To amend the Small Business Act to modify certain provisions relating to women's business centers, and for other purposes.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this measure which will update and improve the SBA's ED programs. This bill is a bipartisan product and will not only strengthen small firms but will help them create new jobs for American workers.

This week, we are honoring our Nation's job creators, the entrepreneurs who generate roughly 70 percent of all new positions. As we celebrate Small Business Week this year, we find ourselves in a different place than in celebrations past. The economic landscape has changed considerably, and in the face of an historic recession, small firms cannot always go it alone. After all, starting and running a small business is no easy lift, even when times are good. That is why the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act is so important. It revs up the engine of our economy, the entrepreneurs who are creating jobs and changing the way our country does business.

This bill gives small firms the tools they need to flourish. By enhancing SBA's entrepreneurial development programs, it will help existing businesses grow and allow aspiring entrepreneurs to get off the ground. These resources are critical. In fact, small firms that use them are twice as likely to succeed than those that don't. But unfortunately, many of these initiatives are outdated and underfunded. Today, we will take important steps to ensure they are running at full capacity.

Despite declines in corporate America, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. Every month, 400,000 new businesses start up across the country. Imagine if each of those firms had access to resources like business development training. Through H.R. 2352 they will. This bill provides entrepreneurs with the tools they need to do everything from draft a business plan to secure equity capital. These services put small firms on a level playing field, allowing them to compete in virtually any sector, including the Federal marketplace.

Although most industries are struggling, the Federal marketplace is booming. With billions of stimulus dollars now in play, that sector presents

enormous opportunity for entrepreneurs. But before they can crack the industry, small firms will need to know its ins and outs. H.R. 2352 provides the training they need to do so. It also offers the necessary technology.

In order to adapt to new markets, many entrepreneurs will need to retool their operations. Through cutting-edge technology programs, this bill allows entrepreneurs everywhere to access the information they need. In doing so, it encourages entrepreneurship in places where it might not otherwise grow. For struggling rural regions and inner cities, H.R. 2352 will be an economic catalyst. It will also reflect the changing face of American business. More and more, women, veterans, and Native Americans are starting their own firms. For these people, entrepreneurship is more than a means of employment; it is a path to economic independence.

From rejuvenating rural regions to promoting entrepreneurship in underrepresented communities, ED makes good economic sense. And in fact, every $1 put into the program puts another $2.87 into the Treasury. If you ask me, that's a pretty good return on investment. By modernizing and enhancing the program, the returns will only get better. Because at the end of the day, strengthening entrepreneurial development programs empowers small businesses, allowing them to grow and, perhaps most importantly, create new jobs for American workers.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers if the ranking member is prepared to close.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the work of Mr. Shuler and Mr. Luetkemeyer in putting together this bill. I would also like to commend the other members of the committee--Mr. Nye, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Schock, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Ms. Fallin, and particularly the ranking member, Mr. Graves--for all of their efforts and contributions in putting together this bipartisan product.

Entrepreneurs have much talent for job creation. In the last few months, much has been made of that ability and with good reason. As employment continues to climb, we need to be investing in the businesses that can put Americans back to work. The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009 will do just that. That is why this bill is supported by groups as diverse as the American Legion, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, the International Franchise Association, the National Association for the Self-Employed, the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Already, the SBA's entrepreneurial development programs help small firms do everything from draft business plans to accessing capital. These services have been an invaluable resource for countless entrepreneurs, and they have led to the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. In fact, entrepreneurial development helped generate 73,000 new positions in 2008 alone.

Despite the program's inherent value, it is in sore need of modernization. Today, we are going to begin the process of turning it around. In doing so, we will ensure that small firms have the tools they need to spark a sustained recovery. What better time to reinforce the backbone of our economy than during Small Business Week. We can do more than celebrate our entrepreneurs. We can empower them and can help them play their unique role as an economic catalyst.

I will now yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois as much time as she may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The manager's amendment makes technical and conforming changes to the underlying legislation. It also incorporates several important amendments offered by Ms. Markey, Mr. Carney, Mr. Polis, Ms. Pingree, and Mr. Cardoza.

Across all areas of the legislation, these amendments sharpen the provisions, making them more effective in assisting our entrepreneurs. In particular, these amendments strengthen provisions dealing with veterans, rural entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, and green technology.

