Kerry to Continue Fighting Bush Cuts to Native American Small Businesses

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Sen. John F. Kerry (D- Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today vowed to support full funding of the Native American Outreach program at the Small Business Administration, which President Bush proposed eliminating for the second year in a row. "With unemployment as high as 70 percent and poverty rates well above the national average, Native Americans need a commitment from the federal government that we're here to help," Kerry said. "It is wrong for the President to turn his back on Native American businesses and the Native American community."

In 2002, the Bush administration dismantled the infrastructure of SBA's only program aimed at helping Native Americans -- the tribal business information centers (TBICs) -- and for the for the past two years has proposed eliminating all native American outreach at the agency. "This country is about opportunity, and we ought to give Native American's an equal opportunity for self-sufficiency and economic independence," Kerry added. "For years, I've fought to support Native American entrepreneurs, and I pledge to continue that fight because it's the right thing to do."

Kerry has advocated for Native American outreach at the SBA and will work with Congress to improve the Bush budget. Earlier proposals include:

-- adequately funding the SBA's Native American Outreach program

-- legislation introduced with Sens. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), S.1126, the Native American Small Business Development Act, to create a network of entrepreneurial development centers specifically designed to address the needs of Native American small businesses

-- legislation with Sen. Bingaman (D-N.M.) to establish a microenterprise program for Native American entrepreneurs at the SBA (both this legislation and S.1126 were included in Kerry's Senate-passed SBA Reauthorization bill, S.1375).

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=103-02042004

[JI7]

1. kerry supports a cabinet for small businesses

because many times the large corporations interests conflict with the interests of small businesses but they tend to be lumped in together. in the end the big businesses usually end up benefiting. so it's good to have another position to represent small businesses itself.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. 'a cabinet for small businesses' ??

What does that mean? I thought I knew Kerry's platform pretty well but I don't recognized that.