These funds are integral to the mission of keeping the American people safe in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

I would also like to stress the importance of full funding for the State and Regional Preparedness Program.

Cutting Seniors' benefits in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will have devastating effects on seniors and their children and grandchildren.

We can kick the can down the road again and tell the American people that everything is fine and there is nothing to worry about, or we can step up to the plate and do what our predecessors should have done long ago.

Social Security has not added one dime to today's current deficit.

Social Security is not a budget resolution issue.

I view those benefits as a sacred promise this government has made and that my constituents and yours have paid into over their lifetimes in good faith.

Make no mistake about it. This responsibility falls to us, Republicans and Democrats alike.

Social Security and seniors didn't cause the current deficit, and destroying Social Security will not fix it.

If we are going to stay competitive and we are going to out-innovate around the world, we have to invest and we have to provide access to capital for those small businesses.

I urge the committee to allocate spending authority that is consistent with the President's fiscal year 2012 budget request for the SBA, which is $985.4 million.