Floor Statements

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

Small businesses are this country's economic drivers, yet they continually face challenges that make it hard for them to succeed in today's marketplace. Entrepreneurs are already dealing with rising energy and health care costs as well as the increasing regulatory burden. The last thing they need is for accessing affordable capital to be another barrier in the way of their success.

What we continue to see is a steady increase in costs and a decrease in access for the very programs that are intended to help entrepreneurs. Over the

past 2 years, for the 7(a) program alone, costs have doubled for smaller loans, and the average loan size has declined by 37 percent.

A recent study released by the National Small Business Association found that access to capital is the number two concern for entrepreneurs. This means that it is more of a concern than taxes and even the regulatory burden.

The Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007 is a bipartisan effort introduced by Ms. Bean and Mr. Chabot. This bill will make loans more economical, while providing long-term stability for small business owners.

H.R. 1332 touches all aspects of the SBA lending initiative, including the 504 program.

Not only will this legislation put affordable financing back into the hands of entrepreneurs, but will also accomplish a number of important public policy initiatives. H.R. 1332 provides incentives for medical professionals to locate in low income areas, establishes a rural lender program, and allows for veterans to secure funds to start or expand their firms.

With the number of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the need for affordable financing is more important than ever. When Congress passed the GI bill, we made a commitment to education and homeownership for veterans. Today we have an opportunity to show our commitment to their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Small businesses must have the ability to continue spurring economic growth and creating jobs. For these reasons, H.R. 1332 has the support of American Community Bankers, Independent Community Bankers of America, American Veterans, Credit Union National Association, National Small Business Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Bankers Association, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the American Dental Association.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for the Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Bean), who is a member of the Small Business Committee and sponsor of the legislation.

(Ms. BEAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlelady for yielding.

I know that the gentlelady has worked tirelessly to ensure that certain independently owned and operated franchises are afforded access to the SBA's 7(a) loan program. You have my assurance that I will work to address this concern as the bill moves forward.

Mr. Chairman, again I thank the gentlewoman for raising this important issue. I agree that this is an issue that we need to address, and I will make a commitment to work with you and your staff as this legislation heads to conference.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gonzalez), a member of the Small Business Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Shuler), a member of the Small Business Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush).

I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones), a former member of the Small Business Committee.

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

Mr. Chairman, this week is Small Business Week, a time to honor entrepreneurs for the contributions they make to this country. Small businesses create three out of every four new jobs. They are the economic backbone, and our largest job creators.

However, it is not easy to be a small business owner. They struggle every day to provide health care for their employees, to comply with increasing regulatory burdens, and to access financing to keep their businesses up and running.

This week, rather than just talk about supporting our Nation's 26 million small businesses, we have an opportunity to do something, provide them with the support they deserve, and ensure it is not a struggle to access much needed capital.

H.R. 1332 will make loans more economical while providing long-term stability for small business owners. Ensuring loans are affordable and that relief from rising capital costs is available is critical for small firms to remain a driving force in today's economy. Let's put the money back into the hands of entrepreneurs where it belongs.

I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Chabot, for his work and his leadership in working with me on this legislation. I also want to thank the staff that worked on this bill; from the minority staff, Mike Smullen, Barry Pineles and Kevin Fitzpatrick; and from the majority staff, Michael Day, Adam Minehardt, Andy Jiminez and Tim Slattery, and Elizabeth Hart and Sam Hodas from Representative Bean's staff.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for the Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007.

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

I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to accept the amendment, and I will yield to Mr. Chabot for any comments that he may have.

Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to accept this amendment. I want to thank you for bringing this issue.

I yield to the ranking member, Mr. Chabot, for any comment.

In our hearings, Mr. Chairman, the committee heard testimony on the various challenges facing the 7(a) program. One of the more troubling developments has been a steady decline in the number of lenders participating in the 7(a) program, particularly among small lenders and community banks located in rural areas. With fewer lenders in the program, we all lose.