I would like to thank my colleagues who contributed these changes and allowed them to be included in the manager's amendment. Ultimately, we have a manager's amendment that will improve this legislation and, more importantly, foster entrepreneurship and job growth.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. Chairman, as our Nation transitions to a green economy, America's entrepreneurs are leading the way. Entrepreneurs make up 90 percent of the renewable energy sector that is harnessing wind and solar power, as well as producing biofuels. Small companies are also dominant in the field of energy efficiency, and they're finding better, cleaner ways to use existing fuel sources.

The renewable energy and efficiency sectors are leading a new way for growth. They are expected to account for one out of every four jobs by 2030. Small businesses are also instrumental in efforts promoting energy efficiency in both existing and new buildings.

The amendment offered by the gentlelady from Colorado will build on this role. It clarifies that Women's Business Centers may utilize their resources to promote cost-saving energy techniques. That is a valuable change to the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I now yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments that he might have.

Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for offering this amendment. All of us on both sides of the aisle want to make sure that these programs meet the needs of our entrepreneurs. I think we're doing good work with this legislation. But, as with many government programs, we must ensure there is sufficient oversight.

It is important that we carefully monitor how taxpayer dollars are spent and what effect they're having. Most of all, we must be sure that these programs accomplish what Congress intended.

The amendment in question will provide this oversight. It requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the effectiveness of ED programs for veterans.

I welcome this additional oversight. If Congress is going to ensure veterans are receiving the help they need from the SBA, we must make sure these new programs are functioning correctly. I will encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment.

Now I yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments that he may have.

We are prepared to accept the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his amendment. The legislation on the floor today places a high priority on helping veterans who wish to transition from the military to entrepreneurship. As I have noted, this bill for the first time creates a nationwide network of Veterans Business Centers. As our servicemen and -women return home from Afghanistan and Iraq, many of them will look to launch their own businesses as the next step in their careers. This network of Veterans Business Centers will aid them as they make that move. For many veterans, entrepreneurship is a logical next step. Already today, veterans comprise 14 percent of self-employed people. Service-disabled veterans make up 7 percent of small businesses. The underlying legislation would help these veterans who own their own firms as well as assist veterans seeking to start their own enterprises. The amendment before us helps to refine and improve the veterans provisions contained in this bill.

Specifically, the amendment requires that the new veterans centers offer specialized services to help unemployed veterans. In addition, the amendment will help the SBA improve outreach and education to veterans in high unemployment areas, and it would mean that the SBA will dedicate resources to assist those veterans who need help the most. In short, this amendment will do right by those who have served our Nation.

I now yield to the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri, for any comments that he may have.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

If the gentleman is prepared to yield back, we are prepared to accept the amendment.

I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentleman from Connecticut for this great amendment.

We often hear discussion of the concept of ``welfare to work.'' Well, the amendment before us will move many Americans from ``welfare to entrepreneurship.'' Studies consistently demonstrate that entrepreneurship provides a path out of poverty for many Americans. In particular, we have seen that for many impoverished women, launching their own small business can mean a chance at a bright future. This amendment will provide entrepreneurial development resources to those communities that have been hardest hit by this recession by creating Microenterprise Training Centers. These centers will let Americans interested in starting a very small business, such as a home-based business, access valuable classes, one-on-one instruction and other guidance. These resources will help launch the smallest small businesses, those with six or less employees and that start with $40,000 or less in capital. Under the amendment, the SBA will establish these training centers. The administrator is instructed to place them in parts of the country that have a high proportion of low-income and unemployed individuals.

Mr. Chairman, when economic downturns like the current one hit, those communities that are already hurting often carry the brunt of the pain. Those areas already struggling with high unemployment suffer the most when jobs become even more scarce. The amendment before us will provide additional options for Americans living in these communities. It will mean that those living in poverty will have a better chance to secure their economic independence and build a better life for themselves. The Microloans Program is a program that lends to businesses and those who want to start up a business. These are microenterprises that will provide technical assistance and guidance for those who want to start up a business. It's different.

I commend the gentleman for offering this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the amendment offered by the gentleman from Maryland will greatly expand the reach of entrepreneurial development programs. Too often small business owners or prospective entrepreneurs cannot access these programs because they live in a rural or remote area. For those small businesses in these parts of America, the nearest Small Business Development Center or Women's Business Center is often many miles away. This can prevent small businesses from accessing the services that we are improving and reauthorizing in the underlying bill.

The amendment offered by the gentleman from Maryland will further ensure that the SBA pays attention to the needs of rural America. Specifically, it creates a rural entrepreneurship advisory council at the Small Business Administration. Drawing from the expertise of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce, this panel will see to it that ED services provided by the SBA are effective for rural small businesses.

