[Senate Hearing 107-197]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
S. Hrg. 107-197
SPEAKE NOMINATION
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
on the
NOMINATION OF THERESA ALVILLAR-SPEAKE, NOMINEE TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF MINORITY ECONOMIC IMPACT, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
__________
JULY 27, 2001
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______
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COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico, Chairman
DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, Alaska
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico
BOB GRAHAM, Florida DON NICKLES, Oklahoma
RON WYDEN, Oregon LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho
TIM JOHNSON, South Dakota BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado
MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming
EVAN BAYH, Indiana RICHARD C. SHELBY, Alabama
DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California CONRAD BURNS, Montana
CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York JON KYL, Arizona
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware GORDON SMITH, Oregon
Robert M. Simon, Staff Director
Sam E. Fowler, Chief Counsel
Brian P. Malnak, Republican Staff Director
James P. Beirne, Republican Chief Counsel
C O N T E N T S
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STATEMENTS
Page
Akaka, Hon. Daniel K., U.S. Senator from Hawaii.................. 1
Feinstein, Hon. Dianne, U.S. Senator from California............. 1
Speake, Theresa Alvillar, Nominee to be Director of the Office of
Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy................. 3
THERESA ALVILLAR-SPEAKE NOMINATION
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FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2001
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:30 a.m. in room
SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K. Akaka
presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. AKAKA,
U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII
Senator Akaka. Because this is a special meeting here, I
want to say hafa adai to all of you, and aloha. The hearing
will come to order. I welcome our guests, our witnesses to this
hearing, particularly those of you who have traveled from Guam.
Our hearing this morning is on the nomination of Theresa
Speake to be the Director of the Office of Minority Economic
Impact at the Department of Energy, and on two bills pertaining
to Guam. They are H.R. 308, the Guam War Claims Review
Commission Act, and H.R. 309, the Guam Foreign Investment
Equity Act, and we will begin this morning with Ms. Speake's
nomination.
Without objection, Ms. Speake's written statement, her
committee questionnaire and her financial statements will be
entered into the record.
Ms. Speake. Thank you.
Senator Akaka. Senator Feinstein wanted to be here to
introduce you to the committee but had to catch an airplane to
California. That is halfway to Hawaii. She has provided us with
a written statement which, without objection, we will enter
into the record.
Ms. Speake. Thank you.
[A prepared statement from Senator Feinstein follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator
From California
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to welcome Theresa Alvillar-Speake and
say a few words to introduce her to the Committee.
Ms. Alvillar-Speake has been nominated by the President to be
Director for the Office of Minority Economic Impact in the Department
of Energy. This is the office that advises the Secretary of Energy
about the effects of policy on minorities and minority business
enterprises.
In her previous position as the Manager of Small Business and
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Programs for the State Department
of Transportation, Ms. Alvillar-Speake served the people of California
well.
She has had over twenty-five years of extensive administrative
experience in business development and community outreach efforts.
Before serving with the California Department of Transportation,
Ms. Alvillar-Speake was Assistant Director of Business Relations for
the California Employment Development Department for three years. Prior
to that, she served with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California and at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 1991 to 1993 as
the Assistant Director for Program Development in the Minority Business
Development Agency.
In 1992, Ms. Alvillar-Speake founded a non-profit Minority Business
Development Center called the National Economic Development Association
to help ethnic minority owned business with financial development,
construction assistance, and management advice. She started the
organization in Fresno and soon centers spread statewide.
She is a member of the Fresno County Fair Board of Directors and
has served on a local bank's Community Reinvestment Act Advisory Board.
I am happy to see the President nominate someone from California's
central valley--the heart of our State's and our nation's agricultural
economy. Ms. Alvillar-Speake represents the strength and diversity of
the region well and it will benefit the Department of Energy to have
her experience and perspective.
Ms. Alvillar-Speake is a graduate of Fresno State University and
received a MBA from Golden Gate University in my hometown of San
Francisco.
I would like to welcome her to the Committee and I wish her well.
Senator Akaka. The rules of the committee, which apply to
all nominees, require that nominees be sworn in in connection
with their testimony, so I ask you to please rise and raise
your right hand. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you
are about to give to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth?
Ms. Speake. I do.
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much. You may be seated.
Before you begin your statement, I will ask you three
questions addressed to each nominee who will appear before this
committee. Will you be available to appear before this
committee and other congressional committees to represent
departmental positions and respond to issues of concern to the
Congress?
Ms. Speake. I will.
