Landrieu, Kerry Call for Local Contracts in Katrina, Rita Rebuilding

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Kerry (D-MA) called on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to direct government contracts to local and small businesses in the Gulf region for the inspection of homes and businesses damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Kerry is the Ranking Member and Landrieu is a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

In Louisiana alone, over 365,200 residents were left homeless and 18,700 businesses were destroyed by the hurricanes. The SBA's disaster loan program is responsible for approving loans for homeowners and business owners, but before loans are disbursed, losses must be verified. The SBA just issued a notice calling for contract bids to perform these services on January 27, 2006.

According to the SBA's own data, as of yesterday, out of nearly 325,000 applications from homeowners, 50 percent are still waiting to be processed; out of 48,000 applications from business owners, nearly 40 percent are still waiting to be processed.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060209/pl_usnw/landrieu__kerry_call_for_local_contracts_in_katrina__rita_rebuilding201_xml

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1. Small Business people take note.

The record speaks for itself - Senator Kerry is - and has been your best friend. Who else fights for small business like he does? No one.