with that i encourage my colleagues to adopt this amendment. i yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from maine, m michaud. -- mr. michaud. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the amendment is agreed to. . it is now in order to consider amendment number 12 printed in part c of house report 111-506. for what purpose does the gentleman from louisiana seek recognition? >> i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: is the gentlemaa the designee of ms. jackson lee? mr. cao: i believe that she is one of the original -- yes.

the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 12 printed in part c of house report 111-506 offered by mr. c crow of louisiana -- mr. cao of louisiana. the chair: the gentleman from louisiana and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from louisiana. mr. cao: thank you, madam chair. i would like to yield myself as much time as i may consume. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. would you speak up? mr. cao: thank you very much. i rise today in support of amendment 12 to h.r. 5297, the small business lending fund act of 2010. and i urge my colleagues to support this amendment. this amendment requires the secretary of treasury to provide

consideration in the allocation of funds to gulf region states in the areas where businesses and the economy have been adversely affected by the big water horizon oil spill. i thank the gentlelady from texas for her partnership in drafting this amendment and for her consideration for gulf coast communities during our time of crisis. i'd like to thank the gentleman from alabama, the ranking member of the financial services committee, for his ongoing assistance and support. the district that i represent includes louisiana's orleans and jefferson parishes, in my district and all across the gulf coast we were still recovering from the devastating form -- storms of 2005 when we were hit with the latest disaster. the oil spill in the gulf of mexico in april presents us with economic, environmental and health challenges of

unprecedented proportions. businesses have gone down because they simply do not have the short-term or long-term resources to operate. industries such as fishing and seafood processing, recreational fishing, restaurant and tourism are all suffering. i have spoken with hundreds of fishermen and oystermen from my district who are no longer able to fish the waters they and their families have fished for generations. many have spoken of desperation for not knowing how they will provide for their families. tens of thousands of claims have been filed through b.p. and the s.b.a. have made disaster loans available to businesses adversely affected by the oil spill and referred loan payments for one year. these provide only temporary relief, however, and a long-term solution for economic assistance in the gulf region is what is

needed now because the last thing we need is more unemployment. without immediate economic assistance, these very businesses that in 2005 returned to orleans and jefferson parishes, our recovery will be forced to leave. this amendment is a strong step in the right direction to providing desperately needed economic assistance because it will see that small businesses along the gulf coast receive the credit necessary to keep our businesses alive. at the same time it will spur new businesses which can absorb any unavodble and unfortunate job losses cause -- unavoidable and unfortunate job losses caused by the oil spill. i urge my colleagues to pass this amendment and i'd like to reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas rise? ms. jackson lee: i rise to claim the time in opposition although i will not oppose the amendment. the chair: without objection,

the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. jackson lee: i'm delighted to have mr. cao join my amendment that i had in the rules committee and i'm delighted he was able to rise to claim the time for this amendment. this is an amendment that i've written and asked mr. cao to join me as he had a similar amendment and i appreciate very much the support that he has given and recognize the concerns that he has expressed. i want to support the underlying bill as well and to make note of the fact that small businesses are now facing the most difficult time in the worst recession in our history. according to a february, 2010, report of the federal deposit insurance corporation, total bank loans and leases decliped for the sixth straight quarter with total loans to commercial and industrial borrowers declining 4.3% and real estate construction development loans

declining by 8.4%. that means that small businesses get the strongest hit and this bill will focus in particular on the question of providing a lending scheme, a lending structure, which is paid for to provide the startup credit for our small businesses. well, here we find ourselves addressing an enormity that has occurred, an enormous crisis that has occurred in the gulf. during the memorial week recess, i did a flyover of the gulf and the deepwater or hiesen and saw the magnitude and the -- horizon and saw the magnitude and growth of this disaster. now somewhere between millions or at least a million gallons, but somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000 barrels per day are gushing into the gulf. we don't know where this is going to stop. many small businesses are impacted in the gulf states. that would include florida, that

would include texas, that would include alabama, mississippi and louisiana. this amendment that i'm delighted to be joined by with mr. cao is to in fact cause lending institutions to focus resources on the small business community. even lender smith who owns the alligator cafe in houston, texas, is shut down because she cannot get product. i imagine in new orleans, when i visited that city there were restaurants who seemed to close early because they couldn't get product. but what about the oystermen and shrimpers and fishermen who cannot seem to get a lump sum payment from b.p. as we've advocated for? just speaking to an oysterman in -- just a few minutes ago, he indicated he had not gotten his money. so therefore i am asking my colleagues to support this amendment and i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman from louisiana. + mr. cao: thank you, madam chair.

