Richard L. Hanna: “I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there are a few components to the legislation we have before us.…”

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there are a few components to the legislation we have before us. First, the bill provides for a straightforward extension of certain SBA programs through December 31, 2011. This is a necessary measure since the current extension, which the House passed in May, expires at the end of this month. As we continue to do work with our Democratic colleagues and with our colleagues in the other body towards a full and complete reauthorization of the SBA and its programs, this extension will ensure that these programs are still available to provide assistance to entrepreneurs who need to create jobs. Secondly, the bill before us terminates several duplicative and outdated programs that are either used very infrequently or not at all. It has been said that, once a program is initiated, it is almost impossible to eliminate. Today, we will prove that notion wrong. The program eliminations contained in this bill represent a good first step toward cleaning up the SBA's program portfolio, thereby refocusing the agency's energy on their core mission of facilitating small business lending, offering entrepreneurial advice to small business owners, and ensuring that they receive their fair share of Federal contracts. For example, one of the programs selected for termination is the Central European Enterprise Development Program.…”