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Senate Passes HR 4213, Includes Amendment to Extend & Fund SBA Recovery Act Provisions through CALENDAR Year | |
Just moments ago the Senate passed HR 4213, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes -- more commonly called the 'Tax Extenders Bill' to extend jobless benefits, tax breaks... and small business programs.
The bill includes an amendment sought by NAGGL that increases the amount of funding to further extend the SBA Recovery Act provisions. NAGGL argued that the additional $354 million proposed in earlier legislation would likely not support SBA lending stimulus provisions through even the end of the fiscal year.
Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Snowe (R-ME)
(the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship) concurred with NAGGL. As part of a technical amendment, the Senate has increased the funding to$560 miliion (in addition to the $60 million for March). The $620 million total should be sufficient to get the SBA lending industry through the end of the CALENDAR year. The bill also includes anextension of the authorization of the SBA Recovery Act provisions through 12/31/2010.
What's next? HR 4213 now goes to the House for consideration. NAGGL is hopeful that all congressional work will be completed and the bill signed into law by the March 28 expiration of the recently extended stimulus provisions.
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preceding from naggl.org
Port Manatee Hosts U.S. and
Panamanian
Dignitaries
Latin Chamber Present at Historic Event
The Ambassador of Panama to the United States, Jaime Eduardo Alemán Healy, and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Sarasota) met with more than 70 business leaders and area lawmakers on February 8th to discuss the potential economic impacts for Port Manatee related to the Panama Canal's expansion.
"This is about creating jobs," commented Rep. Buchanan during a briefing at the Port. "As a member of the Congressional Panama Caucus, I am working to create jobs throughout Florida, and Port Manatee's capacity for growth and its proximity to the Canal give it distinct advantages as we move closer to the planned completion of the expanded canal in 2014.:
Following a port tour, Ambassador Alemán said, "Port Manatee is doing the right things to take advantage of the expansion of the canal." He also complimented port leaders on the operations and efficiencies of the port.
The Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce was represented at the event by César Gómez, Executive Director; Patricia Castro, Secretary / Director and member of the Board, Jorge R. Chacón, co-founder, past president and current Chair of the Latin Chamber's International Enterprise Partnership; Javier Curiel, co-founder and member of the Chamber (Latino Excellence of Sarasota); José Antonio Garnham, member of the Chamber and Latino Excellence of Sarasota, among others.
Left to right: Javier Curiel, José Antonio Garnham, Jorge R. Chacón, Ambassador Jaime Eduardo Alemán Healy, César Gómez, Congressman Vern Buchanan and Patricia Castro.