Additional Temporary Extension of Authorization of Programs Under Small Business Act and Small Business Investment Act of 1958
ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS UNDER SMALL BUSINESS ACT AND SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958 -- (House of Representatives - June 03, 2004)
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 4478), to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 through July 23, 2004, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois?
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I do not intend to object, the legislation we are about to pass is necessary because the House still has not gotten its work done on the reauthorization of the Small Business Administration. H.R. 4478 represents the fourth extension since the Committee on Small Business unanimously passed bipartisan legislation almost a year ago, and yet the House leadership continues to block its consideration.
I am reluctantly agreeing to this because, while the legislation does extend the SBA until the end of July, it fails to address the critical needs of the 7(a) and 504 loans programs.
We need to bring the SBA reauthorization, H.R. 2802, to the floor and give small businesses the access they need to important contracting, loan, and technical assistance programs.
I hope that we do not have another extension and empty promises of action.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
H.R. 4478
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS UNDER
SMALL BUSINESS ACT AND SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958.
The authorization for any program, authority, or provision, including any pilot program, that was extended through
June 4, 2004, by section 1 of Public Law 108-217 is further extended through July 23, 2004, under the same terms and conditions.
SEC. 2. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.
Section 2 of Public Law 108-205 is amended by striking "October 1, 2003" and inserting "March 15, 2004". The amendment made by the preceding sentence shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the section to which it relates.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.