[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. JOE SOBOTA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2024

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Mr. Joe Sobota. Over the course of his career, Joe spent over 40 
years in public service primarily advocating for the best interests of 
American small businesses. Joe worked under four different chairs of 
the House Small Business Committee from 1978 to 1998. While working on 
the committee, he gained a reputation for his consummate 
professionalism and exhaustive knowledge of Small Business 
Administration programs. Joe had a wide range of responsibilities, 
including SBA oversight and budget activities, acting as liaison 
between the agency's authorizing and appropriations chairs, and serving 
as the committee's expert on disaster assistance issues. As the top 
Democrat on the committee for over two decades, I know just how vital 
the work of staffers like Joe is and recognize his positive impact on 
American entrepreneurs during his time in the House.
  After leaving Congress, Joe joined the Small Business 
Administration's Office of Advocacy in March 1998. At Advocacy, his 
primary responsibility was addressing the issues facing millions of 
veteran entrepreneurs nationwide. He has a great deal of reverence for 
veterans who continued to serve their communities by starting a small 
business, and it showed in his work. Much of Joe's tenure at Advocacy 
was dedicated to overseeing the implementation of the landmark Veterans 
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999. His work 
to help achieve the goals of this vital legislation helped provide much 
needed counseling and training to millions of veteran small business 
owners across the country.
  Colleagues in government will remember Joe as a dedicated public 
servant whose work on behalf of small businesses helped support the 
dreams of countless American entrepreneurs. His impact and commitment 
to small businesses will not be soon forgotten. My thoughts are with 
his family and all who were fortunate enough to know him. May he rest 
in peace.

                          ____________________