The House is scheduled to begin consideration of the conference report accompanying H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2010, on Thursday, October 29, 2009, under a rule. H.R. 2996 was passed in the House on June 26, 2009, by a vote of 254-173. The Senate passed their version of the bill on September 24, 2009, by a vote of 77-21. The legislation also includes Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend funding for programs included in appropriations bills that have yet to be passed. On Monday, October 26, 2009, the House passed a Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees to make the text of the agreed upon bill available 72 hours prior to its consideration and to include a House provision that prohibits funds from being used to implement any rule that requires mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems.

Division A-Conference Report to H.R. 2996, the Department of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2010

Interior and Environment Funding in Millions
	FY 2009 Enacted	Senate Passed	House Passed	Conference Report	Conference Report vs. FY 2009
Appropriation	27,636	32,153	32,300	32,239	4,603
Emergency Spending	11,200	0	0	0	-11,200
Total	38,836	32,153	32,300	32,239	-6,597

 

H.R. 2996 contains a total of $32.24 billion, which is $4.6 billion or 17 percent above FY 2009 discretionary spending levels.  In addition to the huge funding increase, agencies funded through the bill also received $11.2 billion in supplemental appropriations, primarily from the "stimulus" bill.  In total, the bill received $38.8 billion in FY 2009.

Much of the spending increase in the conference report is a result of a large funding boost for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The bill provides $10.3 billion for the EPA, which is an increase of $2.65 billion or 35 percent above the FY 2009 appropriation.  In addition, the EPA received $7.2 billion in supplemental appropriations from the "stimulus" bill.   Specific funding levels and provisions of note follow below:

 

TITLE I--DEPARTMENT of INTERIOR

 

The conference report provides $11 billion for the Department of Interior (DOI), an increase of $882 million or 9 percent above FY 2009.

Bureau of Land Management:  Provides $1.1 billion for the BLM, $100 million or 10 percent above FY 2009.  BLM oversees approximately 258 million acres of federal land and an additional 700 million acres of subsurface mineral rights.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife:  Provides $1.6 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), $206 million or 14 percent above FY 2009.  FWS manages approximately 150 million acres of restricted federal land in the National Wildlife Refuge System tasked with conserving fish and wildlife.  The bill includes $20 million for FWS to serve in a new climate change adaptive science capacity and $67 million for the acquisition of new land.

National Park Service:  Provides $2.74 billion for the National Park Service (NPS), $218 million or 8.6 percent above FY 2009.   The bill provides $2.3 billion for the operation of the National Park System and the remainder for capital improvements and maintenance.  According to CRS, NPS faces an estimated $9 billion maintenance backlog on the property the agency currently controls.  The bill also provides $36 million for new land acquisition.

U.S. Geological Survey:  Provides $1.1 billion for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), $68 million or 6 percent above FY 2009.  USGS gathers information to provide scientific classifications of public lands and mineral resources.

Bureau of Indian Affairs:  Provides $2.62 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), $243 million or 10 percent above FY 2009.   The BIA provides services directly or through contracts, grants, or compacts to 562 federally recognized tribes with a service population of about 1.9 million American Indians.

 

TITLE II-ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

The bill provides $10.3 billion for the EPA, an increase of $2.65 billion or 35 percent above the FY 2009 appropriation.  In addition, the EPA received $7.2 billion in supplemental appropriations from the "stimulus" bill.

Science and Technology:  Provides $846 million for EPA science and technology programs, an increase of $56 million or 7 percent over FY 2009.  Funding for science and technology includes $19 million for the clime protection program.

Environmental Programs and Management:  Provides $2.99 billion for the EPA's Environmental Programs and Management account, an increase of $602 million or 25 percent over FY 2009.  The funding for environmental programs and management is $81 million above the President's request. 

Hazardous Substance Superfund:  Provides $1.3 billion for the Hazardous Substance Superfund, an increase of $21 million 1.6 percent over FY 2009.

