[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CONFIRMATION OF MELANIE SABELHAUS

  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I speak today to congratulate Melanie 
Sabelhaus, who was confirmed by the Senate last evening as the Deputy 
Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held 
a hearing on Mrs. Sabelhaus' nomination on February 27, 2002. On March 
12, 2002, the Committee voted unanimously in support of her nomination 
and recommended her favorably to the full Senate, which approved her 
nomination by unanimous consent on April 8, 2002. I would like to thank 
the Senate floor staffs for their assistance in moving Mrs. Sabelhaus' 
nomination so quickly.
  Mrs. Sabelhaus has had an excellent career that has provided her with 
both the necessary management and small business experience required of 
a Deputy Administrator at the SBA. Having chaired her nomination 
hearing and known her from her volunteer work with the Nantucket 
Historical Association, I can report that President Bush has made a 
qualified choice in selecting Mrs. Sabelhaus for the critical post of 
Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  I believe calling this position critical in no way overemphasizes its 
importance, for the Deputy Administrator has historically served as the 
day-to-day manager of the SBA in the Administrator's absence. In fact, 
the Deputy Administrator position was made subject to Senate 
confirmation a little over ten years ago, with the passage of the Small 
Business Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 1990, precisely because 
the Congress recognized its importance to the management of the Agency. 
During the nomination process, the Committee received assurances from 
Mrs. Sabelhaus and Administrator Barreto that one or both would be on 
hand to run the SBA on a daily basis, barring extraordinary 
circumstances.
  The SBA's role is vital to our continuing economic well-being, 
especially now as we seek to improve our economy. Loan programs, 
technical assistance programs and contracting programs are just a few 
of the tools the SBA has to help small businesses--and a small sample 
of the issues Mrs. Sabelhaus will face on a daily basis as she seeks to 
aid the Administrator in implementing the President's policies and 
congressional initiatives. It is my hope that as a former small 
business owner and innovative thinker Mrs. Sabelhaus will steer the 
agency toward our bipartisan goal: to cultivate the entrepreneurial 
spirit of this country and provide all--including women and minorities 
in the small business world with adequate and equal access to capital 
and opportunities and the resources and counseling that often determine 
a business's success or failure.
  I look forward to working with Mrs. Sabelhaus, the new Deputy 
Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, as we seek to 
assist the small business community.

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