The rural lender outreach program is intended to help remedy this problem. With simpler application standards and a streamlined lending process, the rural lender outreach program will facilitate participation in the 7(a) among small lenders in rural communities.

I look forward to working with my colleague to ensure that this amendment will help the rural lender outreach program achieve its important objectives.

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

Mr. Chairman, we are prepared to accept the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, we are prepared to accept the amendment. I yield to the ranking member for any comments that he might have.

Madam Speaker, I reserve a point of order against the motion.

Madam Speaker, I withdraw my point of order against the motion, and I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, it amazes me if the gentleman from Louisiana is so concerned about the state of small businesses in our country, why is it that every time that I brought an amendment to any bill to reduce the cost of the 7(a) business loan program, you voted against that bill, against those amendments? That is the way we provide relief to small businesses.

The problem with the gentleman from Louisiana is that he doesn't believe that the minimum wage should be raised, and that 10 years is not long enough. So by supporting this motion to recommit, you are voting against providing relief to small businesses.

What we are doing with this bill is reducing up to $50,000 in fees to borrowers in this country. That is real relief.

So I urge my colleagues to vote against this motion, and to support the underlying bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk is authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross- references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1332.

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

After the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes, we witnessed a number of problems with the Small Business Administration's preparation and ability to assist entrepreneurs following a disaster. As the agency responsible for handling the disaster loan program, it was clear they were not adequately prepared.

During that time, there were significant application backlogs, with the number ballooning to 204,000 unprocessed applications by December 2005. Those that were lucky enough to get approved for assistance often waited months to receive any funds. It reached the point where entrepreneurs were simply avoiding the SBA, believing it was more of a hindrance than a help.

There is no question the leading factor in SBA's poor response was its lack of preparation and tools to assist the gulf coast victims. H.R. 1361, the RECOVER Act of 2007, provides for thorough disaster planning and directs SBA to ensure they are prepared for a wide range of disasters.

This legislation will streamline SBA's loan processing and disbursement, as well as establish a bridge financing program. After the gulf coast storms, we saw entrepreneurs not only getting declined for loans but having to wait far too long for relief. This bill requires that within 36 hours of a disaster, qualified small businesses are provided with emergency small dollar financing, allowing them to stay in business and spur economic growth.

For small businesses, success and failure often come down to adequate financing. Nowhere is that more true than following a disaster. The changes made in this bill will ensure we avoid the mistakes in the gulf where 62 percent of small businesses who applied for assistance were not approved.

We cannot leave entrepreneurs with nothing to help them salvage their enterprises. For those that did get approved, the average wait time to receive their loan was 74 days, much longer than the SBA's goal of 21 days.

H.R. 1361 also provides for gulf coast entrepreneurs who still need assistance. The committee just came back from New Orleans, and there is no doubt that this community has a long way to go to get where it was before the hurricanes hit. By helping affected small businesses, we are also significantly aiding in the revitalization of the gulf coast.

The RECOVER Act of 2007 will establish a grant program that allows the SBA to help the most significantly damaged small businesses that have been rejected for a conventional SBA loan. These grants are intended to spur redevelopment in communities directly affected by the 2005 gulf coast storms where ordinary market forces are simply not enough. They will be granted under limited circumstances to provide aid to only the neediest of entrepreneurs that meet a number of qualifications.

The legislation also fixes SBA's one-size-fits-all approach to the disaster loan process that has failed businesses in the gulf coast. To be more responsive to individual disaster victims, H.R. 1361 provides the SBA administrator with the authority to waive the prohibition on duplication of benefits for the 2005 hurricane victims. Taking state- administered grant assistance and replacing it with loans that are not disbursed efficiently or in adequate amounts have left entrepreneurs without assistance to build their homes. Small businesses should not have to choose between their home and their business. This bill makes sure they are not faced with that choice.

