Judy Chu

to me what you show in each of your stories is that you are a stimulus to the economy.

The immigrant story is the American story, and it is one that has fueled entrepreneurship and innovation in this country for centuries.

We can be a country with immigration laws that also treats people with heart and with fairness.

My bill, H.R. 2215, the San Gabriel Mountains, Foothills, and River Protection Act would expand the San Gabriel Mountains national monument.

What would you tell them about the economic benefits that public lands protections, like a national monument status could bring for businesses of all types that are located nearby?

When we first began this process, naysayers claimed that there would be great harm to businesses in the mountains.

I was part of a decade's long effort to get more resources to these mountains, and we were rewarded in 2014 when President Obama proclaimed it a monument.

Mr. Rasker, my district is in the Los Angeles County area and is home to the San Gabriel Mountains.

The San Gabriel Mountains monument... makes nature accessible to 15 million people.

spending a little bit of money on education in prison and entrepreneurship in prison, it saves a whole lot of money on the back end

I am pleased to be chairing this hearing today to discuss the 8(a) business development program as it applies to Native 8(a) contractors.

Thank you. We appreciate all that you have shared with us, and I will begin by recognizing myself for 5 minutes.

In the 116th Congress, this Committee has been committed to taking a closer look at the various SBA contracting programs.

The 8(a) program has helped to level the playing field for small businesses owned by at least 51 percent socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

By including these groups in the 8(a) program, Congress sought to harness the purchasing power of the Federal Government to address the disproportionate levels of economic hardship experienced by indigenous communities.

Well, this seems like a high priority so I hope that you can highlight it even more as far as your challenges.

So far has resulted in only two loans despite the fact that there were 126 major disaster declarations.

It just seems like 100 vacancies is very, very problematic and, you know, requires so much more intervention.

Disasters are on my mind. I represent a district in Southern California, and for the last few days we have had a terrible wildfire where 100,000 people had to be evacuated, including our Congress member Bob Sherman.

Why this lack of outreach, and what are you going to do about it?

However, I believe that the SBA is not taking this program seriously.

I believe that the SBA is not taking this program seriously.

This program would help countless small businesses to secure capital and financing that they otherwise could not access through traditional private equity firms.

Well, you should make it clear in your standard operating procedures if that is what you are doing.

My time has run out, but let me say that it is false to say that the SBIC program has grown too quickly and is leaving the taxpayer overexposed.