[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           JOB CREATION THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 20, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 2352) to 
     amend the Small Business Act, and for other purposes:
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 
2352 ``Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009.'' I would 
also like to extend my thanks to Representative Heath Shuler of North 
Carolina for introducing this important legislation. This will amend 
the Small Business Act in a number of ways that will help small 
businesses throughout the United States.
  America is home to more than 26 million small businesses that 
represent more than 99.7 percent of all employers. Small businesses 
create half of our gross domestic product, and up to 80 percent of the 
new jobs nationwide. Recent studies have shown that supporting small 
businesses is good for the American economy. In fact, for every $1 
invested, small businesses will contribute $7 to the economy. H.R. 2352 
provides small businesses and entrepreneurs the tools and resources 
they need to succeed and thrive. Entrepreneurial development programs 
helped create 73,000 jobs last year alone.
  The vibrancy of our economic prosperity depends on the ability of our 
nation's small business community to adapt to opportunities at home and 
abroad. The skill required to navigate the many regulations imposed by 
the Federal government is essential to maximize any business plan. 
Alliances made between the private sector and government allow small 
business owners to be empowered by the Federal regulatory process and 
not the victim of it.


                                 women

  H.R. 2352 will accomplish many different initiatives pertaining to 
helping small businesses. There are specific stipulations that will 
enable women-owned businesses. It will revise the Small Business 
Administration's women's business center program to publish grants and 
establish a process for centers regarding administration matters. It 
will also authorize administrations to provide financial assistance to 
private nonprofit organizations to conduct projects for the benefits of 
small businesses owned and controlled by women as well as women's 
businesses centers performance measures to be established. H.R. 2352 
will also require the National Women's Business Council studies to 
include the impact of the 2008--2009 financial markets crisis on women-
owned businesses. H.R. 2352 will broaden the Women's Business Centers 
Program by improving and expanding business development resources for 
women entrepreneurs by increasing counseling and training facilities 
for this sector, particularly targeting underserved areas.


                                general

  In addition to supporting women small business development the bill 
creates a grant program for SBDCs specifically designed to assist small 
firms in securing capital such as the new small business lending 
generated under the Recovery Act. The Recovery Act contains numerous 
provisions to generate new small business lending, such as increasing 
from 85% to 90% the amount of an SBA-backed loan that the government 
guarantees--with estimates that the Act will generate $21 billion in 
new lending and investment for small businesses.
  H.R. 2352 also creates new entrepreneurial development programs. It 
establishes, for the first time, a nationwide network of Veterans 
Business Centers to provide specialized entrepreneurial training and 
counseling to our nation's veterans. It also creates new support 
services for Native American-owned small businesses.


                               conclusion

  Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy in Houston and 
across America. But for too long, small businesses have found it 
difficult or impossible to compete for federal contracts. I am proud to 
support legislation that fixes this problem and gives hard-working 
small businesses a fair shake. I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill as well.

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