Eighteen months has passed since this Nation saw one of its largest natural disasters. There is no question small businesses are still very much in need of assistance. The RECOVER Act of 2007 modernizes and reforms the SBA's disaster programs and addresses key concerns still facing hurricane victims.

H.R. 1361 has the support of America's Community Bankers, Independent Community Bankers of America, American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Black Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote for the RECOVER Act of 2007.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Shuler).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 5\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson) who represents and has been very active in the committee addressing the issues of the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan program.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Hodes).

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for a unanimous consent request.

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth).

(Mr. ELLSWORTH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon). And I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his leadership in working with us on this comprehensive legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers. If the minority is ready to close, I am ready to close.

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

Mr. Chairman, we are now barely over a month away from hurricane season. Many small businesses have been struggling for a year and half to recover after the gulf coast storms of 2005. Following the hurricanes, delays in disaster loans, overwhelming amounts of paperwork and a lengthy application process left many small business owners frustrated and discouraged. In fact, entrepreneurs avoided what is supposed to be their primary source of assistance, the SBA.

Our Nation's 25 million small businesses need to know that the next time a disaster happens they will not be left with nothing, but will have efficient and reliable assistance. They need to know that what happened after the gulf coast hurricanes will not ever happen again.

The RECOVER Act of 2007 will require that the SBA have a disaster plan in place, provides assistance to the neediest of entrepreneurs and helps in the redevelopment of the community. H.R. 1361 will given entrepreneurs the relief and assistance they deserve after a disaster.

With 44 days left till hurricane season, we simply cannot afford not to act.

At this point, I want to take a moment to thank the staff who worked on this legislation. From Mr. Chabot's staff, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Mike Smullen and Barry Pinellis; from the majority staff, Michael Day, Adam Minehardt and Andy Jiminez and Tim Slattery.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, for the overwhelming majority of disaster victims, the problem wasn't that the Federal Government gave them too much assistance but that they weren't provided with enough. We heard from disaster victims about how the Federal Government was its own worst enemy, giving money to victims on the one hand through state- administered grant programs, then taking it away.

The prohibition on ``duplication of benefits'' was originally established to prevent disaster victims from double dipping. But this can only happen if assistance is given out in the first place. Many disaster victims have been waiting for 18 months and are still waiting today.

H.R. 1361 gives the SBA the flexibility to break from its overly rigid statutory prohibition. Most importantly, however, this provision has been narrowly tailored to ensure that it will only apply for victims of the 2005 hurricanes. It does not carry forward to future disasters and will only be implemented if the administrator feels it is necessary. It is not a requirement.

This amendment will strike that flexibility from the legislation, leaving disaster victims subject to the unworkable standards that currently exist in the statute.

Mr. Chairman, I now yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson).

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker).

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment will eliminate an important tool for helping otherwise viable businesses rebuild. These businesses need financial assistance that the disaster loan program cannot provide.

The committee has heard victims and experts testify that the SBA's current disaster loan program has been inadequate to help. Largely, this has been the result of pursuing a one-size-fits-all approach to SBA disaster assistance. If the SBA is to be successful in responding to catastrophic disasters, the agency must have tools that are more responsive to victims' needs. The limited grant program in this bill will provide SBA with the authority to help the most severely affected small businesses damaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

This has been very narrowly tailored to ensure that grants only go to businesses located in communities most in need. Only a small number of businesses are expected to meet the requirements for one of these grants. If the administrator feels that grants are inappropriate, he will not need to exercise this authority. Furthermore, this program will not be carried forward to future disasters.

This is an extraordinary tool to address an extraordinary situation, and this is a leading reason why this measure enjoys bipartisan support.

I urge opposition to this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon).

While not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, and I am prepared to accept the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for offering this creative solution to a pressing problem. In our hearings, my committee heard testimony on how individuals affected by the 2005 hurricanes were victimized twice, once by the storm and a second time by the SBA.