State and Tribal Grant Assistance:  Provides $4.97 billion for EPA's State and Tribal grant program, an increase of $2 billion or 67 percent.  The funding includes $2.2 billion for grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds, an increase of $1.4 billion.

 

TITLE III-RELATED AGENCIES

 

U.S. Forest Service:  Provides $5.29 billion for the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Forest Service, $552 million or 11 percent above FY 2009.  The Forest Service oversees the management of nearly 500 million acres of non-federal forests in the U.S.  Funding for the U.S. Forest Service provides $2.178 billion for Wildland Fire Management (in addition to Wildland Fire funds for the DOI).  In addition, the funding for the Forest Service includes $1.572 billion for the National Forest Service, $55 million above FY 2009.  The bill also provides $30 million for the Urban Forestry program and $36 million for land acquisition.

Indian Health Service:  Provides $4.2 billion for Indian Health Services, an increase of $473 million or 13 percent over FY 2009.  The program provides health and dental services to American Indians including $194 million for the Alcohol and Substance Abuse program.

Smithsonian:  Provides $761 million for the Smithsonian Institute, $30 million or 4 percent above FY 2009.  The bill also provides $167 million for the National Gallery of Art, $44 million or 36 percent above FY 2009.

National Endowment for the Arts:  Provides $167 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for Humanities.  The funding represents an increase of $12 million or 8 percent over FY 2009 for both organizations.   The programs distribute taxpayer subsidies for private, for-profit arts programs and funds grants to support research, education, and public programs in arts and the humanities.

 

OTHER PROVISIONS OF NOTE

 

ACORN:  The conference report prohibits funds from the bill from being distributed to Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or its affiliates in FY 2010.

Guantanamo Bay Detainees:  States that none of the funds in the bill may be used to release a Guantanamo Bay detainee in the U.S.   The bill also states that none of the funds may be used to transfer a Guantanamo Bay detainee into the U.S. until 45 days after the President submits a plan to Congress which includes:

•  Any risk to national security posed by transferring the detainee to the U.S.

•  The cost of not transferring the detainee.

•  The legal rational for the transfer.

•  A certification by the President that any risk has been mitigated.

•  A certification by the President that the Governor or Legislature in the State where the detainee is being transferred was notified at least two weeks days prior to the transfer.

While the provision does prohibit the release of detainees in the U.S., it still provides an avenue for the President to transfer them into the country.

Great Lakes EPA Rule:  Exempts existing steamships on the Great Lakes from an impending EPA air quality ruling.  According to the conference report, "While these standards can achieve significant health and welfare benefits, they can also impose significant costs on the industry and on a region whose economy is already reeling."

OCS:  The legislation does not reinstate a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling that expired in 2006.

Manure Management Systems:  Includes a prohibition against using funding to require mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management facilities.

Climate Change:  Provides $382 million in cross-agency climate change funding, an increase of $150 million above FY 2009, including $17 million for the expansion of the Greenhouse Gas Registry.

FLAME Act of 2009:  Includes the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act (FLAME) of 2009.  The legislation establishes a Federal Land Assistance, Management, and Enhancement (FLAME) Fund within the U.S. Treasury at an estimated cost of $100 million over five years.    

"Air Drops":  The conference report contains a number of provisions that were not included in either the House or Senate versions of the bill, but were added during the Conference Committee.  Notable "air drops" include the Great Lakes EPA ruling and an appropriation of $2 million for a grant program known as "Potomac Highlands."

Earmarks:  The conference report contains 71 pages of earmarks totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

Davis-Bacon:   Applies Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements to the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.

