[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF ROBERT W. LAZAR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2005

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the retirement of 
Robert W. Lazar, a man who has made tremendous contributions for small 
businesses throughout the state of New York, and our nation. Mr. Lazar 
has graciously served our business community through the New York 
Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) for the past 35 years.
  Mr. Lazar carries with him an extensive and impressive record of 
helping small businesses across the state of New York. He began his 
service with the NYBD in 1971, and since that time he has successfully 
operated in a number of roles within the organization. Since 1987, Mr. 
Lazar has served as the President and CEO and has been credited with 
leading his company to unprecedented growth.
  With over 1.7 million small businesses in New York, the NYBDC serves 
a vital role in our state by assisting these businesses in obtaining 
the financial assistance they so desperately need to start and grow an 
enterprise. In addition, NYBC also provides much needed credit 
opportunities to the increasing number of minority and women-owned 
firms--many of which have difficulty in accessing these types of 
options elsewhere.
  The contributions he has made to our state's small businesses during 
his tenure at NYBDC have been endless. I have had the pleasure of 
working with Mr. Lazar in both my capacity as a Member representing 
Brooklyn, and as the Ranking Democrat on the House Small Business 
Committee. Some of my fondest memories over the past years include 
visiting small business owners together, hearing about the aspirations, 
dreams, and challenges our local businesses are facing, and working to 
help meet their needs. Small businesses throughout New York have been 
fortunate to have such a dedicated, and successful, advocate as Bob 
working to ensure firms have access to capital and opportunity--and we 
are lucky that his efforts on behalf of small businesses will continue 
forward.
  Throughout the years, Mr. Lazar has created a long list of 
accomplishments and has received numerous awards for his services. Mr. 
Lazar has been a steadfast advocate for small business legislation both 
in New York and Washington. Because of his efforts, the Small Business 
Administration's (SBA) 504 lending program, one of the most widely used 
small business loan programs, is now a more viable source of small 
business lending for entrepreneurs throughout the nation. In addition, 
as the President of NYBDC, he has played a key role in helping to 
expand the use of SBA programs, and in contributing to the development 
of new loan programs through public-private partnerships. These 
accomplishments benefited not only New York small businesses--but also 
entrepreneurs nationwide.
  In 2000, he was recognized as the ``Small Business Advocate of the 
Year'' in the state of New York by the Empire State Development 
Corporation. He was named as ``Entrepreneur of the Year Award'' in 2004 
by Capital District Business Review, and has been honored with several 
leadership awards over the past few years. The truth is that Bob could 
have been recognized as ``Small Business Advocate of the Year'' every 
year.
  He has served New York's small businesses with tireless dedication, 
effort and success. The doors he has opened for women and minority 
business owners, and the assistance Mr. Lazar has granted to aspiring 
entrepreneurs across the state have been an invaluable asset--and these 
achievements have set the path for the future small business owners of 
New York. I know that Bob's contributions to entrepreneurs will not end 
with his retirement--and that small businesses in New York and across 
the nation will continue to benefit from his dedication.
  I hope that the U.S. House of Representatives will join me today in 
recognizing Mr. Robert Lazar on his retirement--and in honoring and 
thanking him for his work and dedication to small businesses in both 
New York, and the nation.

                          ____________________