Congress Rejects Bush Small Business Cuts

Congress Rejects Bush Small Business Cuts - But Overall SBA Funding Still $123 Million Less Than Last Year

The Senate today voted to support Senator John Kerry, the top Democrat on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, in his effort to boost the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) budget above President Bush’s request for FY 2006.

Included in the appropriations conference report that passed the Senate today by a vote of 94-5 were several provisions requested by Kerry and Senator Olympia Snowe, Chair of the Committee, to increase the SBA’s budget beyond Bush’s recommendation of $453 million.

“The favorite target for President Bush’s budget axe is small business. Since taking office, he’s tried to cut the SBA’s funding in half. The result is that over the last five years, the SBA has been cut more than any other agency. The President does not understand the importance of small business to our economy, but small businesses that will boost job growth and expand our economy,” Kerry said.

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