WASHINGTON – Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, secured $97 million in additional funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) above the President's Fiscal Year 2008 budget request. The Kerry-Snowe amendment to the Congressional Budget Resolution, cosponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-D-Conn.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), unanimously passed the Senate today. Representing a 21 percent increase over the Administration's proposal of $464 million, the amendment adds funding for microloans, contracting assistance, Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, veterans outreach programs, and technical assistance programs, among others.
"Small business programs have been on a starvation diet for too many years and we're trying to reverse that," said Kerry. "I am pleased to have worked across the aisle with Senator Snowe to restore funding to small business programs that are critical to helping America's entrepreneurs succeed. Our amendment demonstrates our commitment to expanding business opportunities in all sectors of our society, especially for minorities, women and veterans."
"In Maine and across this country, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Working together with my good friend Senator Kerry, we have shaped a bipartisan measure that specifically strengthens the ability of minority, women, and veteran-owned small businesses to compete, succeed and create jobs for our families and future generations of Americans," said Snowe.
The Kerry-Snowe Amendment increases funding for:
"Small business programs have been on a starvation diet for too many years and we're trying to reverse that," said Kerry. "I am pleased to have worked across the aisle with Senator Snowe to restore funding to small business programs that are critical to helping America's entrepreneurs succeed. Our amendment demonstrates our commitment to expanding business opportunities in all sectors of our society, especially for minorities, women and veterans."
"In Maine and across this country, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Working together with my good friend Senator Kerry, we have shaped a bipartisan measure that specifically strengthens the ability of minority, women, and veteran-owned small businesses to compete, succeed and create jobs for our families and future generations of Americans," said Snowe.
The Kerry-Snowe Amendment increases funding for:
