WASHINGTON – Today Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, praised the passage of H.R. 1361, the Relief for Entrepreneurs: Coordination of Objectives and Values for Effective Recovery Act of 2007 (RECOVER Act). Following is his statement:
"I applaud the House of Representatives and the leadership of Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez for passing this important legislation to help small businesses recover after a disaster.
"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were horrifying reminders that Washington can and must do more to get timely, effective assistance to disaster victims. There are no excuses for a slow response. In our committee, we've already passed legislation to overhaul the disaster loan program and I look forward to passing this important legislation in the full Senate and working with my House and Senate colleagues and with Administrator Preston to get these improvements signed into law."
"I applaud the House of Representatives and the leadership of Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez for passing this important legislation to help small businesses recover after a disaster.
"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were horrifying reminders that Washington can and must do more to get timely, effective assistance to disaster victims. There are no excuses for a slow response. In our committee, we've already passed legislation to overhaul the disaster loan program and I look forward to passing this important legislation in the full Senate and working with my House and Senate colleagues and with Administrator Preston to get these improvements signed into law."