In many rural areas, many small businesses are particularly important. Often they are the community's largest employer. This amendment will ensure that the SBA's entrepreneurial development programs are meeting the needs of rural America.

I urge the adoption of the amendment.

And I now yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any remarks that he might have.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York for offering this amendment, as I believe it will help to improve the bill. As we all know, and we have seen and we heard that veteran entrepreneurship is on the rise, meaning that these services are in greater and greater demand.

The existing Veterans Business Outreach Centers have seen a 61 percent increase in veterans' requests for their services. Women's Business Centers report a 103 percent increase in veterans' requests. Clearly there is a hunger out there for these type of initiatives. And as more of our men and women return from Iraq and Afghanistan, the need for veterans' entrepreneurial development programs can be expected to grow.

By increasing the resources that are available for our former servicemen and -women, this amendment will help many of them launch their own businesses.

I will now yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) for any comments that he wishes to make.

Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman is prepared to yield back, we are prepared to accept this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, let me start by saying that the gentleman from Virginia has been enormously helpful in crafting this legislation. He authored the bill on which title I is based. That measure establishes a portfolio of entrepreneurial development services for our Nation's veterans.

The amendment that he is now offering will go even further. As we have already noted, members of our Armed Forces are natural candidates for entrepreneurship. They exhibit the dedication, resolve and leadership skills that it takes to launch a new enterprise. In many cases, they make excellent Federal contractors as they are familiar with the procurement process or are in fields in high demand by the government.

This amendment takes a very proactive approach by reaching out to members of the military before they are discharged easing their transition back into civilian life.

Today, too many Americans who have worn the uniform of our Nation find themselves unemployed after separating from the service. With this amendment, we create another option, another career path for members of our military.

I thank the gentleman from Virginia for offering this amendment and for all of his work on this bill.

And I now yield to the ranking member from Missouri for any comments that he might have.

I urge the adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am not opposed to the amendment. I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

The amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan is a well-thought-out proposal. In fact, earlier this month, the House Small Business Committee conducted a hearing regarding how small parts suppliers and manufacturers are coping given the current problems in the automobile industry. What we heard is troubling. Experts predict that half of the Nation's auto suppliers will be shut down by 2012. Many have already closed their doors.

These factories are vital not just to the automotive sector but to our overall economy. Parts suppliers alone employ 3.2 million workers. We know that the three big car manufacturers are suffering, but these are the smaller of the smaller, and they need our help. So it is very important what this amendment will do.

In the past, these manufacturers have supplied the American automobile industry, and I believe they can continue to have a bright future. By modernizing their facilities and entering new markets, they can keep offering good-paying jobs to millions of Americans while maintaining a strong manufacturing base in this country.

If we have learned any one thing from the current economic crisis, it is that economic stability starts from the bottom up, not the other way around. By stabilizing small manufacturers and part suppliers, we can help the larger firms in the automotive industry. In that process, we will protect millions of jobs. The amendment before us will further this goal.

I urge its adoption, and I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) for any comments he wishes to make.

If the gentleman is prepared to yield back.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 1838, the SBA Women's Business Centers Improvements Act. This important legislation rearranges the distribution of funding to women's business centers to offer temporary assistance for new businesses and startups for women's business centers rather than empower and make permanent dependency on the Federal Government with our current system. I want to just say thank you to Chairwoman Velazquez for all her help on this piece of legislation. It has been a great pleasure to work with her.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses create seven out of 10 new jobs in the United States, and they are the economic engine of our economy. Further, women-owned businesses contribute nearly $3 trillion to our national economy and create or maintain 23 million jobs and employ or generate 16 percent of the jobs in our Nation's economy.

Women's business centers are an important part of the grant programs that are funded by the Small Business Administration. Today, women's business centers across the country are providing women entrepreneurs with much-needed education, with training, with technical assistance and access to capital in startup and operating their small businesses.

Women's business centers serve over 100,000 women and tens of thousands of businesses each year. In the mid-1990s, the Federal Government began awarding grants to women's business centers that were operating as nonprofit organizations in conjunction with institutions of higher learning. Originally these grants were intended to be awarded to business centers in their first 5 years with the understanding that after this 5-year period had ended, the center would be financially self-sustaining.

Although many women's business centers did make this goal, some have not, and for a variety of reasons. As a result, a greater percentage of the funding of this program has been consumed by the operating costs of potentially unviable centers, rather than the intended purpose of helping to establish new business centers. The result is a drag on the system, unviable business centers that are not truly serving an unmet need in their communities. This, of course, jeopardizes the effectiveness and the viability of the entire program.

