http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=56303Kerry, Snowe to Hold Hearing on Strengthening Hurricane Recovery Efforts for Small Businesses
11/7/2005 12:32:00 PM
To: Assignment Desk, Business Reporter
Contact: Catherine Scott of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 202-224-8496
News Advisory:
Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and Chair Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) will hold a hearing on "Strengthening Hurricane Recovery Efforts for Small Businesses" on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.
In the 10 weeks since Hurricane Katrina hit, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved just 600 small business loans out of 27,000 applications received. Furthermore, roughly 90 percent of prime contract dollars for the rebuilding effort have been awarded to companies outside the three hardest-hit states -- Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Kerry and Snowe, along with Sens. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.), introduced a bill last month to provide federal assistance and emergency economic aid to small-business owners impacted by the storms. Unfortunately, it has been blocked by Republicans in the Senate. The bill was cosponsored by Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), John Cornyn (R- Texas), and James M. Talent (R-Mo.).
WHAT: Hearing, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, on Strengthening Hurricane Recovery Efforts for Small Businesses
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Russell Senate Office Building, Room 428A
WITNESSES:
-- The Honorable Bennie G. Thompson, congressman, U.S. House of Representatives
-- The Honorable Hector V. Barreto, administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
-- Major General Ronald L. Johnson, deputy commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
-- Mr. Gregory Rothwell, chief procurement officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
-- Mr. David E. Cooper, director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, General Accounting Office
-- Mr. Walter Isaacson, vice chairman, Louisiana Recovery Authority
http://www.usnewswire.com/