OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Additional Temporary Extension Of Small Business Programs

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 27, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Business and Consumers

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Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the chairwoman's request to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4508. The bill is straightforward, and it's a clean extension that prolongs the authorization of all programs authorized by the Small Business Act, Small Business Investment Act, and any program operated by the Small Business Administration for which Congress has already appropriated the funds. This extension is going to last until April 30, 2010. This legislation is essential because authorization for various programs operated by the SBA expire on January 31 of this year.

Over the past 3 years, our committee has worked in a bipartisan fashion, reported out a number of bills to reauthorize and extend programs operated by the SBA. Despite our efforts to come to terms with the Senate over the broader reauthorization, the extension passed late last year will expire before the legislative process can run its course. Without enactment of this extension, a vital number of programs that the SBA operates would cease to function. Given the continued importance that small businesses play in the revitalization of the American economy, we simply cannot allow the SBA authorizations to run out.

The work needed to help America's entrepreneurs revitalize the economy simply cannot be accomplished within the time frame outlined in the current legislation. We not only need to reauthorize these critical programs, but also update them to respond to new economic conditions. The extra time contained in this legislation allows us to fully explore and implement the ideas that will give our Nation's entrepreneurs the tools they need to be successful.

Passage of this legislation will enable the House and the Senate to continually work in a conscientious manner to address the necessary changes to SBA programs. I urge all my colleagues to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4508.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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