The SBA Women's Business Centers Improvements Act of 2009 will restore the original purpose held by the Federal Government when this program was created. By offering a three-tiered system of funding and lower caps on spending for older business centers, we can ensure a balanced approach and a balanced percentage of funding is used to support both new and existing business centers.

Modernizing the SBA entrepreneurial development programs will ensure small businesses have the opportunity to lead our Nation out of this recession into economic prosperity. The SBA Women's Business Centers Improvements Act is a huge step in the right direction and provides a much-needed helping hand to help our Nation's small businesses and our women's business centers.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I don't have any other speakers, but I do have some further comments, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about a few issues today as I finish up here and that is about the Department of Labor and how they have announced the national unemployment rate, which has reached 10.2 percent during the month of October. Another report shows that businesses with less than 50 employees lost 75,000 private sector jobs in the month of October, also. Small businesses and individuals and families have been devastated by this 26-year high unemployment rate.

Here we are, Mr. Speaker, during this important debate in our Nation about

health care reform, talking about raising taxes on small business during this recession. Mr. Speaker, I personally believe, and I think the majority of us believe, that small businesses are the economic engines in our communities and in our States and are the way that we can help lead our Nation out of this recession.

Yet as we look at the health care reform bill that we're getting ready to take up, and you look at different sections of it and how it will affect small businesses and job creation and unemployment, I am deeply concerned about several sections of this piece of legislation.

An example is page 297. Section 501 would impose a 2.5 percent tax on all individuals who do not purchase bureaucrat-approved health insurance. This tax would apply to individuals with incomes under $250,000, thus breaking a central promise of President Obama's Presidential campaign that we would not be taxing people under $250,000. Section 512 under page 313 imposes an 8 percent tax on jobs for firms that cannot afford to purchase the bureaucrat-approved health coverage. And according to an analysis by a Harvard professor, such a tax would place millions of people at risk for unemployment; and a majority of those workers could be minorities who, we believe, would lose their jobs at twice the rate of their white counterparts.

Section 551, page 336 imposes additional job-killing taxes in the form of a $500 billion surcharge, more than half of which will hit small businesses, according to a model developed by President Obama's senior economic adviser, which could increase taxes and cost us another 5.5 million jobs. Of course we know that this piece of legislation also adds $729 billion in new taxes on small businesses and on individuals who cannot afford health insurance coverage and employers who cannot afford to even provide that health insurance.

And of course another $1 trillion in new Federal spending on expanded health care insurance coverage over 10 years is some of the projections of this health care bill that we're getting ready to take up. We've had several different groups express concern about small businesses, about the unemployment rate, about the cost of this proposed health care plan. The NFIB has estimated that 1.5 million jobs will be lost due to the employer mandate on small businesses. The nearly one-third of uninsured workers who earn within $3 of the minimum wage will be put at risk of unemployment if their employers are required to offer insurance when one in 10 Americans are unemployed already.

It is a bad time to be mandating these new tax increases on our small businesses. We know that the pay-or-play provision could reduce the hiring of low-income workers and that those wages could fall even more because of required mandates on health insurance.

This bill that we're talking about for health care is going to leave, we believe, 34 million Americans without health insurance because of expansion of Medicaid, and millions of Americans will lose their current health care coverage if the private sector market is driven out of the marketplace that offers insurance.

According to a 2009 study by the National Federation of Independent Business, the cost of health insurance is the number one concern to small business owners. Small businesses create seven out of 10 new jobs in the U.S. and should be able to provide their employees with health benefits and should be able to provide it at a reasonable rate that helps these small businesses be competitive, be one of the vital benefits that they can provide to their employees, which is small businesses.

The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that health insurance premiums for single workers rose 74 percent for small businesses between the period of 2001 and 2008; and administrative expenses for small group plans account for 25 to 27 percent of premiums compared to that of 5 to 10 percent for large businesses.

So, Mr. Speaker, what we know is that if we impose more taxes, more mandates, more surcharges on our small businesses at a time when our unemployment rate just hit a record high for 26 years, over 10 percent, then our small businesses are going to be further devastated by any type of health care reform proposal that has a government mandate, that has new surcharges, new taxes, huge new taxes on small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned because small businesses are the economic engine of our local economies. They are the way that we can lead ourselves out of this recession, and that is why I will be opposed to the current health care proposal by Speaker Pelosi.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009. And I want to thank our chairwoman and our ranking member. I appreciate all your efforts to move this comprehensive package of legislation forward and especially want to thank our chairwoman for working with me on title I of the bill, the Veterans Business Centers Act, which will help our Nation's veteran entrepreneurs.

