[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23320]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         THE ACCESS AND OPENNESS TO SMALL BUSINESS LENDING ACT

  (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, we all agree that small 
business is the engine of economic growth in our Nation. As a member of 
the Committee on Small Business, I have worked with my colleagues in 
both parties to ensure that access to capital is there for those who 
need it, especially women and minority-owned businesses. I am pleased 
to join today the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) in 
introducing legislation that will allow us to determine if financial 
institutions are responding to the credit needs of minority- and women-
owned businesses. From this data, we will be able to determine what is 
working and what needs fixing.
  This legislation is supported by the National Women's Business 
Council, the Women's Business Development Centers, the National 
Community Reinvestment Coalition, and the Hispanic Economic Development 
Corporation, to name a few.
  I look forward to working with the gentleman from Massachusetts and 
all my colleagues to achieve passage of this important legislation.

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