[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 540 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 540
Honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses in the United
States during ``National Small Business Week'', beginning May 23, 2010.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 26, 2010
Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
Kerry, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Bond, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Enzi, Mr.
Isakson, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Risch, and Mr. Thune) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses in the United
States during ``National Small Business Week'', beginning May 23, 2010.
Whereas the approximately 29,600,000 small businesses in the United States are
the driving force behind the economy of the Nation, creating more than
64 percent of all net new jobs and generating more than 50 percent of
the non-farm gross domestic product of the Nation;
Whereas small businesses will play an integral role in rebuilding the economy of
the Nation;
Whereas small businesses are the Nation's innovators, producing 13 times more
patents per employee as large firms, and advancing technology and
productivity;
Whereas only 1 percent of all small businesses export and produce 31 percent of
exported goods;
Whereas Congress established the Small Business Administration in 1953 to aid,
counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small businesses in order
to preserve free and competitive enterprise, to ensure that a fair
proportion of the total purchases, contracts, and subcontracts for
property and services for the Federal Government are placed with small
businesses, to make certain that a fair proportion of the total sales of
Federal Government property are made to such small businesses, and to
maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the Nation;
Whereas every year since 1963 the President of the United States has proclaimed
a National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small
businesses to the economic well-being of the United States;
Whereas in 2010, ``National Small Business Week'' will honor the estimated
29,600,000 small businesses in the United States;
Whereas the Small Business Administration has helped small businesses with
access to critical lending opportunities, protected small businesses
from excessive Federal regulatory enforcement, played a key role in
ensuring full and open competition for government contracts, and
improved the economic environment in which small business concerns
compete;
Whereas for more than 50 years, the Small Business Administration has helped
millions of entrepreneurs achieve the American dream of owning a small
business and has played a key role in fostering economic growth; and
Whereas the President has designated the week beginning May 23, 2010, as
``National Small Business Week'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) honors the entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses
in the United States during ``National Small Business Week'',
beginning May 23, 2010;
(2) applauds the efforts and achievements of the owners of
small businesses and their employees, whose hard work and
commitment to excellence have made them a key part of the
economic vitality of the Nation;
(3) recognizes the work of the Small Business
Administration and its resource partners in providing
assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses; and
(4) recognizes the importance of ensuring that--
(A) the applicable procurement goals for small
businesses, including the goals for small businesses
owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans,
small businesses owned and controlled by women, HUBZone
small businesses, and socially and economically
disadvantaged small businesses, are reached by all
Federal agencies;
(B) guaranteed loans and microloans for start-up
and growing small businesses, are made available to all
qualified small businesses;
(C) the management assistance programs delivered by
resource partners on behalf of the Small Business
Administration, such as Small Business Development
Centers, Women's Business Centers, Veterans Business
Outreach Centers, and the Service Corps of Retired
Executives, are provided with the Federal resources
necessary to provide small businesses the technical
assistance and counseling that they desperately need;
(D) small business disaster assistance through the
Small Business Administration is provided in a timely
and efficient manner;
(E) Federal tax policy spurs small business growth,
creates jobs, and increases competitiveness;
(F) the Federal Government reduces the regulatory
compliance burden on small businesses;
(G) advanced technology policy facilitates access
to affordable broadband Internet service to foster
rural small business growth; and
(H) systems of intellectual property protection
continues to foster small business innovation.
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