[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             PORTS AS SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATORS ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANICE HAHN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 20, 2013

  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, our nation's ports are more than gateways of 
trade--they are economic engines in their own right. Ports support 13.3 
million American jobs and generate $3.15 trillion in economic activity. 
That is why I founded the PORTS Caucus to educate Members of Congress 
on the importance of ports to our national economy. As a member of the 
Small Businesses Committee, I also understand that economic recovery is 
going to be fueled by the job-creating power of our small businesses.
  That is why I am re-introducing the ``Ports as Small Business 
Incubators Act,'' which will join these two economic forces and further 
strengthen our economy. In 2005 alone, North American incubation 
programs assisted more than 27,000 companies that provided employment 
for more than 100,000 workers and generated annual revenues of $17 
billion. My bill creates a grant program available to Port Authorities 
interested in creating their own small business incubators.
  The Ports as Small Business Incubators Act will allow port 
authorities to apply for a grant to create a small business incubator. 
This program will encourage port authorities to give opportunities to 
entrepreneurs who need them most. These newly-created small business 
incubators will be designed to foster small businesses owned by women, 
veterans, and minorities. Finally, this program will also encourage 
businesses that develop a crucial part of our economy: green jobs. Port 
authorities can work with small business that focus on clean energy and 
improved air and water quality.
  By passing this bill, we will ensure that our entrepreneurs are given 
the chance to succeed. This program will nurture our new businesses and 
provide a much-needed boost to our recovering economy.

                          ____________________