Ed Markey: “before I begin my remarks, I want to take a few minutes to thank Bob Nelson, the Small Business Administration's…”

“before I begin my remarks, I want to take a few minutes to thank Bob Nelson, the Small Business Administration's District Director for Massachusetts upon his retirement on Monday after 30 years of Federal service. Bob is a paragon of public service--commuting each day more than 100 miles from Connecticut to Boston to serve Massachusetts' small businesses. For 26 years, Bob has helped small businesses recover from everything from the economic downturn after 9/11 to the great recession of 2008 to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bob is known for giving small business owners his direct cell phone number so that they never have to go through a moment of uncertainty. His career is a testament to the impact that steady and passionate public service can have on everyday people and local economies. Everyone who has worked with Bob respects him; and that goes for me, my staff, and all of the SBA employees that he has worked with over all of the years and the thousands of small businesses that he has helped during those years. Bob Nelson is a small business champion, and because of him, countless business entrepreneurs and communities are strengthening our Nation, creating jobs, and making our economy the envy of the world. Thank you, Bob--thank you, Bob--for everything that you have done, for bringing a public servant's heart to your work, and for your many years of service making the Massachusetts Small Business Administration district office the best in the Nation.…”