In my district, we have the second largest concentration of veterans of any congressional district in the country. My district is home to Norfolk Naval Base, the largest naval base in the world. In our community, there are countless veteran-owned businesses that are vital to the local economy.

The measure that we are considering today will give veteran entrepreneurs everywhere the support they need to launch new enterprises and to grow existing businesses. The cornerstone of this effort will be a new nationwide network of services dedicated to veteran entrepreneurs, called Veterans Business Centers, the first nationwide business assistance program for veterans. Establishing this network will provide veterans with dedicated counseling and business training, with access to capital and to securing loans and credit and with help in navigating the procurement process.

We know already, when they have access to the right tools, veterans can succeed in business, and I believe that we can build on what works and that we can expand access to these critical services. I strongly urge the passage of this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act. In fact, I authored title I, the Veterans Business Centers provision, and I am in strong support of the title as it is. Today, however, I would like to make a minor addition to that bill, the Military Entrepreneurs Program.

Mr. Chairman, it takes a special kind of person to be an entrepreneur. Small business ownership takes leadership. And in times like these, it takes resilience. So it is not surprising that, as they reenter civilian life, many of our returning servicemembers decide to launch their own enterprises. After all, these are the same attributes that they have exhibited while serving our Nation.

Our veterans leave the military with valuable skills and experience. But they often don't have the resources to apply those skills to the challenge of starting and running a small business. This bill will make sure our veterans have the support they need to launch successful small businesses. And by supporting our veterans and our small businesses, we will help create jobs and get our economy going again.

The cornerstone of this effort will be a new nationwide network of services dedicated to veteran entrepreneurs called Veteran Business Centers. Establishing this joint public-private network will provide veterans with the dedicated counseling and business training they need to launch new enterprises or grow existing businesses. By creating a new program to assist veterans in accessing capital and securing loans and credit, we will help them overcome some of the most significant hurdles blocking them from becoming successfully self-employed.

By creating a new program to help our veterans to navigate the procurement process, they will be able to compete more effectively in the Federal marketplace.

The Recovery Act is expected to create work in many sectors that are veteran dominated, like engineering, telecommunications, project management and construction. This bill will help veteran entrepreneurs take advantage of these opportunities.

In coordination with these new Veteran Business Centers, this amendment, the Military Entrepreneurs Program, will direct the SBA to provide servicemembers transitioning to civilian life entrepreneurial information, training and financial guidance, the things they need to start up a business.

This amendment specifically targets young entrepreneurs and proactively reaches out to them, letting them know the immense resources that are available to them. This ensures our returning warfighters have the know-how to land firmly on their feet after they have honorably served our country.

Our veterans made every sacrifice necessary to defend liberty, justice and American values; and they deserve every chance at a fair shot at the American Dream. For that reason, the Veteran Business Centers provision has the support of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

I strongly urge passage of this amendment and the bill.

And I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back.

As the designee for Mr. Polis, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my colleagues' amendment. I thank Representative Shuler, Representative Velazquez, and members of the Small Business Committee and their staff for bringing forward this legislation that will promote entrepreneurship at a time when our Nation needs it most.

As a former small business owner, I know that starting a new business is an exciting experience. I know also that with the steep learning curve involved in managing and building a business, all too important details are left unattended. It is these details, however, that can determine whether a business will succeed or fail.

The educational and networking programs established by this bill will help small business owners attend to these details with the assistance of dedicated professionals.

Each community and each business presents a unique set of challenges and rewards. By creating specialized Small Business Development Centers, the modest funds we allocate in this bill will yield strong results through targeted counseling and training. This amendment simply adds training on reducing operating expenses through energy savings to the existing list of educational programs under this bill.

Entrepreneurs will greatly benefit from targeted training on energy use, a detail that represents 19 percent of the cost of running a small business. This high recurring cost can be inconsistent, unpredictable, and fluctuate seasonally.

High energy costs in periods of reduced revenue can be a frustrating challenge for a small business--but it's also avoidable.

Many communities and utilities offer programs to help businesses reduce energy consumption and many also offer tax breaks and incentives to reduce energy use. Some of the incentive programs available include assistance in acquiring efficient office hardware and installing renewable energy projects, but they can also help business owners with simple solutions, such as installing fluorescent light bulbs, turning off unused equipment, and closing doors and windows.

