Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005

DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - July 07, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 701 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 4754.

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, I think the virtues of the small businesses have already been outlined time, time, and time again. The only question is what is the biggest problem that small businesses have in this country? The biggest problem that small businesses have is access to capital. How do they get the money that they need to really start up? How do they get the money to expand? How do they get the money to operate? Without capital, there can really be no small businesses.

So it seems to me that, notwithstanding all of the difficulties that have been cited about where the money is or what we have to do with it, if we do not generate it, if we do not produce it, then we do not have the businesses that we need.

I would simply urge support for the Manzullo-Velázquez amendment, and also indicate support for the microloan program. I come into contact with hundreds of small business people every week, every month, who, with just a little bit of money, would really help them over what they call the "hump." It would keep them in business, keep them employed, and keep the economy thriving.