more efficient and responsive to the needs of small entrepreneurs. There is no question that the value of the SBIC has been felt across this Nation. SBICs have invested nearly $15 billion in long-term debt and equity capital to over 90,000 small businesses. Over the years, SBICs have given companies like Intel Corporation, Federal Express, and American Airlines the push they needed to succeed. And because of SBICs, millions of jobs have been created and billions of dollars have been added into our economy. Even as America experiences the longest period of economic growth in decades, there are still many disadvantaged urban and rural communities that are being left behind. One way of bringing economic development and prosperity to more Americans is through the SBIC program. In fact, SBICs are such a powerful tool that the President's new economic initiatives for the distressed communities which he announced in his State of the Union Address is based on the solid framework of the SBIC program. Today's legislation answers the President's challenge and makes it easier for small businesses, especially in those targeted urban and rural areas, to access the capital that they need. H.R. 68 ensures that the next Fedexes and AOLs of this country continue to have a fighting chance. The proposal is simple. By streamlining the process and increasing flexibility, SBICs will be able to creatively finance more businesses. Recently we have also seen the SBIC program expand into new areas. Last year we witnessed the creation of two women-owned SBICs and the establishment of the first Hispanic-owned firm. The changes we are making today are part of an ongoing process that will enable us to provide creative financing to more small businesses more efficiently. I am pleased once again to join the distinguished chairman in support of the proposed corrections, and I urge the adoption of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

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, I rise in support of S. 314, the Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act. Providing small businesses with access to the capital they need to prepare themselves for the Year 2000 is important for the safety and soundness of our economy. The Year 2000 problem is one of the most critical issues facing America's small businesses. It is not even January 1, 2000, and already some businesses are experiencing difficulties. Unless action is taken soon, the closer to this date we get, the more problems our Nation's businesses can expect. Although no one knows for certain what impact Y2K will have, most experts believe that computer-related problems will be wide-ranging, from miscalculation in insurance and loan rates to brownouts caused by malfunctioning power plants. In fact, some equipment may stop working altogether. The economic impact could be disastrous not only for the United States but also for the global economy. The overall cost to the American economy could be as high as $119 billion in lost output between now and 2001. In addition to this figure, the economic growth rate could slow, inflation could rise and productivity could drop. For small businesses, which may not have adequate resources to deal with this problem, the effects could be devastating. Estimates indicate that up to 7 percent of U.S. businesses will fail due to the lack of Y2K readiness. Clearly, something must be done to minimize the effects of the Year 2000 problem. Despite all of this information and the dire forecast for the economy, a recent study conducted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses and Wells Fargo Bank found that fewer than 23 percent of small business owners consider Y2K a serious problem. Additionally, the report stated that only 41 percent addressed or planned to address this issue. There are many reasons for this, ranging from lack of understanding to inadequate resources. Today's legislation tackles one problem faced by small businesses preparing for the Y2K: access to capital. S. 314, the Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act, would remedy this by providing greater flexibility through the 7(a) program to help businesses deal with their readiness. This legislation will also increase the number and amount of loans available to small businesses. Repayment of loans will be structured to help businesses with their cash flow and in their planning for the coming year. Mr. Speaker, we should all take the threat that the Year 2000 problem poses to our small business community very seriously. We must continue to work together to make businesses aware of the need to prepare for Y2K, and we must continue finding ways to help small businesses become ready. S. 314 is a step in that direction. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. VELAZQUEZ

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the motion to recommit. We should not make this a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It is a simple matter of fairness. By adopting this motion, we will help both parties to better serve the American people. I recently became the ranking member of the Committee on Small Business, and I must commend the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) for the bipartisan manner in which he has run the committee. Even though we do not always agree on policy, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent) has made every effort to accommodate both myself and my staff and to run the committee in a fair manner. Although we have had some difficulties with funding, once the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent) became aware of the problem, he worked to rectify it. We are now working out our problems through the committee process, and I would like to commend the gentleman from Missouri for working with me to solve this problem. The bipartisanship of our committee should serve as an example to the rest of Congress. However, too often committee funding has been used as a political tool. Too often the party in the majority has turned committee funding into a partisan issue. This must change. I have told the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) that the minority should control one-third of the committee's budget. This is only fair, and this is what this motion will do. As the ranking members, we are committing ourselves today to ensure that the minority party will be able to serve the Members and the American people. I for one do not believe that access to periodicals, journals, computer software and basic office supplies should be turned into political game. These things are needed to properly run any office and to provide a basic level of service to those Members serving on a committee. Six years ago, the Republican minority talked about using a one- third/two-thirds ratio as a way to help bridge the institutional animosity which too often plagues this body. Today we are asking them to deliver on this promise. I urge both sides of the aisle to support the motion to recommit.