[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESS

  (Mr. WALZ of Minnesota asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, like the last speaker, I had the 
opportunity last week to visit an American manufacturer, Blue Star 
Power Systems, a small business in southern Minnesota employing 35 
people that manufactures backup generators for schools, hospitals, and 
businesses.
  Doug Fahrforth, the CFO of Blue Star, told me something that made me 
pause. He said that nowadays his bank will tell him this: We believe in 
you; we believe in your product; but unless there is no risk, we don't 
want anything to do with you.
  Our economic system relies upon risks that small businesses take, 
like Blue Star Power, to create innovative products and services which 
boost our economy and grow our middle class.
  Yesterday there was a New York Times story that said banks said they 
were turning depositors away at the door because the banks have more 
money than they know what to do with. I have a couple of ideas what 
they can do with that money. Invest in Main Street. Invest in 
businesses like Blue Star Power Systems who create first class products 
right here in the United States.
  Blue Star also told me there are things that we can do in Congress 
that will streamline the Small Business Administration and make it more 
efficient and effective. I look forward to working with them on that.
  There are actions that we can take right now so that Blue Star Power 
and other businesses just like them can continue to innovate and create 
jobs in America.

                          ____________________