John Kerry: “Tomorrow--September 30, 2006--many of the SBA's programs and authorities expire. Our committee worked together to come…”

“Tomorrow--September 30, 2006--many of the SBA's programs and authorities expire. Our committee worked together to come up with a bipartisan package, a true give-and-take on ideas, including many reforms driven by needs identified in the response to the gulf hurricanes last year. That comprehensive small business reauthorization bill, S. 3778, is opposed by the administration, and is being blocked from consideration in the full Senate through various holds. We finished our work at the end of July, and the bill has been pending on the Senate calendar for consideration since August 2. The administration and other opponents have had 9 weeks to work out a compromise. But they don't want to. SBA has told the small business community that they don't want an SBA reauthorization bill this year; they only want to reauthorize their ability to cosponsor events with the private sector. In the absence of passing that legislation, which is a replay of our last reauthorization bill, S. 1375, that was obstructed, the agency is at the mercy of a continuing resolution, CR. Unfortunately, a continuing resolution doesn't extend all the authorities needed for the agency to operate. H.R. 6159 was put forward to catch some of the programs that would fall through the cracks. However, according to CRS and the Senate Legislative Counsel, as drafted, the bill still doesn't close the gaps.”