To provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the gentlelady from New York, the chairlady's request to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 5849, a bill to provide a 2-month extension of the Small Business Administration's core programs through September 30, 2010. The previous extension that passed last April will expire at the end of this week.

In this tough economy, small businesses need all the help they can get. However, as the economic downturn has continued, entrepreneurs have lost the support they need from Congress and the administration to help them do what they do best--create jobs and opportunities. Instead of listening to the needs of the small business community, Congress has continued along with the destructive course of tax increases, government expansion, massive deficits, and job-killing regulations.

Mr. Speaker, as we move toward extending these SBA programs, yet again a temporary effort to shore up our economy and small businesses, we must remember that uncertainty is the enemy of growth. Certain legislative and regulatory proposals that have been considered in Congress lately have injected a tremendous amount of certainty into our markets, uncertainty into our markets. This ambiguity creates unique difficulties for entrepreneurs. It makes them less willing to take risk, to expand operations, or hire new workers.

Entrepreneurs have created nearly 70 percent of all new jobs in the U.S. in recent years. We can all agree that their contributions to our economy and job force will be what will lead us to our recovery. It's time to show our small business owners that we recognize and support this central role they play in our economy. We can do so by approving this temporary extension of SBA programs, and then we must continue our work by crafting and implementing a more thoughtful and complete reauthorization of these critical programs.

I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the gentlelady from New York for her leadership in the small business committee. Her determination to work for the betterment of America's small businesses has allowed us to produce numerous pieces of bipartisan legislation that have reauthorized and modernized the SBA in these programs. Although we have not yet been able to successfully negotiate a compromise between our bills in what have previously passed the House and those that the Senate has passed, I remain confident that we will reach an agreement soon and look forward to working with the chairwoman to that end.

Again, I thank the chairwoman for her leadership and support her request to pass H.R. 5849, and I urge all Members to vote for the measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5849) to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

In every previous recession, small businesses have been central to our economic recovery. The Small Business Administration has an important role to play in giving businesses tools they need to succeed. Technical assistance programs operated by the SBA provide critical expertise in everything from writing a business plan, to finding new customers, to marketing a product.

While our Nation's financial landscape has improved, many small firms cannot find the financing they need. To bridge this gap, the agency's lending programs put over $15 billion into the economy, making them the single largest source of long-term capital. So that entrepreneurs can better tap into the Federal marketplace, there is also assistance to help businesses navigate our government's procurement process. Taken together, this portfolio of services can empower small businesses to create new jobs and accelerate our recovery.

Since the start of this Congress, the House has passed 16 bills to strengthen and modernize the SBA initiatives. However, before these programs are fully updated, they must be extended. This legislation ensures these programs keep operating.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5849, received from the House and at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.