Senator Akaka. Are you aware of any personal holdings,
investments, or interests that could constitute a conflict of
interest or create the appearance of such a conflict should you
be confirmed and assume the office to which you have been
nominated by the President?
Ms. Speake. My investments, personal holdings, and other
interests have been reviewed both by myself and the appropriate
ethics counselors within the Federal Government, and I have
taken appropriate action to avoid any conflicts of interest.
There are no conflicts of interest or appearances thereof to my
knowledge.
Senator Akaka. Are you involved, or do you have any assets
held in a blind trust?
Ms. Speake. No, I do not.
Senator Akaka. We are delighted to have you here.
Ms. Speake. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Akaka. Do you have any members of your family here?
Ms. Speake. Unfortunately, my family is all in California.
I have three children, three grandchildren, and two great-
grandchildren, so I am going to miss them, but I know that they
are here in spirit. I do have some friends here with me today.
Senator Akaka. Well, you are blessed, with a family like
that.
Before you begin your statement, Ms. Speake, I want to tell
you that we are delighted to have you here and look forward to
your testimony, so will you please proceed with your statement?
TESTIMONY OF THERESA ALVILLAR-SPEAKE, NOMINEE TO BE DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF MINORITY ECONOMIC IMPACT, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Ms. Speake. Thank you.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My
name is Theresa Speake, and I have a few remarks that I would
like to make this morning, and as has been mentioned, my
written statement. I would request that it be entered into the
record, and I thank you.
I am here today as the President's nominee for Director of
the Office of Minority Economic Impact at the Department of
Energy. If confirmed, I will be responsible for advising the
Secretary of Energy on the impact of energy policies, of
regulations and rules as they affect minorities, minority
businesses, and minority institutions.
I think it's important to note that I spent most of my
life, almost all my professional career, working in the field
of minority business development. I began my career with the
National Economic Development Association, NEDA, in Fresno,
California, in 1972. I worked with that organization until it
closed down its operation in Fresno in 1980.
In April 1981, because I felt that the need for continued
services to minority and women business was still there, I
started up a new venture called NEDA San Joaquin Valley,
because we were located in the San Joaquin Valley. The NEDA San
Joaquin Valley operated from 1981 until 1997. During that time,
we assisted thousands of individuals reach their American dream
of business ownership, and we provided technical assistance to
many people.
We also assisted hundreds of firms receive millions of
dollars in funding and bonding, which are critical to small
business growth. We also assisted firms to become certified and
to bid successfully on contracts, and to provide--that provided
products and services both within the public and private
sector.
I spent most of my career promoting opportunities for
small, women, and minority-owned businesses. I was selected as
the--in 1980 as the Woman Business Advocate of the Year in the
State of California, and in 1990 I was awarded the National
Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the Minority Business
Department Agency.
If I am confirmed to the position of Director of the Office
of Minority Impact, I will strive to continue to provide equal
opportunities for minorities, and to increase the participation
of minorities in contracting opportunities at the Department of
Energy. I propose to do this with the advice of the Secretary
of Energy, this committee, other members of Congress, and the
minority business community.
I am honored to be here today, and I look forward to
working with you. Thank you. I will answer any questions the
members of the committee may have for me at this time.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Speake follows:]
Prepared Statement of Theresa Alvillar-Speake, Nominee to Be Director
of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, it is my honor and
privilege to testify before you today as the nominee of President
George W. Bush to the position of Director of the Office of Minority
Economic Impact at the Department of Energy.
If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to working with the
Secretary of Energy in carrying out the statutory duties of the Office
of Economic Impact and in advising the Secretary on the effects of
energy policies, regulations, legislation and other actions of the
Department on minorities, minority business enterprises and minority
educational institutions.
I would like to briefly discuss with you my credentials for the
position and my thoughts on how I plan to make the program work for
those it is intended to serve--women and minority businesses.
I have been involved in the area of small and minority business
development since the early seventies when I went to work for a
national business development organization known as the National
Economic Development Association (NEDA). NEDA was organized in
California to assist Hispanic individuals and business owners and was
initially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration to operate
eight business centers. They later obtained funding from the Office of
Minority Business Enterprise (OMBE) in the Department of Commerce and
moved their headquarters to Washington, D.C. I started my career in
December of 1972 as the Administrative Assistant in the Regional Office
in Fresno, California. I moved up the ladder in the organization
becoming a Market Analyst in 1975 and the Director by 1978. In 1980,
NEDA closed down its national operations including the Fresno Regional
Office.
