Expressing Appreciation for Wildland Firefighters
Floor Speech
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Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to show my appreciation for the wildland firefighters who are working to protect communities and, most importantly, lives throughout Utah.
Many of these firefighters are the same men and women who risk their lives to protect our homes and businesses every day in our towns and communities across Utah.
This fire season has been one of the worst in recent memory, including six active fires that have consumed over 85,000 acres of land. The Dollar Ridge Fire, located in Duchesne and Wasatch Counties, has consumed over 50,000 acres alone. I drove by this fire last week and saw the devastation firsthand, unable to fully imagine the heartbreak families experience as they watch the fire approach their homes and their livelihoods.
While combating these dangerous situations, wildland firefighters put themselves in harm's way to keep others safe. They work in extreme heat and unpleasant conditions to protect our communities. I will continue to support strong funding for the fire suppression-related activities that these firefighters rely on.
Today, it is important that they receive the recognition that they undoubtedly deserve. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking the wildland firefighters of Utah for their continued bravery in keeping Utahns safe. Helping Small Businesses
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Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the Small Business Access to Capital and Efficiency Act, also known as Small Business ACE Act.
As a member of the Small Business Committee and a former small business owner myself, I am proud to introduce a bill that will help reduce burdensome and conflicting regulations that are keeping small businesses from growth and access to capital.
The Small Business Administration's 504 loan program helps small business owners grow their company and stimulate job creation, at no expense to taxpayers. Many favorite businesses like Magleby's Restaurant, Market Street Grill, Chobani Yogurt, FatBoys Ice Cream, and so many more, have expanded operations and hired new employees because of the SBA loan program.
I love hearing the success stories of businesses like Premier Building Supply located in Lindon, Utah, a company that started in a garage back in 2009. Since then, Premier has quickly become a leader in supplying the Utah building industry and, with the help of an SBA 504 loan, has now grown into a 50,000-square foot facility with 150 employees.
This is just one example of the many small businesses in Utah that have great potential for tremendous success if they have access to capital. However, as we see far too often, the Federal Government has maintained burdensome and conflicting regulations that weigh down the 504 program with uncertainty, and ultimately hurt the very businesses it was meant to help.
The Small Business ACE Act will eliminate and harmonize conflicting Federal regulations burdening the program to ensure small businesses more efficiently have access to capital without costing the taxpayer a single dollar.
I am grateful to have the support of Chairman Chabot and stakeholders like NADCO, Mountain West Small Business Finance, and Utah CDC, who know better than anyone just how critical the 504 program is.
I am squarely on the side of helping small businesses and am committed to keeping the Federal Government from getting in the way of their success. I believe the Small Business ACE Act is a great step in the right direction, and I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.
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