[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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