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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 435 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 435

   Honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of America's small businesses 
     during National Small Business Week, beginning April 9, 2006.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 6, 2006

Ms. Snowe (for herself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Allen, Mr. Thune, Mr. Burns, Mr. 
Isakson, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Frist, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Lieberman) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of America's small businesses 
     during National Small Business Week, beginning April 9, 2006.

Whereas America's 25,000,000 small businesses have been the driving force behind 
        the Nation's economy, creating more than 75 percent of all new jobs and 
        generating more than 50 percent of the Nation's gross domestic product;
Whereas small businesses are the Nation's innovators, advancing technology and 
        productivity;
Whereas the Small Business Administration has been a critical partner in the 
        success of the Nation's small businesses and in the growth of the 
        Nation's economy;
Whereas the programs and services of the Small Business Administration have time 
        and again proven their value, having helped to create or retain over 
        5,300,000 jobs in the United States since 1999;
Whereas the mission of the Small Business Administration is to maintain and 
        strengthen the Nation's economy by aiding, counseling, assisting, and 
        protecting the interests of small businesses and by helping families and 
        businesses recover from natural disasters;
Whereas the Small Business Administration has helped small businesses access 
        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 businesses compete;
Whereas, for more than 50 years, the Small Business Administration has helped 
        more than 23,000,000 Americans start, grow, and expand their businesses 
        and has placed almost $280,000,000,000 in loans and venture capital 
        financing in the hands of entrepreneurs;
Whereas the Small Business Administration, established in 1953, has provided 
        valuable service to small businesses through financial assistance, 
        procurement assistance, business development, small business advocacy, 
        and disaster recovery assistance;
Whereas 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 in underserved communities; and
Whereas the Small Business Administration will mark National Small Business 
        Week, beginning April 9, 2006: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the entrepreneurial spirit of America's small 
        businesses during the Small Business Administration's National 
        Small Business Week, beginning April 9, 2006;
            (2) supports the purpose and goals of National Small 
        Business Week, and the ceremonies and events to be featured 
        during the week;
            (3) commends the Small Business Administration and the 
        resource partners of the Small Business Administration for 
        their work, which has been critical in helping the Nation's 
        small businesses grow and develop; and
            (4) applauds the achievements of small business owners and 
        their employees, whose entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to 
        excellence has been a key player in the Nation's economic 
        vitality.
                                 <all>
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