The SBA routinely provides disaster victims with a 12-month deferment before requiring repayment on disaster loans. Following the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes, however, the SBA was plagued by lengthy delays and a massive backlog of loan disbursements that has taken months to clear. Now, many disaster victims are scheduled to begin repayment on loan amounts that have yet to be disbursed by the SBA. Clearly, this is an unfair and absurd result that we cannot permit to occur.

The amendment offered by the gentleman from Louisiana would provide the SBA with authority to help those victims who have been negatively affected by its delays in loan processing and disbursement. Most importantly, this amendment preserves the discretion of the administrator in deciding which situations should have an increased deferment period. This flexibility ensures that this program will only be applied in appropriate situations, and I support the amendment from the gentleman from Louisiana.

At this point, Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson) for any comments he may have.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

What amazes me is if the gentleman from North Carolina is so concerned about this legislation, where were you when the Small Business Committee was considering this legislation? We had a number of Members who do not sit on the Small Business Committee come before our committee to discuss issues related to the disaster loan legislation. Where were you?

And let me say more. Let me say more. If you had come before our committee, you would have learned that what this motion to recommit does is to reinstate policies that the SBA already does. This amendment merely restates what the Small Business Administration does and could actually have the opposite effect and allow more individuals with questionable character to get SBA disaster loans.

The Small Business Administration already has a standard operating procedure that provides that no loans shall be made to individuals of low character. The SBA rules and regulations provide that individuals with criminal records and arrest records or who are on probation are considered to be in that category. Simply put, this means that felons are not able to get SBA loans.

I will also note that adopting this motion will for all intents and purposes kill the bill, meaning a little over 1 month before hurricane season, the Federal Government will not have a plan to respond to disasters. Disaster victims will be trapped in the bureaucracy between FEMA and SBA. Small businesses impacted by disasters will continue to struggle with backlogs that could extend up to 3 months. New programs to leverage the private sector to assist entrepreneurs in days not months will not be available. Economic recovery in the gulf will lag as much-needed assistance continues to be denied.

What this motion to recommit is is a cheap political ploy to kill this legislation that is so much needed.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the majority leader, Mr. Steny Hoyer.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon).

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be

authorized to make technical, clerical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of the bill, H.R. 1361.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1361.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize Gerald (Gerry) A. Esposito, District Manager of Community Board 1 in Brooklyn, leader within our community, and lifetime resident of the Greenpoint-Williamsburg community, for 30 years of public service.

Born on March 7, 1954 at St. Catherine's Hospital on Bushwick Avenue, Gerald is a product of Brooklyn Public Schools. As he moved on in his academic career, receiving a bachelors of science from the C.U.N.Y. Graduate Center, and a masters degree in public administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Gerry remained loyal to the city of New York and later he successfully graduated from the city's Executive Training ``Top Forty Program''.

While in college, Gerry became interested in community and public service. Volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America, VISTA, and the Peace Corps, his dedication to improving the community was obvious to all. After gaining employment in the nonprofit and local government sectors, in 1977 he was hired by the Community Board No. 1--the youngest district manager in the city of New York. Thirty years later, there is no aspect of that board that has not been enriched by his guidance. A strong advocate for the delivery of city services to the community, he has successfully addressed a complex range of matters relating to the public welfare, the district, and its residents.

In addition to the long years of public service, Gerald's commitment to the residents of Brooklyn has been unyielding. Socially conscious and philanthropic, Mr. Esposito is a loyal supporter and member of various fraternal organizations and alumni associations. President of the Seneca Club, Scout Master of Troop 604, and appointed Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America in the Lenape Bay District are just a few of the many roles our residents rely on this advocate's generosity to fill. It is truly uplifting to know that Williamsburg/Greenpoint has invested their trust in a public servant, wholeheartedly dedicated to the betterment of our community.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to honor the 30 years of public service and contributions of Gerald A. Esposito in Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1468) to ensure that, for each small business participating in the 8(a) business development program that was affected by Hurricane Katrina of 2005, the period in which it can participate is extended by 18 months, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 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.

