I applaud all the workers and the Architect of the Capitol for doing an amazing restoration, in keeping with the design and the historic nature of this building.

A day should not go by that we should not be figuring this out.

There is no sense of urgency which is really surprising, frankly, here. That should have been on the top of the agenda.

I congratulate you for bringing this crucial initiative closer to the finish line than it has been for a decade.

We cannot alter the employment environment without making sure that we are giving all the resources to small businesses.

This is critically important to make sure all of the agencies are working in concert on so many of the issues that are important to veterans and assisting them and service-disabled veterans.

With respect to the overall situation with the economy and small businesses' role in creating jobs, what can we expect for an initiative here in Congress, in conjunction with the President, on the issue of small business?

Since it has been two years and since we are going to see a drawdown in Iraq, obviously, we are going to have more and more veterans coming home.

Well, I just want to reiterate what you have already indicated, and I know that you share the concerns, Administrator Mills, but it is disturbing that we have not been able to facilitate a small business jobs bill at a time when it is…

We ought to get a response from the SBA because these are issues that could be hindrances and barriers to opening the doors for entrepreneurship.

It does work. These are unusual times.

Yes. I think that would be helpful to sort of guide us in how things are working in that respect.

I congratulate you and the Administrator for making that happen.

the depressed economy, as Senator Snowe, has resulted in the steepest lending since 1942.

Certainly, so many in our underserved communities, are facing the tremendous impediment of accessing capital, which is obviously the economic lifeblood of our businesses and essential if they are to remain open and create jobs.

I would appreciate those numbers for the Committee, if you have the numbers of jobs created.

Thank you, Chair Landrieu for your continued leadership in championing our nation's small businesses, especially during these precarious economic times.

So what could happen in terms of the 7(a) and the 504 loan programs to improve the amount, or the percentage, going to minority-owned businesses?

That is exactly right. This is really maintaining the status quo in all of this and how best to do it, understanding that technology has evolved in very recent years.

I hope that we also can get to the legislative front, but in the meantime, I think it is going to be important for you to be doing the work that you are doing.

Nondiscrimination requirements have existed in our telecommunications statutes for more than 70 years.

I have been a strong proponent of net neutrality legislation.

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