[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 9, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10379-S10380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY RELIEF AND RECOVERY ACT

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Madam President, I am proud to have joined last week 
with the Chairman and Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Small 
Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, as well as a bipartisan group 
of my colleagues to cosponsor S. 1499, the American Small Business 
Emergency Relief and Recovery Act of 2001.
  It is no exaggeration to say that small businesses have always 
solidified the economic foundation of our country. While the Fortune 
500 companies make the news, small businesses create most of the jobs 
and are responsible for much of the economy's growth. When terrorists 
attacked our country on September 11, there were many unforeseen and 
unfortunate side-effects. Our economy, which was going through a tough 
period anyway, suffered a significant blow that day and in the days 
that followed, and we can only hope that the recovery is rapid and 
steady. Unfortunately, the adverse effects of the September 11 attacks 
on many our Nation's 25 million small businesses may turn out to be 
even more profound than those sustained by the economy as a whole.
  The bipartisan proposal that my colleagues and I have introduced will 
provide a measure of the critical financial relief necessary to help 
small businesses recover from the financial losses and other damages 
incurred in the days and weeks following the attacks.
  Specifically, this emergency legislation will ensure greater 
stability in the industry by strengthening and expanding access to the 
Small Business Administration's loans and management counseling. By 
aiding small businesses in their efforts to meet payments on existing 
debts, to finance their businesses, and to maintain and create new 
jobs, this legislation helps entrepreneurs and their employees to 
remain productive and self-sufficient. This bill attempts to save 
valuable jobs and resources placed in jeopardy by addressing the 
decreasing availability of credit and venture capital afforded small 
businesses by traditional lenders and investors. In an effort to 
encourage new investment, this measure includes changes to two of SBA's 
main non-disaster lending programs put in place to facilitate borrowing 
and lending.
  By providing incentives for loans and investment, this bill protects 
those small businesses directly affected because they are physically 
located in or near the buildings and areas attacked. Our hearts go out 
to the businesses and workers in this category, because on top of 
severe financial hardships, many in this category may have also 
suffered the loss of loved ones and co-workers.
  The bill also targets small businesses directly or indirectly 
affected because they are suppliers, service providers, or 
complementary industries to any affected industry. This is the type of 
assistance that might help small businesses like the Galley Restaurant 
in the Benedum Airport in Bridgeport, WV. When the FAA shut down 
commercial aviation for several days in the wake of the attacks, 
business at the Galley just stopped. Likewise, the bill could help the 
Mountain State Travel Agency in Clarksburg, WV. In the days after the 
attacks, Mountain State has seen its business dry up to virtually 
nothing. It is my hope and belief that this legislation may help the 
Galley's owner, Beverly Bland, and Mountain State's owner, Maria Elena 
Oliverio, and the owners of thousands of small businesses in West 
Virginia and throughout the country, from having to close the doors of 
their small businesses.

[[Page S10380]]

  Finally, the bill will provide assistance to small businesses in need 
of capital and investment financing, procurement assistance or 
management counseling. The incentives include physical and economic 
injury disaster loans, reductions in interest rates, and easier 
approval standards on Guaranteed Business Loans.
  Small businesses across our Nation are in great need of economic 
assistance. The vitality of this sector is of crucial importance to our 
economy. This bill will allow thousands of working families the 
opportunity to maintain a reasonable standard of living, and give small 
business owners the boost they need to maintain and hopefully grow 
their businesses.

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