News From Congresswoman
Nydia M. Velázquez
Representing New York's 12th Congressional District - Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens
Ranking Democratic Member, House Small Business Committee

For Immediate Release
October 6, 2004

CONTACT: Kate Davis, Allyson Ivins, (202) 225-4038

Democrats Announce Small Business Agenda
Report lists failures under Republicans, and action plan for entrepreneurs

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined their colleagues to release the Democratic small business agenda, and a report that documents failed initiatives of the Bush administration to meet the needs of small businesses throughout the 108th Congress.

"To help this nation's 23 million small business owners, my Democratic colleagues and I are announcing our small business agenda that will provide assistance to our country's entrepreneurs," Congresswoman Velázquez said. "My Democratic colleagues and I have tried to work in a bipartisan manner to move many of these initiatives forward and we are frustrated too. Like this nation's small business owners we are tired of listening, and today's agenda is an action plan. This agenda clearly addresses the priorities most important in meeting the needs of our nation's small businesses so that they can get this economy back on track."

The Democratic small business agenda outlines several initiatives in various areas that affect small businesses including health coverage, access to capital, the federal marketplace, federal regulations, tax relief and trade. The agenda addresses ways Democrats will ensure small businesses have access to capital by fully funding SBA's loan programs, such as the Microloan and 7(a) program, in addition to ensuring that a comprehensive overhaul of the SBA be completed to modernize and strengthen the programs.

Democrats also released the 108th Congress - Small Business Record that outlined what did not get done for small businesses over the past two years. The report documents 11 issue areas of concern to small business and the legislative actions that were touted by the Bush administration but then stalled. One of the most striking was the healthcare, regulatory and energy initiatives that have done little, if anything, to help small businesses.

In addition, the Small Business Reauthorization and Manufacturing Revitalization Act of 2003 (H.R. 2802), has been stalled for over a year due to opposition from the Republican Leadership. H.R. 2802 is the most comprehensive effort to modernize SBA's loan programs in the last 20 years. The bill provides solutions that would enhance small business access to capital, federal contracts, and would have provided a fix for the 7(a) loan program. As of October 1, small businesses and lenders that use the 7(a) program were forced to pay double the fees, after Republicans blocked a measure that would have prevented the increase late last week. Due to these obstructionist practices, Democrats led by Small Business Committee Member Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) filed for a discharge petition to force action on the bill.

"There have been a number of priorities set in this country over the past two years, and many of them have been pushed to the side," Congresswoman Velázquez said. "However, no where is this more glaring than on our nation's small businesses. In the 108th Congress, the Bush administration came in promising to be one of the most small business friendly in years. However, our economy is in need of job creation and recovery, and small businesses - the main job creators - are the ones capable of doing that. In order for small firms to create jobs, their needs must be met. Today's Democratic agenda will do just that."

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