Small Business Development Centers Modernization Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

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Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 1845, introduced by Representative Schock, which would modernize the Nation's Small Business Development Centers, and I would like to take the opportunity to commend the gentleman for his great work on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, in today's challenging business environment, entrepreneurial assistance is a critical tool for the success of a small business. After all, even in good times, starting and running a small business is no easy lift. In fact, businesses that receive this kind of help are twice as likely to succeed.

During economic downturns, Small Business Development Centers are critical to help aspiring entrepreneurs get their ventures off the ground. The SBDC program is an important resource for both new entrepreneurs and more established small business owners. H.R. 1845 builds on this successful model, improving existing initiatives and giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to flourish.

In this bill, we streamline the SBDC program, taking important steps to develop new service offerings for small businesses. One example is the bill's access to capital program for aspiring entrepreneurs that need to secure capital and repair damaged credit. By connecting these entrepreneurs and displaced workers with seed money, this initiative will help get more ventures off the ground. For more established firms, this legislation will help businesses tap into the booming Federal marketplace.

Billions of stimulus dollars are now in play, making the Federal Government an even better customer for small businesses. In order to assist small firms in winning Federal contracts, this bill establishes a new procurement program. This will enable SBDCs to work with local agencies in identifying suitable small business contracts.

Mr. Speaker, SBDCs are important resources for expert information and business development assistance for small firms. This legislation will make sure they are running at full capacity, giving entrepreneurs powerful tools to invest in their own success. With a renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship, the Nation can emerge from the current recession stronger and more resilient. This bill is an important step in allowing that to happen, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is kind of ironic that the previous gentleman spoke about the impact of health care on small businesses, but for the 10-plus years that they were in the majority, we saw double digits in terms of premiums going up, and they didn't provide any vision, any leadership, any legislation to deal with the unsustainable health care costs that small businesses were suffering from.

And then, the gentlemen from Illinois, let me just remind him that last week we passed a bill, H.R. 3854, which provides $44 billion in financing and investment for small businesses. It is quite ironic that he comes to the floor to speak on small businesses and how we are impacting small businesses, but let me remind that, in the last 10 years, the other side, all they cared about was providing tax breaks for the wealthiest people in this country, not for small businesses. And, today, we are passing four bills under suspension. In fact, more bills than he passed in the years that he was the chairman of the Small Business Committee.

I welcome the debate on health care, and for that we will have time tomorrow.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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