Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the Manzullo and Velazquez amendment. The purpose of this amendment is to allow $140 million appropriated in this emergency supplemental to also go towards the 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program and the 504 Certified Development Company Loan Programs of the Small Business Administration providing that not all the funds have been used for disaster relief. This amendment will give the Small Business Administration flexibility to use all appropriate funding to provide additional relief to small business borrowers who use main lending programs of the Small Business Administration. After 10 years of solid economic growth, America has entered an economic downturn. For the first time in a decade the economic indicators--benchmarks showing where we are and where we are going--all point down. Job losses in technology and manufacturing have risen dramatically and corporate bankruptcies were nearly double what they were last year. Consumer confidence hit its lowest point in over a decade. Even though, the U.S. stock market saw a significant gain in the last 10 years. However, the bottom has virtually fallen out as a result of the events of September 11. Now every industry is taking a huge hit as profits and employment figures head into a free fall. Part of the solution to this problem is for Congress and the President to implement a sound and fair fiscal policy that will provide an economic stimulus for the general public and small businesses.”