[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 24251-24252]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF MILTON D. STEWART

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to pay 
tribute to a champion of this Nation's small businesses and to honor 
the work, dedication and life of Milton D. Stewart, the first Chief 
Counsel for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business 
Administration. Mr. Stewart passed away at the age of 82, following an 
extensive and diverse career that included entrepreneurship, 
government, service to small businesses, law, journalism, and academia.
  One of the most highly successful innovations of the House and Senate 
Small Business Committees came with the creation of the Office of 
Advocacy within the Small Business Administration. This office was 
established to represent and advance small business interests before 
other Federal agencies and the Congress. Congress recognized the 
importance of small business to the competitiveness of the American 
economy and understood that government sometimes can get in the way of 
small businesses doing what they do best--creating jobs.
  Over the years, the Office of Advocacy has had a great deal of 
success and its hand has been strengthened by further congressional 
action, such as the Regulatory Flexibility Act in 1980 and the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act in 1996. The actions of 
the office have resulted in billions of dollars in regulatory cost 
savings for small entities, reducing barriers to market entry and 
promoting entrepreneurship.
  This success is due in no small part to the solid beginnings of the 
Office of Advocacy under the leadership and through the vision of the 
very first Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Milton D. Stewart. Milt, in his 
tenure as Chief Counsel from 1978 to 1981, laid the groundwork for the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the first White House Conference on Small 
Business, the Small Business Innovation Development Act, and many other 
initiatives that are now considered part of the core small business 
policies within this country.
  Formerly a small business owner and financier, Milt brought a level 
of commitment and passion for fostering the entrepreneurial spirit. 
Early in his life, in a family-owned small business begun and managed 
by his parents, he acquired great respect for the skill and courage of 
small business entrepreneurs. During his tenure in service to small 
businesses, Milt served as President of the National Small Business 
Association, the National Association of Small Business Investment 
Companies and the Small Business High Technology Institute.

[[Page 24252]]

  Milt also had significant government service beginning with the 
Office of War Information during World War II. He also served as 
special counsel to Governor Harriman of New York and to the New York 
State Thruway Authority, a Presidential delegate to the second White 
House Conference in 1986 and Special Counsel to the third White House 
Conference Commission in 1995. While he was Chief Counsel, his charisma 
and vision inspired many of those who worked with him and helped 
develop sound small business policy for our Nation.
  His involvement in and dedication to the small business community has 
made a difference in the lives of millions of entrepreneurs. Thanks to 
him, small firms now have a greater voice in the creation and 
implementation of the regulations that govern the way they do business. 
His family and friends can take pride in that legacy and in Milt's 
tremendous public service.
  My condolences go out to his wife, Joan, and to his children, 
grandchildren and great grandchildren on their loss. Together, we mourn 
the departure of a great man who embodied the American entrepreneurial 
spirit. He will be greatly missed.

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