Mr. Speaker, Hurricane Katrina forced evacuation of individuals and business owners who are only recently recovering and rebuilding. Clearly, through no fault of their own, these firms have been disrupted.

A number of these businesses are participants in the SBA's 8(a) program, the primary way that minority entrepreneurs enter the Federal marketplace. 8(a) is a business development initiative, and that is what the companies in the gulf region need right now.

Because of the magnitude of the disaster, these companies need additional time in the 8(a) program. This will counterbalance the period of inoperability these firms experienced due to Hurricane Katrina. And I commend my colleague Mr. Jefferson from Louisiana for offering this solution.

As currently structured, the program allows businesses to participate for a limited length of time. They are given 9 years and 9 years only. Even if the companies fail, they can never reapply and get back in.

In this way 8(a) is different than any other SBA procurement initiative, which allow companies to be certified for increments of 3 years. As long as they meet the eligibility criteria, they can continue being recertified without end.

It is because of this limitation that the 8(a) program is simply not structured to respond to companies that have been victimized by disasters.

This bill is targeted and narrow. It applies only to 8(a) program participants in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana that were impacted by this disaster. At most, this represents barely 4 percent of all 8(a) participants. Eighteen months is not a significant amount of time, but it could play a major role in ensuring that these businesses are able to participate in the rebuilding of their home States.

I urge support of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for his support and cooperation in helping expedite this legislation.

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

Mr. Chairman, I would like to bring to the House's attention the correspondence between myself and Chairman Waxman. It deals with the jurisdictions of our respective committees.

House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and

Government Reform,

Washington, DC, March 21, 2007.

Hon. Nydia M. Velazquez,

Chairwoman, Committee on Small Business,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairwoman Velazquez: I am writing to you concerning

the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Small

Business in H.R. 1362, the Accountability in Contracting Act.

I recognize that the Committee on Small Business has a

valid claim to jurisdiction over Section 102 of the bill, and

I appreciate your decision not to request a sequential

referral. I recognize that your decision to forgo a

sequential referral does not waive, reduce or otherwise

affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Small Business.

Furthermore, I will support your request for representatives

of the Small Business Committee to be conferees on the

provisions over which you have jurisdiction during any House-

Senate conference. I am grateful for the accommodation that

you have shown the Oversight Committee.

A copy of this letter, as well as your accompanying letter,

will be included as part of the Congressional Record during

consideration of this bill by the House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize the life and work of a tremendous role model, advocate, and longtime resident of Brooklyn, Sister Barbara Suessman.

Born on February 26, 1937 in Brooklyn, Barbara attended St. Agnes High School in Rockville Center before joining the ``Dominican Sisters'' in 1956. It was through her involvement with the Dominican Sisters that led Sister Barbara to hear her calling and two years later, she pronounced her religious vows and embarked on a life dedicated to serving the underprivileged.

Sister Barbara held a strong belief that through active involvement with New York City's youth she would be most effective in serving the community. It was this conviction that led her to commit her life to working with various community organizations, schools, and ministries.

She spent the next twelve years teaching in several schools in Brooklyn and Queens. While she valued her years teaching the community's children, Sister Barbara wanted to take on more of an active role training peers how to mentor each other. In 1970, she accepted the position of supervisor at the Brooklyn Diocese sponsored ``New School,'' offering special leadership training. After four years, she left to take over as Program director of the Brooklyn group home, Martin de Porres, where she remained until 1979.

Sister Barbara's dedication to the community's youth was undying--she always sought out additional ways to serve. She was instrumental in founding ``Project Bridge,'' a program under the auspices of Christian Charities aimed at addressing the teen pregnancy problem in New York City. Over time, this modest program grew into a full-service organization with numerous locations around the city, providing services to teenage boys, as well as girls, who are pregnant, parenting, or at-risk of becoming parents.

