WASHINGTON -- Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) today repeated their call for the Small Business Administration to extend the deadline for small-business owners affected by Hurricane Katrina to file applications for disaster loans.

On September 1, 2005, Kerry and Landrieu wrote to SBA Administrator Barreto asking him to extend the deadline for the SBA’s Physical Disaster Loans by six months. Today in a follow-up letter, they expressed their disappointment that the SBA has yet to grant, or even respond, to that initial request.

“It is imperative that the SBA act expeditiously with respect to this disaster so that the victims of Hurricane Katrina have the time to apply for the relief that they so desperately need,” Kerry and Landrieu wrote. “Three months is simply not enough time for affected businesses to apply for assistance given the scope of the disaster, displacement of victims, and lack of access to resources and documentation.”

The Senators pointed out that other agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, have already acted to extend their program deadlines for citizens impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

For a copy of the letter, pelase click here.