Congressman John Garamendi Backs Four More Bills To Create Jobs And Help Small Businesses

Press Release

Congressman John Garamendi, (D-Walnut Creek, California), yesterday supported four bills that will help create local jobs and promote small businesses throughout the 10th Congressional District.

"People are struggling in this economy, and I will continue to do all I can to create the jobs we need to bring financial security to all hardworking families," said Congressman Garamendi, former chair of the California Commission for Economic Development. "Today, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass legislation that will make achieving the American dream more possible for thousands of small business owners and their employees in my district."

"The Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act by Rep. Nye is especially important legislation for Northern California's economy, providing $250 million in financing to help early-stage small businesses in technology sectors," added Congressman Garamendi, who yesterday was selected for the House Science and Technology Committee. "Our region's ambitious entrepreneurs are uniquely suited to take advantage of this opportunity to acquire needed early capital."

Congressman Garamendi supported the following bills yesterday:

* H.R. 3738 by Rep. Glenn Nye (D-Virginia), the Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act of 2009, provides $250 million in financing to support early-stage small businesses in the agricultural technology, energy technology, environmental technology, life science, information technology, digital media, clean technology, and defense technology industries. The bill is self-funding;

* H.R. 3014 by Rep. Kathleen Dahlkemper (D-Pennsylvania), the Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Act, provides loan guarantees to small business health professionals to be used for the acquisition and installation of health information technology for the professional's medical practice;

* H.R. 1839 by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Florida) improves the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program, increasing the number of small business mentors from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds and establishes a mentoring program with one-on-one advice to small businesses from qualified counselors; and

* H.R. 1842 by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Missouri), the Expanding Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, instructs the Small Business Administration to prepare a plan to use the small business entrepreneurial development programs as a catalyst for job creation and to establish a comprehensive website listing of all services available in the programs.

The House passed each bill and will send them to the Senate for consideration.

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