[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H14223-H14224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PROGRAMS UNDER SMALL BUSINESS ACT AND SMALL 
                    BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4252) to provide for an additional temporary extension 
of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business 
Investment Act of 1958 through May 23, 2008, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4252

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF 
                   PROGRAMS UNDER THE SMALL BUSINESS ACT AND THE 
                   SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACT OF 1958.

       (a) In General.--Section 1 of the Act entitled ``An Act to 
     extend temporarily certain authorities of the Small Business 
     Addministration'', approved October 10, 2006 (Public Law 109-
     316; 120 Stat. 1742), as most recently amended by section 1 
     of Public Law 110-57 (121 Stat. 560), is further amended by 
     striking ``December 15, 2007'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``May 23, 2008''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on December 15, 2007.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, today we will consider a short-term extension for 
programs in the Small Business Act and Small Business Investment Act. 
This bill extends the authorization of the Small Business 
Administration and these programs through May 23, 2008.
  This short-term extension is necessary to ensure continuous 
operations at the agencies so that this Nation's entrepreneurs continue 
to receive vital assistance. The programs at the SBA are designed to 
stimulate job creation and economic development across the country.
  As the sole Federal agency charged with assisting this Nation's 26 
million small businesses, it is critical that the SBA is able to meet 
their needs through access to capital, technical assistance and 
increasing their ability to secure Federal contracting opportunities.

[[Page H14224]]

  The Small Business Committee has been working to improve and 
revitalize these efforts through a number of bills. The committee has 
taken steps to provide an overhaul and improvements to ensure our 
Federal Government is adapting to the current economy.
  With 15 bills passed out of the House, these reforms have been a 
collaborative and bipartisan effort to assist small firms. Four of 
these bills were sponsored by Members of the minority, and nearly all 
of these bills have passed with over 300 votes in the House. I will 
also note that 10 different members of the committee, six of whom are 
serving their first term in Congress, have been the sponsors of these 
bills.
  These reforms include major changes to SBA programs which affect 
millions of small businesses. The bills that have been passed are 
designed to improve small business contracting programs, as well as 
providing needed updates to the SBA disaster program that failed so 
many Americans during Hurricane Katrina.
  The committee and the House have also reported legislation which 
streamlines the SBA access to capital initiatives and increases the 
outreach of entrepreneurial programs. With these bills passed out of 
this Chamber, we are prepared to take the final step to pass a 
comprehensive reauthorization to the SBA and its programs.
  We will continue working with the Senate to get these reforms signed 
into law. This extension will provide time for the Senate to move their 
own changes and allow us to work out any differences.

                              {time}  1715

  At a time when the economy is in an uncertain state, it is important 
that these programs continue to serve small firms as Congress crafts 
these reforms. I look forward to working with Ranking Member Chabot to 
move ahead on these efforts. Our common goal is to ensure the SBA can 
adequately and efficiently respond to the needs of entrepreneurs. Our 
Nation's main job creators, small businesses, deserve nothing less.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would urge my colleagues to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4252, 
legislation to extend the authorization for programs under the Small 
Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act, as well as any 
program operated by the Small Business Administration for which 
Congress has already appropriated funds. This extension will last until 
May 23, 2008. I want to thank the distinguished chairwoman of the Small 
Business Committee, Ms. Velazquez, for working with me in her usual 
gracious manner.
  With the current extension set to expire December 15, which isn't 
very far away, obviously, the extension is crucial to ensuring programs 
designed to help our small businesses are able to continue to operate. 
Working in a bipartisan effort with Chairwoman Velazquez, the committee 
has reported 14 bills, most of which have been overwhelmingly 
bipartisan, and all of which have passed the House of Representatives.
  While we have worked at a rather furious pace in an effort to 
formally reauthorize SBA programs, the other legislative body has had 
difficulties coming to the same bipartisan consensus. So without 
passage of this temporary legislation today, we find ourselves at risk 
of shortchanging the government contracting and capital programs for 
small businesses and impeding the management of the SBA.
  Even with deliberations completed in the House, we operate in a 
bicameral legislative system. Time is needed for the legislative 
process in both bodies to function and, if necessary, for the two 
bodies to meet in conference to iron out any disagreements and to 
ensure that the SBA and its programs are best promoting the health of 
America's entrepreneurs who, after all, employ an awful lot of people 
in this country. The work cannot be expected to be done in a 
deliberative, thoughtful, and bipartisan manner with the looming 
deadline of midnight December 15 hanging over our heads.
  Again, Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend from New York for her 
very hard work on this legislation, and I urge all my colleagues to 
join us in supporting H.R. 4252, this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4252.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________