In 1995, Sister Barbara began yet another endeavor, taking the position of Director of Finance with her Dominican Congregation, and

upon completion of her term, devoted the rest of her time with us to consulting for various religious congregations.

Sister Barbara dedicated her entire life to serving others. She used the power of her beliefs and commitment to instill hope and inspiration in all who knew her.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to honor the life and contributions of Sister Barbara Suessman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, first and foremost, to praise the courage, performance, and commitment of our troops stationed in Iraq and elsewhere. We are immensely grateful for their sacrifices.

Because of this war in Iraq, today the lives of the 135,000 military families are disrupted, and 125,000 civilian contractor families are divided. Nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers and civilian contractors have already given their lives. We have lost over 140 young New York military men and women in Iraq.

I voted against this war from day one. It was a mistake then, and it is a mistake today. This week, we have a chance to act. Escalation is wrong, and we must take it upon ourselves to make things right by seeking a political solution to this war.

This administration's flawed foreign policy has damaged our relationship with our allies. The public opposes this war, Iraqis oppose this war, the world opposes this war, and this Congress should speak loudly against this war, too.

Our military has been stretched to the brink of breakdown. Our actions in Iraq have set back the war on terror and made problems in the Middle East much worse.

This war has distracted us from our responsibilities at home, too. Poverty is raging. Millions have lost their jobs and health insurance. Families struggle to pay for the cost of transportation, energy, and housing. Yet we choose to spend $8 billion of hard-earned money every month in Iraq, not at home.

While the cost of the war escalates, our most important social programs for our kids, the elderly, and the poor get slashed to pay for it. We have dug a deep hole of debt to finance this war in Iraq, and we will ask the children of working families to pay off that debt.

These priorities are misplaced. We should be investing in our children, not borrowing against their future.

Our young men and women return from Iraq with all sorts of health problems, both physical and psychological. The trauma of this war will affect the lives of our veterans forever. This resolution expresses our commitment to supporting our veterans' needs. We must honor the sacrifices that our veterans have made for this Nation. We must provide for them from the moment they get home to their families.

I believe this war is more wrong today than ever before. We must stand forcefully for what is right, for our troops, for the victims of this war, and for the priorities we are neglecting at home.

Let this body send the world a powerful message that the United States is changing course in Iraq. We must end this war.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan legislation that will provide tax relief and simplification for this Nation's entrepreneurs.

As the Chair of the House Small Business Committee, I believe economic policies in Washington must address the needs of our small businesses. Today's bill will not only provide tax relief but will also provide simplicity to the Tax Code for entrepreneurs.

One of the most critical portions of this bill is the extension of section 179, expensing. This is a provision that encourages investment while simplifying recordkeeping requirements. This legislation will also make more entrepreneurs eligible to use section 179 expensing.

For small businesses it can often be difficult to make expensive investments or purchases because of the upfront costs. Expensing helps them defray some of these costs while also reducing paperwork burdens associated with depreciation schedules. This proposal is a win for small businesses, the job creators, and our economy. After all, they are the ones who create 80 percent of all new jobs in this economy. And it is a win-win for our Nation's economy.

There are many other good elements of this bill that will help small businesses, and I want to thank the chairman of the Ways and Means and the ranking member's efforts in moving this quickly.

I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 434) to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 through December 31, 2007, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, today we will consider H.R. 434 as it came back to us from the Senate. This bill extends the authorization of the Small Business Administration and its programs through July 31, 2007. This short-term extension will ensure entrepreneurs continue to have access to the programs at the SBA that are designed to stimulate job creation and economic development throughout the United States.

Small businesses rely heavily on the SBA and its programs to start and run their ventures. As the sole Federal agency charged with assisting this Nation's 26 million small businesses, it is critical that the SBA is able to meet their needs.

While the original bill would have extended the agency until December 31, 2007, we will support this bill in order to ensure the agency's programs can operate through the end of July with no disruptions. As such, we move to pass H.R. 434 today.