again, i just want to express my gratitude and appreciation to the gentlelady from texas. she has been a very strong voice and has been very committed to the gulf coast region and in helping the many people who are in desperate need. again, i'd like to convey to her my thanks and i'd like to yield back the rest of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back. the gentlewoman from texas. ms. jackson lee: thank you and i thank the gentleman from louisiana and new orleans, especially for his leadership. i look forward to working with him as we go forward on legislation that addresses some of the concerns i heard him express and really establish a real national energy policy. i would ask my colleagues to support this amendment, as i indicated i have attained the time in opposition but will not oppose the amendment we have offered on the floor of the house and argue that this is an excellent opportunity to protect small businesses who are yet

noted for yet -- or yet list who had are going to be impacted across that gulf. from tourism in florida, alabama, mississippi, on to the shrimpers and fishermen and oystermen and the restaurants that are now in a condition where they are shutting down, they are letting go of their employees, and they are pleading for assistance. this is a good amendment. it is a good amendment to this legislation, it focuses on our small businesses and i'd ask my colleagues to support this amendment. i yield back my time. the chair: the gentlewoman yields back her time. the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman, mr. cao, from louisiana. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. ms. jackson lee: madam speaker. with that i ask for the yeas and nays. the chair: does the gentlewoman ask for a recorded vote? ms. jackson lee: i ask for a recorded vote. the chair: pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the

gentleman from louisiana, mr. cao, will be postponed. it is now in order to consider amendment number 13 printed in part c of house report 111-506. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition? ms. sanchez: madam chairwoman, i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 13 printed in part c of house report 111-506 offered by ms. sanchez of california. the chair: pursuant to the resolution, the gentlewoman from california, ms. sanchez, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california. ms. sanchez: madam chairwoman, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. i rise today in support of h.r. 5297, the small business lending

fund act. it is crucial in today's world that we further expand the potential small businesses in key industries that have proven to create jobs and increase our manufacturing base here in the united states. as a former investor and financial analyst, i was particularly impressed with title 3 of this bill, the small business early stage investment program. in recent years we have seen a shift from the entrepreneur and small business startup community from the traditional loans and the leverage, mortgaging their own homes, to using intellectual capital and innovation as our leverage. as a californian i understand the importance of startup businesses in the economy. since california makes up a large percentage of startup and venture capital funders. creating a public-private partnership designed to channel investment capital to them is

increasingly important in order to get our economy on track. that's why i submitted an amendment that would include additional criteria during the selection process of these investment companies. my amendment would ensure that as part of the selection criteria, the small business administrator would examine the extent the investment company would concentrate its investment capital on our targeted industries. such targeted industries have been historical in job and economic growth, such as the information technologies, life sciences, defense technologies, clean technology, digital media. the small business startups are the backbone of our economy and will contribute to all the sectors so that we can get our economy going again. and i urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying legislation and i -- i will reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentlewoman reserves.

for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york rise? >> madam chair -- the chair: without objection -- ms. velazquez: i rise to claim the time in opposition. the chair: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized. velazquez velazquez thank you, madam chair -- ms. velazquez: thank you, madam chair. american small businesses have always tightened economic fields and sectors. today small businesses continue to be some of our most creative innovators. as our nation shifts away from fossil fuels and seeks clean resources of energy, entrepreneurs are leading the way. today small businesses, 90% of those companies operating in the renewable and energy efficiency industries. small firms are also making important contributions in the arm sciences and biomess sid --

biomedicine. technologies used in our nation's national defense are also being advanced by small businesses. components of the predator drone, for instance, were developed by small firms. and small businesses are helping develop new information technology and digital media services that better connect our world. the united states must continue to lead in all these areas if our economy's to remain strong in the long-term. this type of innovation creates good-paying, highly skilled jobs. however, before this business can develop the next game changing defense technology, unearth the next medical breakthrough, or discover a new source of clean energy, they need capital. the amendment before us simply ensures that the small business early stage investment program is targeted to fields like this,

where there will be the biggest payoff for economic growth and job creation. madam chair, this is a good amendment, it will ensure the industries of tomorrow and future companies can secure financing to get off the ground. i urge my colleagues to vote yes and i yield the remaining time to the gentleman from missouri, mr. graves. . the chair: the gentleman from missouri is recognized. mr. graves: thank you, madam chair. thank you, mad cram chair for recognizing me -- madam chair for recognizing. i rise in support of the amendment to enact a program to target investment in certain industries. the selection of the applicant should be based on the likelihood the venture compap company will make those amendments. i believe it clarifies the bill and support it and yield back. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from california.

