Kerry, Snowe to Hold Hearing on Strengthening Hurricane Recovery Efforts

[Mass]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=56303

Kerry, Snowe to Hold Hearing on Strengthening Hurricane Recovery Efforts for Small Businesses

11/7/2005 12:32:00 PM

To: Assignment Desk, Business Reporter

Contact: Catherine Scott of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 202-224-8496

News Advisory:

Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and Chair Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) will hold a hearing on "Strengthening Hurricane Recovery Efforts for Small Businesses" on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.

In the 10 weeks since Hurricane Katrina hit, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved just 600 small business loans out of 27,000 applications received. Furthermore, roughly 90 percent of prime contract dollars for the rebuilding effort have been awarded to companies outside the three hardest-hit states -- Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Kerry and Snowe, along with Sens. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.), introduced a bill last month to provide federal assistance and emergency economic aid to small-business owners impacted by the storms. Unfortunately, it has been blocked by Republicans in the Senate. The bill was cosponsored by Sens. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), John Cornyn (R- Texas), and James M. Talent (R-Mo.).

WHAT: Hearing, Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, on Strengthening Hurricane Recovery Efforts for Small Businesses

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Russell Senate Office Building, Room 428A

WITNESSES:

-- The Honorable Bennie G. Thompson, congressman, U.S. House of Representatives

-- The Honorable Hector V. Barreto, administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

-- Major General Ronald L. Johnson, deputy commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

-- Mr. Gregory Rothwell, chief procurement officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

-- Mr. David E. Cooper, director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, General Accounting Office

-- Mr. Walter Isaacson, vice chairman, Louisiana Recovery Authority

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[TayTay]

1. I hope thye get a room with video

Cuz I was mightily pissed off last time when I couldn't watch the SBA hearings. (Well, I was. I ahm, like watching hearings. I do!)

I hope they wail on the Admin people who show up. I am in the mood for a little prosecutorial blood-letting at the moment.