[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9422]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 540 submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 540) honoring the entrepreneurial 
     spirit of small business in the United States during 
     ``National Small Business Week,'' beginning May 23, 2010.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements related to the resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 540) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 540

       Whereas the approximately 29,600,000 small businesses in 
     the United States are the driving force behind the economy of 
     the Nation, creating more than 64 percent of all net new jobs 
     and generating more than 50 percent of the non-farm gross 
     domestic product of the Nation;
       Whereas small businesses will play an integral role in 
     rebuilding the economy of the Nation;
       Whereas small businesses are the Nation's innovators, 
     producing 13 times more patents per employee as large firms, 
     and advancing technology and productivity;
       Whereas only 1 percent of all small businesses export and 
     produce 31 percent of exported goods;
       Whereas Congress established the Small Business 
     Administration in 1953 to aid, counsel, assist, and protect 
     the interests of small businesses in order to preserve free 
     and competitive enterprise, to ensure that a fair proportion 
     of the total purchases, contracts, and subcontracts for 
     property and services for the Federal Government are placed 
     with small businesses, to make certain that a fair proportion 
     of the total sales of Federal Government property are made to 
     such small businesses, and to maintain and strengthen the 
     overall economy of the Nation;
       Whereas every year since 1963 the President of the United 
     States has proclaimed a National Small Business Week to 
     recognize the contributions of small businesses to the 
     economic well-being of the United States;
       Whereas in 2010, ``National Small Business Week'' will 
     honor the estimated 29,600,000 small businesses in the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Small Business Administration has helped small 
     businesses with access to critical lending opportunities, 
     protected small businesses from excessive Federal regulatory 
     enforcement, played a key role in ensuring full and open 
     competition for government contracts, and improved the 
     economic environment in which small business concerns 
     compete;
       Whereas for more than 50 years, the Small Business 
     Administration has helped millions of entrepreneurs achieve 
     the American dream of owning a small business and has played 
     a key role in fostering economic growth; and
       Whereas the President has designated the week beginning May 
     23, 2010, as ``National Small Business Week'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses 
     in the United States during ``National Small Business Week'', 
     beginning May 23, 2010;
       (2) applauds the efforts and achievements of the owners of 
     small businesses and their employees, whose hard work and 
     commitment to excellence have made them a key part of the 
     economic vitality of the Nation;
       (3) recognizes the work of the Small Business 
     Administration and its resource partners in providing 
     assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses; and
       (4) recognizes the importance of ensuring that--
       (A) the applicable procurement goals for small businesses, 
     including the goals for small businesses owned and controlled 
     by service-disabled veterans, small businesses owned and 
     controlled by women, HUBZone small businesses, and socially 
     and economically disadvantaged small businesses, are reached 
     by all Federal agencies;
       (B) guaranteed loans and microloans for start-up and 
     growing small businesses, are made available to all qualified 
     small businesses;
       (C) the management assistance programs delivered by 
     resource partners on behalf of the Small Business 
     Administration, such as Small Business Development Centers, 
     Women's Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, 
     and the Service Corps of Retired Executives, are provided 
     with the Federal resources necessary to provide small 
     businesses the technical assistance and counseling that they 
     desperately need;
       (D) small business disaster assistance through the Small 
     Business Administration is provided in a timely and efficient 
     manner;
       (E) Federal tax policy spurs small business growth, creates 
     jobs, and increases competitiveness;
       (F) the Federal Government reduces the regulatory 
     compliance burden on small businesses;
       (G) advanced technology policy facilitates access to 
     affordable broadband Internet service to foster rural small 
     business growth; and
       (H) systems of intellectual property protection continues 
     to foster small business innovation.

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