ms. sanchez: first i would like to thank our great chairwoman of the small business committee. i nooice she's a little under the weather today so we really appreciate she would come down and speak on our amendment. as a californian i continue to go back every week to my district and our small businesses are ailing. they are asking for help. they are holding on. a lot of them have not been able to make it through. those who are still holding on are waiting for us to help them, to do something. about a month ago i had our chairman bernanke before us in the joint economic committee and we talked about the fact that we need, really, we need to help small business. small business is really where the hiring of america happens. and so if they are ailing, then there will be unemployment. so i really believe in this

bill. i thank those who have worked on it. and i urge a yes vote on the underlying bill and on this amendment. and i thank you, madam chair. if there are no further speakers i yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentlewoman yields back the remainder of her time. the question is -- the question is on the amendment offeree by the the gentlewoman from california, ms. sanchez. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the amendment is agreed to. it is now in order to consider amendment number 14, printed in part c of house report number 111-506. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. cuellar: i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 14, printed in part c of house report number 111-50 , offered by mr. cuellar of texas.

the chair: pursuant to house resolution 1436, the gentleman from texas, mr. cuellar, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. mr. cuellar: madam chair, i yield myself such time as i may consume. i rise today in support of the amendment, my amendment, h.r. -- on the bill 52 7, the small business lending act of 2010. the concept of this bill is simple. create a lending fund to help small businesses get capital. this bill will help stabilizee our economy and create jobs and i warrant to thank the chairwoman from new york anti-in just a moment illinois for their work and my particular commonsense amendment is straightforward. my amendment requires that the secretary steak into consideration those -- take into consideration those areas with high unemployment rates that exceeds the national average. this consideration will increase opportunitiis for small businesses development in places where it's needed the most.

the national unemployment rate is about 9.7 as of last month. there are certain communities who go after the state and national average for unemployment. like many counties across the nation, counties in my congressional district are particularly higher than the national rate. one of my counties, star county, in south texas has a high of 17.3 unemployment rate. another county has 11.1 unemployment rate. again this is not a partisan matter. areas throughout the country have unemployment rates that exceed the national average. this is a matter of importance to every worker and family and businessperson. and that's why this bill is good for the backbone of american small businesses. in many ways the nation's economic engine. i urge all my colleagues to support this bill and at this time i will yield the gentleman,

for a minute and a half. the chair: without objection, the gentleman from north carolina is recognized. mr. etheridge: i thank you, madam chair. i thank mr. cuellar for offering this amendment to make sure that creating jobs where they are needed most is the focus of this piece of legislation. as a former small business man myself, i call on the house to pass this piece of legislation. small businesses form the backbone of our economy, increase the jobs we need to continue our recovery. far too many are having ddfficulty getting the credit they need to grow and expand. today we have the opportunity to make -- to do more than just praise small businesses and lament the credit crunch. we have a bill that frees up $30 billion directly for small businesses across our opportunities that are responsible for job growth in our country. business leaders in smithfield, and folks across my district in north carolina have said that

what they need most is to expand credit. and have shared their support of this initiative with me. today we have an opportunity to provide real help to our main street businesses. let us avoid partisan bickering. pass this piece of legislation now. thank you. i yield back. the chair: the gentleman has yielded the remainder of his time. the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from texas. mr. neugebauer: kind of confusing, isn't it. i rise and claim time in opposition although i am not opposed to the bill. the chair: without objection, the gentleman is recognized. mr. neugebauer: i want to thank my friend from texas. i think this is a commonsense amendment. i think if you are going to do this program, certainly i don't support the underlying program, but if we are going to do it, we are going to put this capital into some of these banks for lending, certainly ought to be in areas where they have the

highest unemployment. that makes sense. i still think we could do better for small businesses by providing an environment where there is less uncertainty, more certainty on what the tax situation's going to be. less uncertainty about what the regulatory environment's going to be. but i think the gentleman's amendment makes the underlying bill better. we do not object to this. i yield back my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from texas. mr. cuellar: thank you very much. i thank my colleague from texas and thank him for the kind words. i appreciate it. i thank him for the work he's been doing. at this time, madam chair, i certainly just want to ask my colleagues to support this. also a former small businessperson i understand how hard capital can be to get to the small businesses. i ask members to support my amendment. i yield the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman hass yielded the balance of his time.

