John Kerry: “I speak today on S. 1499, the American Small Business Emergency Relief and Recovery Act of 2001. This legislation…”

“I speak today on S. 1499, the American Small Business Emergency Relief and Recovery Act of 2001. This legislation provides help to small businesses hurt by the events of September 11th and to small businesses suffering in the weakened economy. Senator Bond and I have spent months trying to uncover who is behind the serial holds that have been placed on this emergency legislation and work out disagreements. This bill hasn't been ``hustled through,'' as some contend. It was drafted with the input of small business organizations, trade associations and SBA's lending and counseling partners through more than 30 meetings and conference calls--conference calls because we couldn't ask folks to fly in the immediate weeks after the attacks. It is cosponsored by 18 of the Small Business Committee's 19 members. And overall 62, senators, including 20 Republicans, have joined me in cosponsoring S. 1499. On the House side, the Committee on Small Business passed the companion to S. 1499. We attempted to move this bill quickly because it is emergency legislation. It is a good bill because it can do a lot for a lot of people. It is being held because of shameful politics. I say let's bring this bill up for a vote. Small businesses have a right to know exactly who is working against them and who is working for them.”