Ben Cardin

So the issue, though, of capital is a critical issue because, as has been pointed out by all of you, there have been extreme difficulties of minority businesses to get access to equity capital, to get access to capital during tough times…

I really do appreciate that. And I appreciate each of your participations here today, and I look forward to working with each of you as we try to sort out what we can do a better job on, helping minority small businesses.

And that is so valuable because it streamlines and makes it faster and more predictable.

So let me follow up on these issues.

I think the more--I mean, showing how many minority businesses have to put their homes up for collateral, to me, would be a very telling situation.

Access to capital is the critical part of the equation; it is not the only part of the equation.

Senator Mikulski is an incredible partner on the small business issues.

I want to thank Senator David Vitter, the Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, for agreeing to allow this field hearing to take place on access for minority businesses to capital.

Good morning, everyone. Let me welcome you all to this hearing for the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.

Well, thank you. I appreciate those comments.

Thank you very much for your testimony.

Without objection, it will be included.

Last Friday, I was at the Census Bureau. I was there to support the President's request for the resources necessary that we have an accurate census and it is done in a most cost-effective way.

Mr. Tucker, your point about reentry really hit home. I mean, that is one of the high priorities of our country.

Let me acknowledge that I am joined by my colleague, as I indicated earlier, Donna Edwards.

Our colleague Senator Nelson is also a leader on this issue of keeping taxpayers safe from identity theft and fraud.

I would just point out that the language we used in 2001--I think most of us would not have thought it would be used today.

Those guys are still out there 14 years after 9/11.

I think you cannot have it both ways.

I supported the use of force resolution that was reported from this committee in the last Congress, as did every Democrat.

In the end, comprehensive tax reform is the best way to simplify our tax system across the board.

The bill that I filed uses a credit method so that you get full credits for all the taxes that you have paid in the production chain

A lot of people are afraid of taxes too.

Thank you for your comments on the progressive consumption tax.

I'm looking forward to discussing how to do that with our witnesses today.