In April of 1981, I founded NEDA San Joaquin Valley, a California
business development organization, based on my observation of the
continued need for management and technical assistance services to
small, women and minority individuals and business owners. NEDA started
with one office in Fresno, California and over the next sixteen years
opened up centers in Riverside, Bakersfield, Tulare, Stockton,
Sacramento, Oakland and San Francisco. Our services were provided to
all ethnic minorities, women and small businesses. The goal of the
organization was to start and expand the number of minorities in
business. The type of services provided included business structuring,
loan packaging, bonding assistance, certification services,
contracting/procurement assistance and general management/marketing
assistance.
As the Director of NEDA, I worked closely with the U.S. Small
Business Administration to ensure that firms got 8 (a) certified for
federal contracting purposes, and with local, state and federal
government agencies to obtain those certifications and to ensure the
participation of minority firms in their contracting opportunities. I
also developed working relationships with the private sector, including
Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern Cal Edison, So-Cal Gas, Metropolitan
Water District and Lawrence Livermore Laboratories. Additionally, I
established working relationships with financial institutions such as
Wells Fargo Bank, Washington Mutual Bank and the Bank of America.
Each NEDA office worked closely with the Associated General
Contractors to promote contracting, joint-venturing and/or mentoring
opportunities between majority prime contractors and minority sub-
contractors. NEDA was also active with various minority, women business
and trade organizations including, but not limited to, Pacific Asian
Consortium in Employment (PACE), the Latin Business Association (LBA),
California Black Business Chamber of Commerce, the California and U.S.
Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and the Women Construction Owners &
Executives (WCOE).
As the Director of NEDA, I was selected as the Women's Business
Advocate for the State of California in the 1980's and as the National
Minority Business Advocate in 1991.
From July of 1997 through June of 2001, I worked for the State of
California continuing my efforts in support of small and minority
business development. My last position in California was the Director
of the Small and Disabled Veteran Business Program for the Department
of Transportation.
I have dedicated my professional life to promoting equal
opportunity for all particularly in the area of business development.
If confirmed by the Senate, it is my intent to continue this effort
specifically with regard to promoting the increased participation of
women and minorities in the contracting opportunities at DOE.
Additionally, I propose to ensure that minorities are afforded an
opportunity to participate fully in the energy programs of the
department and to increase the participation of women and minorities in
the contracting opportunities at DOE through a variety of measures
including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Increasing the awareness and sensitivity of the DOE staff to its
commitment to women and minorities;
2. Increasing the pool of women and minorities in the vendor data
base at DOE;
3. Providing timely contracting information to women and minority
business organizations and educational institutions;
4. Providing management and technical assistance to women and
minorities wanting to do business with DOE; and
5. Enlarging the range of economic opportunities available to women
and minorities.
In closing, I would like to restate my feelings about the great
honor I feel for being nominated by President Bush to the position and
the commitment I have to serving. I truly feel that my background and
experience have prepared me for this position. If I am confirmed, I
will seek the advice of the Secretary of Energy, this committee and
other members of Congress as I attempt to effectively discharge the
duties of the position of Director of the Office of Minority Economic
Impact for the Department of Energy.
Thank you. I will now entertain any comments and questions of you
and your colleagues.
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much, Ms. Speake. The
position to which the President has nominated you, as we all
know, is very, very important and, if confirmed, you will be
responsible for promoting the role of small and minority- owned
businesses at the Department of Energy, encouraging greater
interest among minorities in science and engineering, education
opportunities, also advising the Secretary on the impacts of
energy policies and programs on minorities, and ensuring that
racial and sexual discrimination and harassment are not
tolerated within the Department, so these are very, very
important to people.
I have read your written statement, and the biographical
statement you provided to the committee. I am convinced that
you are a well-qualified person for this position. Your
background clearly demonstrates your commitment to equal
opportunity and to small and minority-owned businesses.
I have no questions for you, Ms. Speake. I will simply
congratulate you on your nomination and assure you of my
support.
Ms. Speake. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I would
like to personally thank Senator Feinstein for her written
comments. I did speak with her office yesterday, and she did
want to be here, and I was hoping, as a California girl, that
she could, but I want to thank her very much for her written
statement, and I thank you very much for letting me speak
today.
Senator Akaka. I will certainly pass that on to her when I
see her next.
Ms. Speake. Thank you.
Senator Akaka. All members will have until 5 p.m. this
evening to file with the committee staff any additional
questions they want you to answer for the record, and because
we have no questions for you, we want to wish you well.
Ms. Speake. Thank you very much. I appreciate your time.
Thank you.
Senator Akaka. Yes, thank you very much, Ms. Speake.
[Whereupon, at 9:45 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]