Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to introduce S. 3196 and S. 3197. This legislation will strengthen the resources and support that we provide to women entrepreneurs, and to strengthen oversight of the SBA's technical assistance programs. The SBA's Entrepreneurial Development programs are a vital source of training and management support for entrepreneurs, and I am pleased to work with Chair Landrieu to improve these programs and ensure that the taxpayer dollars that support them are being utilized in the most efficient and effective way possible. The Women's Small Business Ownership Act of 2012 builds upon our commitment to providing assistance to women entrepreneurs, whose firms have grown at ice the rate of other firms. The SBA's Women's Business Center, WBC, program provides critical assistance to economically or socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs, especially women. The bill I am introducing today with Chair Landrieu holds funding for the WBC program at current levels for the next three years, in recognition that now is not the time to grow Federal programs, including proven ones like the SBA's technical assistance efforts. Our bill also makes necessary improvements to the WBC program, such as establishing a process and criteria that the SBA must follow in administering grants under this program, and expanding eligible entities that can host Women's Business Centers to include local economic development organizations and community colleges.…”