Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement after a Republican filibuster prevented the Senate from advancing to final passage of the Small Business Jobs Act, a bill designed to help small businesses grow and create jobs across America:
"When you look at the facts, it is hard to understand why Republicans are blocking a bill that would create hundreds of thousands of jobs across America -- especially since they helped write it. This bill has been crafted by members on both sides of the aisle. The bill creates jobs, gets capital flowing to community banks and small businesses, and would actually reduce our federal deficit by $1.1 billion dollars. It is a sensible plan to help healthy small businesses thrive and grow. It is an investment in our future."
Cantwell is a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Small Business Committee, the two panels that developed the bipartisan provisions of the bill. She is cosponsor of several bipartisan provisions, including the Small Business Lending Fund, a measure to aid small business contractors, and a small business trade promotion provision. Cantwell will continue to fight next week to win passage of the bill.