Van Hollen Statement in Opposition to Confirmation of Linda McMahon

Statement

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the Congressional record in opposition to the confirmation of Linda McMahon to head the Small Business Administration:

"Mr. President, Congress created the Small Business Administration in 1953 to "aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns." The SBA now provides financial assistance, help with Federal contract procurement, and management assistance. The agency makes specialized outreach to women, minorities, and veterans. SBA also provides loans to victims of natural disasters and specialized advice and assistance in international trade.

"The President has nominated Linda McMahon to run the SBA. Ms. McMahon and her husband founded Titan Sports in 1980. The business grew dramatically under their leadership. Ms. McMahon became President in 1993 and CEO of the company in 1997. The company became World Wrestling Entertainment, and then simply WWE.

"Unfortunately, the McMahons appear to have grown their business at least in part using business practices that disadvantaged their employees. The Connecticut Post and the Hartford Courant reported that WWE did not offer its wrestlers health insurance, as McMahon argued the company's wresters were independent contractors. And the Connecticut Post reported that Connecticut audited McMahon's company to determine if WWE improperly classified employees as independent contractors.

"An investigation led by Representative Henry Waxman found that McMahon's WWE did not do enough to prevent steroid use. Representative Waxman's Committee found that at one point, 40 percent of WWE's wrestlers tested positive for steroids and other drugs, even after being warned in advance that they were going to be tested. A WWE "house doctor" was reportedly convicted and sentenced to prison for steroid trafficking. And the New York Daily News reported that an Albany district attorney probe into a widespread Internet doping scandal involved several WWE wrestlers.

"And more than 50 former professional wrestlers sued McMahon's WWE, charging that the company was responsible for repeated head trauma that they suffered, often involving specific moves scripted and choreographed by WWE.

"The SBA needs strong leadership to advance the interests of our Nation's hard-working small businesses. But it does not need a leader who will advance profits at workers' expense. Ms. McMahon's business experience leads me to be concerned that she will not put people over profits. And thus I must oppose the nomination."

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