[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4078-S4079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 264--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT SMALL
BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IS VITAL TO THE DEFENSE OF OUR NATION, AND THAT
FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD AGGRESSIVELY SEEK OUT AND
PURCHASE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES FROM AMERICAN SMALL
BUSINESSES TO HELP IN HOMELAND DEFENSE AND THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Mr. KERRY (for himself and Mr. Bond) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship:
S. Res. 264
Whereas on September 11, 2001, the people of the United
States were subject to the worst terrorist attack in American
history;
Whereas in October 2001, the Pentagon's Technical Support
Working Group, which is responsible for seeking new
technologies to assist the military, sent an urgent plea,
seeking ideas on how to fight terrorism;
Whereas in just 2 months, over 12,500 ideas were submitted
to the Technical Support Working Group, most of them from
small businesses;
Whereas small businesses remain the most innovative sector
of the United States economy, accounting for the vast
majority of new product ideas and technological innovations;
and
Whereas despite their achievements, small businesses often
have difficulty marketing and supplying goods and services to
Federal, State, and local governments: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
(1) small business participation is vital to the defense of
the United States and should play an active role in assisting
the United States military, Federal intelligence and law
enforcement agencies, and State and local police forces to
combat terrorism through the design and development of
innovative products; and
(2) Federal, State, and local governments should
aggressively seek out and purchase innovative technologies
and services from, and promote research opportunities for,
American small businesses to help in homeland defense and the
fight against terrorism.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I am pleased today to submit a Resolution
expressing the sense of the Senate that small business participation is
vital to the defense of our Nation, and that Federal, State, and local
governments should aggressively seek out and purchase innovative
technologies and services from American small businesses to help in
homeland defense and the fight against terrorism.
Since the events of September 11, the people of our Nation have come
together in many ways to help protect our land and its citizens.
Whether it is the high number of individuals signing up to become Sky
Marshals, fighter pilots pulling letters of resignation and staying in
the military, expressions of pride through the display of the American
flag or other patriot memorabilia, or the desire of innovative small
businesses to sell products to the Federal Government for the fight
against terrorism or for homeland defense, the ground swell of
patriotism has been truly uplifting.
But today, I want to focus the attention of my colleagues on the
contributions being made specifically by our small businesses.
Throughout the years, small businesses have also heard the call to arms
and to defend the nation, and have responded through the development of
innovative products to protect our Nation.
Whether it's a need for a new type of night vision scope for a lonely
sniper in the field, lighter materials for a Marine's backpack, more
reliable field communications gear, or nonlethal weaponry, America's
small businesses have heard the call and met the challenge.
Fortunately, our government has recognized the need to promote a
diverse defense industrial base, and since World War II, the Federal
Government has actively sought to grow and maintain a thriving small
business sector. And like many policies designed to promote defense,
government policy to foster small business creation and growth has
turned out to be a great boon for the U.S. economy. Today, small
businesses represent more than 99 percent of all employers, employ 51
percent of private sector workers, account for 96 percent of all
exporters of goods, and provide 75 percent of net new jobs.
Additionally, small businesses are more adaptable, more innovative and
more likely to retain and hire employees during an economic downturn
than their larger brethren.
Our government's commitment to purchasing goods and services from
small businesses is a key element in creating a positive environment
for small business creation and growth. It results in more competition
and increased productivity, which leads to lower prices and new
innovations.
Yet with all of these positive elements, today, we are faced with a
[[Page S4079]]
unique challenge. Budgetary pressures in the Federal Government have
resulted in demands for faster and cheaper purchases of goods and
services. Federal procurement personnel have retired and not been
replaced, government streamlining has hurt competition by eliminating
or severely reducing the array of small business suppliers in the
Federal procurement arena, and contract bundling has made it
increasingly more difficult for small businesses to compete for
government contracts.
That is why, as our Nation looks for new technologies to promote
homeland defense and fight terrorism, small businesses should play an
active role.
I would like to commend the Pentagon's Technical Support Working
Group, which is responsible for seeking new technologies to assist the
military, for sending an urgent plea seeking ideas on how to fight
terrorism. America's small businesses responded, and in just two
months, over 12,500 ideas were submitted to the Technical Support
Working Group, most of them from small businesses.
This not only demonstrates the commitment of America's small
businesses and demonstrates their ability to be innovative, it clearly
shows that when the Federal Government calls for action, small
businesses respond.
The Resolution I am introducing today, along with the support of
Senator Bond, the ranking member of the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship, which I chair, seeks to encourage Federal procurement
officials to seek out and purchase innovative technologies and services
from, and promote research opportunities for, American small businesses
to help in homeland defense and the fight against terrorism.
This Resolution is a precursor to the Small Business Homeland Defense
Exposition that Senator Bond and I are jointly sponsoring, which will
take place this July here on Capitol Hill. At the Expo, a selection of
small businesses will help send the message to Federal officials that
they should look to small businesses for true innovations that will
help us win the war against terrorism. The Expo will showcase high-
tech, innovative products that have been developed by our nation's
small businesses.
For the last month, Senator Bond and I have been soliciting small
business homeland defense nominees from our colleagues, so that we can
select truly unique products for the Expo. As expected, the response
has been enthusiastic and I would encourage all of my colleagues to
attend this event so that they may see and try these products. My only
regret is that we do not have the space available to allow every small
business to participate. However, every nominee will be included in our
event book highlighting these innovative small businesses.
I would like to conclude by once again stressing the importance of
our Nation's small businesses, both to our economic security and our
national security. Supporting small businesses is supporting America.
I urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor this Resolution.
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