[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 540 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 540

 Honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses in the United 
States during ``National Small Business Week'', beginning May 23, 2010.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 26, 2010

 Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. 
   Kerry, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Bond, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
Isakson, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Risch, and Mr. Thune) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses in the United 
States during ``National Small Business Week'', beginning May 23, 2010.

Whereas the approximately 29,600,000 small businesses in the United States are 
        the driving force behind the economy of the Nation, creating more than 
        64 percent of all net new jobs and generating more than 50 percent of 
        the non-farm gross domestic product of the Nation;
Whereas small businesses will play an integral role in rebuilding the economy of 
        the Nation;
Whereas small businesses are the Nation's innovators, producing 13 times more 
        patents per employee as large firms, and advancing technology and 
        productivity;
Whereas only 1 percent of all small businesses export and produce 31 percent of 
        exported goods;
Whereas Congress established the Small Business Administration in 1953 to aid, 
        counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small businesses in order 
        to preserve free and competitive enterprise, to ensure that a fair 
        proportion of the total purchases, contracts, and subcontracts for 
        property and services for the Federal Government are placed with small 
        businesses, to make certain that a fair proportion of the total sales of 
        Federal Government property are made to such small businesses, and to 
        maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the Nation;
Whereas every year since 1963 the President of the United States has proclaimed 
        a National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small 
        businesses to the economic well-being of the United States;
Whereas in 2010, ``National Small Business Week'' will honor the estimated 
        29,600,000 small businesses in the United States;
Whereas the Small Business Administration has helped small businesses with 
        access to critical lending opportunities, protected small businesses 
        from excessive Federal regulatory enforcement, played a key role in 
        ensuring full and open competition for government contracts, and 
        improved the economic environment in which small business concerns 
        compete;
Whereas for more than 50 years, the Small Business Administration has helped 
        millions of entrepreneurs achieve the American dream of owning a small 
        business and has played a key role in fostering economic growth; and
Whereas the President has designated the week beginning May 23, 2010, as 
        ``National Small Business Week'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses 
        in the United States during ``National Small Business Week'', 
        beginning May 23, 2010;
            (2) applauds the efforts and achievements of the owners of 
        small businesses and their employees, whose hard work and 
        commitment to excellence have made them a key part of the 
        economic vitality of the Nation;
            (3) recognizes the work of the Small Business 
        Administration and its resource partners in providing 
        assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses; and
            (4) recognizes the importance of ensuring that--
                    (A) the applicable procurement goals for small 
                businesses, including the goals for small businesses 
                owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, 
                small businesses owned and controlled by women, HUBZone 
                small businesses, and socially and economically 
                disadvantaged small businesses, are reached by all 
                Federal agencies;
                    (B) guaranteed loans and microloans for start-up 
                and growing small businesses, are made available to all 
                qualified small businesses;
                    (C) the management assistance programs delivered by 
                resource partners on behalf of the Small Business 
                Administration, such as Small Business Development 
                Centers, Women's Business Centers, Veterans Business 
                Outreach Centers, and the Service Corps of Retired 
                Executives, are provided with the Federal resources 
                necessary to provide small businesses the technical 
                assistance and counseling that they desperately need;
                    (D) small business disaster assistance through the 
                Small Business Administration is provided in a timely 
                and efficient manner;
                    (E) Federal tax policy spurs small business growth, 
                creates jobs, and increases competitiveness;
                    (F) the Federal Government reduces the regulatory 
                compliance burden on small businesses;
                    (G) advanced technology policy facilitates access 
                to affordable broadband Internet service to foster 
                rural small business growth; and
                    (H) systems of intellectual property protection 
                continues to foster small business innovation.
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