Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, praised letters from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC), Operation New Hope, the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO), Saber Technology Solutions, EA Engineering Science and Technology Inc., PBC. (EA), and Pinellas Ex Offender Re Entry Coalition supporting the bipartisan effort to comprehensively reauthorize the Small Business Act. 

“We are in a geopolitical competition and our small businesses must be ready to compete,” Rubio said. “Investing in our entrepreneurs and modernizing the programs that support them is critical. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues in working towards this reauthorization and I look forward to the full committee voting on the Chairman’s mark later this week.”

“Encouraging entrepreneurship, the growth of small businesses, and the scaling of high-potential firms requires new thinking and approaches, and many elements within the Small Business Act reflect what is needed to make the SBA more relevant and effective in these areas, said Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. “SBE Council strongly supports the general reforms to improve and modernize SBA operations,” (July 23, 2019).   

“We fully support Chairman Rubio’s inclusion of Ranking Member Cardin’s NEW Start pilot program in the Chairman’s mark,” said Kevin T. Gay CEO & Founder Operation New Hope “We applaud the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship’s bipartisanship and are excited by the prospect of a program that will complement existing services provided by our organization and many like ours around the country,” (July 22, 2019). 

“By taking these measures, the Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship will better support small businesses across the U.S., bolstering our nation’s economic, technological, and global power. But it will also support the communities like my own Charm City that directly benefit from thriving local businesses,” said Claudia DeCarlo, CEO & Founder, Saber Technology Solutions (July 20, 2019).

“We are pleased to see that the Chairman’s Mark released earlier today includes enhancements for small manufacturers, streamlined closings and other provisions that will help strengthen and advance the work that we do every day for small businesses,” said Barbara A. Vohryzek, President & CEO National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) (July 18, 2019).

“Our organization is pleased to see that the Senate has given attention to re-entry issues in the current Small Business Administration reauthorization process,” said Michael Jalazo, CEO & Executive Director, Pinellas Ex Offender Re Entry Coalition. “We fully support Chairman Rubio’s inclusion of Ranking Member Cardin’s NEW Start pilot program in the Chairman’s mark” (July 17, 2019).

“We hope that your Committee acts swiftly in passing the legislation along a bipartisan basis and are thrilled with your efforts to reauthorize the Small Business Act to ensure SBA provides the tools, resources, and support for America’s small business community,” said Ian D. MacFarlane, President and Chief Executive Officer, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC (July 16, 2019)