Small Business Administration Extension

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the chairwoman's request to suspend the rules and pass S. 1513.

The bill is very simple. It extends the authorization of all programs authorized by the Small Business Act, the Small Business Investment Act, and any program operated by the Small Business Administration for which Congress has already appropriated funds. This extension will last until September 30, 2009. This extension is necessary because the authorization for various programs operated by SBA ceases on July 30, 2009.

The committee has worked in a bipartisan fashion over the past two Congresses and reported out a number of bills to address programs operated by the SBA. Despite the efforts of the House, the extension passed earlier this year by both parties of Congress will expire before the legislative process can run its course. The work needed to help America's entrepreneurs revitalize the economy simply cannot be accomplished by Friday of this week. Without enactment of this extension, a number of vital programs that SBA operates would cease to function.

Given the importance that small businesses play and will continue to play in the revitalization of the American economy, we cannot allow the SBA authorizations to run out. Enactment of this extension will enable the House and Senate to continue to work in a diligent manner to address necessary changes to SBA programs.

I urge all my colleagues to suspend the rules and pass S. 1513.

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