However, as common sense as it may seem to turn off a light when not in use, during the intense activity of starting a new business, ordering inventory, and hiring new employees, the lack of attention paid to an open window can quickly morph from a harmless oversight to an expensive habit.

Mr. Chairman, I want to remind my colleagues that 19 percent paid for energy is 19 percent that is not being reinvested in the business. That is 19 percent less cushion a business owner has in the event of an economic downturn. Nineteen percent may seem small, but it could be smaller.

Energy, of course, is a necessary expense. Compared to good employees and quality projects, however, this expenditure yields marginal returns. There is a reason that our utility companies call us valued customers and don't call us wise investors. Imagine if that 19 percent could be 9 percent.

To put it a better way, what if we could offer entrepreneurs an additional 10 percent capital? That 10 percent of additional resources can be invested in aspects of the operation that generate revenue.

The accumulated cost savings from moving the thermostat just a few degrees and reinvesting those funds into the business over time can be the difference between new supplies, expanding, or hiring a new employee.

This amendment strengthens our investment in small businesses by helping them with low-cost ways to improve their operations and increase their profits. The most exciting aspect of small business is the spirit of entrepreneurship, but finding creative solutions to reduce costs and save energy are possible only when business owners are made aware of the opportunities available to them.

This amendment, by simply creating awareness of energy-saving techniques and programs, will help small businesses thrive. Reducing energy consumption is not only smart environmental policy, it is sound economic policy.

I ask my colleagues to support this amendment and this important bill. I once again thank Representative Shuler, Chairwoman Velazquez, and members of the Small Business Committee

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the chairwoman for her extraordinary leadership in the Small Business Committee, along with Ranking Member Graves, their hard work, their dedication and truly working in a bipartisan way. Far too often here in Washington, it's too much partisanship. But within this committee we're seeing the great leadership and the great work of Chairwoman Velazquez.

Also I would like to congratulate the ranking member on the subcommittee, Mr. Luetkemeyer, for his outstanding work and all the members and staff and their hard work and their dedication on this very important legislation that can help us get out of the recession through the work of our small businesses.

Mr. Chairman, as we observe Small Business Week, we have an opportunity to not only celebrate small businesses but to strengthen them.

Entrepreneurs are the beating heart of the American industry. They don't just create jobs, more jobs than big businesses, they unlock more new markets and create more products. Entrepreneurs generate 60 to 80 percent of all new positions and are the most effective drivers of the economic growth.

At a time when big companies are slashing their work force, we need to invest in businesses that are creating jobs, not cutting them. Entrepreneurial development programs or ED, do just that. And the benefits don't stop at small business community.

Every dollar spent on these initiatives drives another $2.87 back into the economy. In 2008 alone, ED programs pumped $7.2 billion into communities across the country. They also laid the groundwork for 73,000 new jobs.

Small businesses have a history of sparking recovery. The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act will give them the tools they need to succeed. As the name suggests, the Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act, or H.R. 2352, focuses on the job creators. It will give existing firms the tools necessary to succeed and allow new businesses to get off the ground.

That's important because small firms can pull us out of this recession. After all, they did it in the mid-1990s. At that time small firms created 3.8 million jobs, ushering in an era of prosperity.

Today, national unemployment is on the rise. By 2010, it is expected to reach 9.8 percent. In my home State of North Carolina, it's already 10.8 percent. That is why H.R. 2352 is so important. It incentivizes our job creators so they can put Americans back to work.

Small Business Administration ED programs are critical resources. Small firms that use these services are twice as likely to succeed. This legislation takes important steps in strengthening ED. ED helps entrepreneurs do everything from draft business plans to access capital. It also encourages entrepreneurship within underrepresented groups and underserved communities.

H.R. 2352 includes language to encourage veterans and Native American business ownership. It modernizes SCORE, makes improvements to the Women's Business Centers and establishes distance learning initiatives.

As we celebrate Small Business Week, I can't imagine a better time to invest in entrepreneurs. They are all a very vital and very important part of our economic recovery, not only in this year but in decades to come. Small businesses have sparked recoveries in the past, and with the proper tools, will do it again in the future.

I strongly urge and support H.R. 2352.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Mrs. Dahlkemper).

Mr. Chairman, I would like to inquire how much time is left on both sides

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Nye).

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, again, I would like to commend Mr. Luetkemeyer, the ranking member, for his hard work, for his dedication, and for his true leadership in a bipartisan way on the subcommittee.

At this time, Mr. Chairman, we have no further speakers. I will reserve the balance of my time.