I look forward to working with Ranking Member Steve Chabot to draft a bipartisan bill that will ensure the SBA can adequately and efficiently respond to the needs of entrepreneurs. Our Nation's main job creators, small businesses, deserve nothing less.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I come before this House of Representatives, and I would like to speak not only on behalf of the 4 million American citizens who live in Puerto Rico, but also on behalf of the seven American Puerto Ricans who lost their lives in Iraq fighting to protect our Nation.

Today I rise to remove the muzzle from the mouths in support of the close to 5 million U.S. citizens' voices that are represented by the Delegates of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Resident Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I say voices because that is all their representatives in Congress are allowed to utter at the well of this House of Representatives. It is time to allow them to also act on behalf of their constituents in this Chamber by allowing them to vote in the Committee of the Whole House.

Right now these Members are allowed to fully participate, not only debate, but also vote at the committees on which they serve with distinction. The change proposed is very measured. It simply allows our respected friends and colleagues to vote in an additional committee, the Committee of the Whole House.

Why are my colleagues from the other side of the aisle so unwilling to allow them in this committee? They do not seem to mind them in the other committees. Madam Speaker, my Republican colleagues have even placed the Republican Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico in several committees, including Foreign Affairs.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim that this rule may have constitutional problems. The reality is that the courts don't agree with this. I will tell my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, you cannot pick and choose which court decisions you agree with or you like. That is not how democracy works.

But as you all know, the Committee of the Whole House does not vote on final passage of legislation. It carries out similar work as the standing committees.

The only thing this new rule does allow is for our Delegates and Resident Commissioner colleagues to vote in a committee. The difference for their constituents is that this committee is not located in a small room, but meets here in this Chamber for all to watch.

Today's debate is about whether this House believes it is right to give these Members the opportunity to express their positions and values through the act of voting out in the open. Openness is a strong democratic value that all of us should support.

I want to emphasize this. These men and women are Members of this House. Let us help them express the voices of their U.S. citizen constituents by allowing them to vote in this committee as well.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 434) to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 through December 31, 2007, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, the legislation being offered today will extend the authorization of the Small Business Administration and its programs. This short-term extension will ensure that small businesses have many of the tools that they need to be successful in today's economy. As the current authorization is set to expire in February, it will ensure that programs can operate through the end of the calendar year while Congress considers legislative changes.

The 109th Congress adjourned without making the necessary changes to get the SBA and its programs running efficiently and effectively. Clearly, a lot of work needs to be done to ensure that the Small Business Administration can adequately respond to the needs of small businesses. Today we have an opportunity to give Congress time to review, evaluate and, if need be, modernize the Small Business Administration programs.

I want to commend Congressman Chabot, the Small Business Committee's new ranking member, for recognizing these issues and working with me to expedite them.

For many entrepreneurs across the country, SBA programs are the difference between success and failure. Our Nation's 24 million small businesses often rely on these programs for affordable financing and entrepreneurial training, as well as assistance in accessing the Federal marketplace. Given the importance and the significant impact that SBA has on our Nation's entrepreneurs, it is our duty to thoroughly review and assess the SBA and its programs. This is especially true in light of the fact that there have been no major changes in over 6 years. We need to make sure that SBA is able to meet the needs of small businesses in the 21st century economy.

The administration asks for this extension, recognizing the time needed to evaluate the structure, programs and possible modifications that need to be made agency-wide.

The short-term extension that H.R. 434 provides would allow us to hold hearings on various topics and examine each of the issues brought forth by the SBA. Most importantly, it will give us the opportunity to draft a bipartisan bill that has each Member's input. Small businesses, the Nation's largest job creator, deserve nothing less than our full commitment to ensuring that they can be successful.

I urge Members to support H.R. 434, to ensure that this Nation's entrepreneurs have access to all of the resources they need to grow and expand their businesses.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.