Nydia M. Velazquez

Mr. Chairman, there is no question that the Federal marketplace continues to grow at record rates. Just last year, the Federal Government spent $417 billion on goods and services. While the government's buying power is increasing, small…

since 1977, the minimum goal for small businesses in the Federal marketplace has been 23 percent of the total value of goods and services acquired. Each year, the administration boasts of how it almost made its target. Unfortunately, in…

contract bundling has been a major issue for years, and it is increasing. When contracts are combined together into mega-contracts, small businesses are unable to compete. In fact, some contracts are so large that only a handful of…

We accept this amendment which will require the Administrator of SBA to make public the actions taken on behalf of small businesses or trade associations with regard to bundled contracts. More importantly, it will publicize the results of…

The underlying bill makes permanent the Community Express Program, which provides loans up to $250,000 to businesses which are owned by certain favored groups such as women, minorities, veterans, or socially or economically disadvantaged…

I know that the gentlelady has worked tirelessly to ensure that certain independently owned and operated franchises are afforded access to the SBA's 7(a) loan program. You have my assurance that I will work to address this concern as the…

In our hearings, Mr. Chairman, the committee heard testimony on the various challenges facing the 7(a) program. One of the more troubling developments has been a steady decline in the number of lenders participating in the 7(a) program…

Small businesses are this country's economic drivers, yet they continually face challenges that make it hard for them to succeed in today's marketplace. Entrepreneurs are already dealing with rising energy and health care costs as well as…

It amazes me if the gentleman from Louisiana is so concerned about the state of small businesses in our country, why is it that every time that I brought an amendment to any bill to reduce the cost of the 7(a) business loan program, you…

After the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes, we witnessed a number of problems with the Small Business Administration's preparation and ability to assist entrepreneurs following a disaster. As the agency responsible for handling the disaster loan…

What amazes me is if the gentleman from North Carolina is so concerned about this legislation, where were you when the Small Business Committee was considering this legislation? We had a number of Members who do not sit on the Small…

Mr. Chairman, we are now barely over a month away from hurricane season. Many small businesses have been struggling for a year and half to recover after the gulf coast storms of 2005. Following the hurricanes, delays in disaster loans…

Hurricane Katrina forced evacuation of individuals and business owners who are only recently recovering and rebuilding. Clearly, through no fault of their own, these firms have been disrupted. A number of these businesses are participants…

I rise today, first and foremost, to praise the courage, performance, and commitment of our troops stationed in Iraq and elsewhere. We are immensely grateful for their sacrifices. Because of this war in Iraq, today the lives of the 135,000…

I come before this House of Representatives, and I would like to speak not only on behalf of the 4 million American citizens who live in Puerto Rico, but also on behalf of the seven American Puerto Ricans who lost their lives in Iraq…

at the beginning of the debate, the chairman said that only 10 bucks a month small businesses were paying. Now he admitted it is $3,500, at least, and the smaller small business loans are down. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the…

today I rise once more to denounce our continued involvement in the Iraq war, which was the wrong decision, at the wrong time, based on wrong information. And, what are we doing today to correct all those wrong actions?--absolutely…

in a hearing yesterday on the disaster loan program, we heard two different stories on this equation in the gulf. We heard from the SBA administrator who said that everything is great. He told the committee that they are processing record…

while the House will begin debating the budget resolution in the coming weeks, this amendment offers the first vote on one of the initiatives introduced in the President's 2007 budget. This amendments provides Members the opportunity to…

I would be happy to do that; but I have to tell you, victims in the gulf region cannot wait until we have such a discussion, and that is why this amendment is important to be voted on today.

Well, let me just say this. Isn't it true that there are 60,000 applications in backlog? Isn't it true that 19 percent, only 19 percent have been processed? Isn't it true that there is 65 percent declined on loans approval? This is not…

today's motion to instruct conferees is about keeping costs down for the American people. Whether it be protecting prices at the gas pump against price-gouging or ensuring entrepreneurs have access to affordable loans, the bottom line is…

in every State and every district when we meet with small business owners, their number one concern is rising health care costs. Even as we sit here, the cost of health care continues to rise. Today's legislation will help address this…

For clarification, it says here, ``shall enter into a cooperative agreement with a non-profit organization that has experience developing relationships between industry, minority institutions . . . '' It does not say physical or…

I mean by the minority-serving institution to develop the physical facility and develop the relationship. I will propose to the gentleman that he adopt the amendment, and it is a matter of semantics and that we will work to clarify it.