Small Business and Farm Energy Emergency Relief Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-5408
Sponsor: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
Introduced: 2004-11-19 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Agricultural credit
Agricultural wastes
Agriculture and Food
Alternative energy sources
Cogeneration of electric power and heat
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Disaster loans
Economics and Public Finance
Electric power
Electric utility rates
Emergency Management
Energy
Energy prices
Environmental Protection
Federally-guaranteed loans
Finance and Financial Sector
Fuel cells
Geothermal resources
Government lending
Heating
Interest rates
Natural gas
Petroleum
Propane
Refuse as fuel
Small business
Small farms
Solar energy
Wind power

Summary:
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Small Business and Farm Energy Emergency Relief Act of 2004 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make disaster loans to assist small businesses that have suffered or are likely to suffer substantial economic injury as the result of a sharp and significant increase in the price of heating fuel or electricity. Prohibits any such loan from being made if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower would exceed $1.5 million, unless the applicant is a major source of employment in its surrounding area. Requires, for such assistance: (1) a declaration by the President or the SBA Administrator that an area is affected by a sharp and significant increase in such price; or (2) a certification from the governor of the State that its small businesses have suffered such economic injury and are in need of assistance which is not otherwise available. 
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to farm operations that qualify as a small business and have or are likely to suffer substantial economic injury from a sharp and significant increase in energy costs or input costs from energy sources occurring on or after November 1, 2004, in connection with an energy emergency declared by the President or the Secretary. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-12-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research.
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 11/20/2004 E2111-2112)
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-11-19
text: Introduced in House