the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from texas, mr. cuellar. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the amendment is agreed to. for what purpose does the gentleman from -- sorry, it is now in order to consider amendment number 15, printed in part c of house report 111-506. for what purpose does the gentleman from iowa seek recognition? mr. braley: i have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 15, printed in part c of house report number 111-506, offered by mr. braley of iowa. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 1436, the gentleman from iowa, mr. braley, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the gentleman from iowa is recognized. mr. braley: thank you, madam chairman. i yield myself such time as i may consume. my amendment to h.r. 5297 soft

money a commonsense bill that is consistent with what we have already passed in the hetcht congress by a vote of 386-33 on march 17. it was my plain language in government communications act. when i go back and i talk to small business owners in my district, one of their biggest complaints is a federal bureaucracy with too much red tape writt in language they can't understand. which forces them to go hire lawyers and accountants so they can understand the requirements that we impose upon them. my amendment would require plain language to be used for documents that go to the public related to this lending fund. it will improve the effectiveness and accountability of the department of treasury and small business administration by promoting clear government communication that the public can understand and use. plain language is writing the intended audience can clearly understand because it is concise, well organized, and follows other practices of plain writing. the department of treasury and

small business administration will be required to implement plain writing requirements by designating a senior official to oversee the implementation of the provision, communicating the requirements to employees, training employees, in plain writing, establishing a process to oversee compliance, creating a plain language requirement on their agency's website, and designating one or more agency points of contact to receive and respond to public feedback. writing government documents in plain language will increase government accountability and save taxpayers, community banks, and small business owners time and money. plain, straightforward language makes it easier to understand these loan documents and my amendment will make it easier for small businesses and community banks to work with and understand the government. that is why it is so important that we move forward to implement plain writing requirements across the board but particularly in these two agencies as it relates to the loan programs that are under

consideration. and i reserve the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman reserves. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas rise? mr. neugebauer: claim opposition to the amendment although i am not opposed to it. the chair: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. neugebauer: i thank the gentleman for this commonsense amendment. it's unfortunate we have to bring an amendment to the floor of the house of representatives to tell the government agencies to write out the instructions in plain engliih. i appreciate the gentleman's amendment. i think it makes the bill better. i yield back. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from iowa. mr. braley: i yield one minute to the gentlewoman from illinois, congresswoman bean. the chair: the gentlewoman from illinois is recognized for one minute. ms. bean: thank you, madam chairwoman. i just want to acknowledge congressman braillely's efforts recognizing the challenges americans have -- braley's efforts recognizing the

challenges americans have reading documents particularly lending disclosures. this amendment is a commonsense approach to making the program more accessible. i commepped his leadership to expand plain language to our government documents. i yield back. the chair: the gentlewoman from illinois yield back the remainder of her time. the gentleman from texas -- from iowa. mr. braley: madam speaker, i think that the comments that you heard are indicative of what's wrong with the way of government agencies write their documents. i think deplorable that we have to take this action, but the sad truth is anybody who's looked at these loan documents knows how serious this problem is. i think this is a small step in the right direction. i call this the little engine that could. if we implement this across tte board in federal agencies, american taxpayers and consumers of federal information will be much better off. i urge my colleagues to vote in support of the amendment. i yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from

iowa, mr. braley. so many as are in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the amendment is agreed to. it is now in order to consider amendment number 16 printed in part c of house report 111-506. for what purpose does the gentleman from iowa seek recognition? mr. loebsack: madam speaker, i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 16, printed in part c of report number 111-506, o offered by mr. loebsack of iowa. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 1436, the gentleman from iowa, mr. loebsack, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from iowa. mr. loebsack: thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. my amendment is simple. it states that farmers in rural communities should receive equal consideration through lending activities for small businesses. particularly our nation's small

and mid-sized farms and agriculture operations which make up the majority of our agriculture community. it also states that we should give attention to ensuring there is adequate credit and financing available in the farming sectors. while the amendment itself is simple, the issue is not. throughout this economic downturn our rural communities and farmers have been struggling you just as our major metro areas have been. many areas in my district have unemployment rates above the national average. i have seen examples of agricultural operations having a difficult time finding financing and have worked to try to assist such operations. unfortunately our farmers and rural communities are often not discussed in the broader debate as to how to encourage economic recovery. the persistence of rural poverty and hunger and lack of rural and hunger and lack of rural development often go