Political Quotes

“I concur wholeheartedly with my colleague from Massachusetts. The needs of small business are great. Not only the small businesses directly impacted in New York and in Virginia by the tragic terrorist actions, but many other small businesses throughout this country are suffering. I think every Member of this body can tell you about general aviation companies in their States who were shut down, put out of business for up to a month, some even longer because of the FAA restrictions. The bill we have sponsored is very modest, $851 million. We are talking about the need. We just passed $40 billion in relief. We passed another $20 billion on Friday night, an allocation of $20 billion for antiterrorism. We are talking about a stimulus that could be anywhere from $40 to $80 billion. The beauty of 1499 is that it only spends money if the small businesses that have been crippled as a result of this terrorist action will borrow the money and put it to work hiring people, buying goods, getting the economy moving again. It is absolutely critical. I ask my colleagues to let us debate the bill. Let us bring out the problems on the floor. If the administration were ultimately to decide we have not made the case, then they still have the right to veto it. We cannot get into the details of this legislation. My last count was we had 64 Members--at least we have over 60 Members supporting the bill.”