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| SBA, Manzullo Respond to Disaster Response Critics
&SBE Council fails to see the value in unwarranted attacks
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December 15, 2005
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. House Small Business Committee Chairman Donald Manzullo (R-IL) hosted a press conference on Capitol Hill to discuss and defend the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) response to the Gulf Coast hurricane disaster. SBA Administrator Hector Barreto spoke at the press event where he helped to provide actual facts about what the agency is charged with doing with respect to disaster recovery and relief...and, what is permissible by law.
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) President & CEO Karen Kerrigan attended the media event, and released the following statement:
"Unfortunately, some news organizations are running with entirely misleading reports or statements by Members of Congress that malign the SBA and its Administrator for doing what they are supposed to be doing - that is, providing long-term recovery assistance for those who qualify for such loan assistance. The SBA cannot give out grants, and they must have standards for approving loans. That is what the taxpayers expect.
"If the SBA simply handed out money like some people want them to do, they would be hauled before Congress for fraud and mismanagement. Under the current set of circumstances where, for example, SBA inspectors were not allowed access to properties until early October, on top of uncertainties with respect to levee construction and whether parts of the city and its infrastructure may or may not be rebuilt, the SBA team is doing a solid job. There are many underlying complexities, as well as success stories, that are not being communicated or reported. I fail to see the value in these unwarranted attacks on the SBA."
"Moving forward, Louisiana officials and politicians need to take aggressive action that will help make the state more small business friendly. The SBE Council's Small Business Survival Index shows Louisiana in an anti-competitive position among the states - that is, it ranks #35 out of all the states and the District of Columbia in terms of its policy environment for small business growth and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs, who have relocated, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, are likely reviewing their options with respect to establishing permanent operations. Neighboring states offer a much better policy environment with respect to taxes, workmen's compensation costs and other government-imposed burdens. Policy matters and Louisiana has not gone far enough to incentivize small businesses to help secure the state's long-term economic health."
The SBE Council is a national small business advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more than ten years, the SBE Council has worked to protect small business and promote entrepreneurship. For more information, please visit: http://www.sbecouncil.org/.
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