Overall Interior and Environment Spending in MIllions

 

Program	FY 2009	House Passed Bill	Conference Report	Conference Report vs. FY 2009	Percentage Change vs. FY 2009
Department of Interior	10,176	11,019	11,058	882	8.7%
Bureau of Land Management	1,008	1,119	1,108	100	9.9%
United States Fish and Wildlife Service	1,440	1,636	1,646	206	14.3%
National Park Service	2,525	2,724	2,743	218	8.6%
United States Geological Survey	1,043	1,106	1,111	68	6.5%
Minerals Management Service	163	184	136	-27	-16.6%
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement	164	159	163	-1	-0.6%
Bureau of Indian Affairs	2,376	2,558	2,619	243	10.2%
Insular Affairs	78	82	90	12	15.4%
Office of the Solicitor	62	65	65	3	4.8%
Office of Inspector General	45	49	48	3	6.7%
Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians	181	186	186	5	2.8%
Department-wide Programs	949	1,492	959	10	1.1%
				0
Environmental Protection Agency	7,636	10,463	10,289	2,653	34.7%
Science and Technology	790	850	846	56	7.1%
Environmental Programs and Management	2,392	3,022	2,994	602	25.2%
Office of Inspector General	45	45	45	0	0.0%
Buildings and Facilities	35	35	37	2	5.7%
Hazardous Substance Superfund	1,285	1,307	1,306	21	1.6%
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program	112	113	113	1	0.9%
Oil Spill Response	17	18	18	1	5.9%
State and Tribal Assistance Grants	2,968	5,073	4,970	2,002	67.5%
Related Agencies	9,803	11,096	10,969	1,166	11.9%
USDA Forest Service	4,745	5,423	5,297	552	11.6%
Indian Health Service, DHHS	3,733	4,053	4,206	473	12.7%
Council on Environmental Quality	3	3	3	0	0.0%
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board	10	11	11	1	10.0%
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation	7	8	8	1	14.3%
Institute of American Indian Culture	8	8	6	-2	-25.0%
Smithsonian Institution (including facilities)	731	774	761	30	4.1%
National Gallery of Art	122	167	167	45	36.9%
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts	36	42	40	4	11.1%
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars	10	12	12	2	20.0%
National Endowment for the Arts	155	170	167	12	7.7%
National Endowment for the Humanities	155	170	167	12	7.7%
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation	5	6	6	1	20.0%
National Capital Planning Commission	8	9	8	0	0.0%
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum	47	49	49	2	4.3%
Presidio Trust	17	23	23	6	35.3%
Total	27,636	32,300	32,239	4,603	16.7%

 

Division B-Continuing Resolution

 

The conference report extends the continuing resolution (CR) that was originally passed on September 25, 2009, by a vote of 217-190, from October 31, 2009, to December 18, 2009.  The CR extends funding for the government through December 18, 2009, at current FY 2009 levels, including all supplemental appropriation levels for defense in 2009, and includes provisions contained in the original CR.

ACORN:  The CR would prohibit funds from this or any prior law from being provided to Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or its affiliates.  This provision would expire on December 18, 2009.

Fannie and Freddie Loan Limits:  Extends temporary higher limits on the size of mortgages the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) may insure, which were increased from $625,500 to $730,000 in the "stimulus" bill.

Guantanamo Bay Detainees:  The CR contains a prohibition on funds from this or any previous Act from being used to release a detainee from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility into the U.S.  In addition, the provision prohibits funds from being used to transfer a detainee until at least two months after the President releases a plan including an analysis of the national security risk of transferring the detainee, the cost of not transferring the detainee, the legal rational for the transfer, a certification by the President that the transfer risks have been mitigated, and a certification that the President has contacted the Governor of the State where the detainee would be transferred.

Extensions:  The CR extends the authority to continue a number of programs that are set to expire, through the duration of the CR, as follows:

•  Extends Child Nutrition Programs under the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.

•  Extends retroactive stop-loss pay for military services members whose enlistments were involuntarily extended since September 11, 2001.

•  Extends the Commanders' Emergency Response Program for commanders to obtain funds for emergency situations.

•  Extends authority for the DoD to continue counterdrug activities and provide equipment for illegal drug monitoring.

•  Extends authority for the D.C. government to collect taxes.

•  Extends the E-verify program.

•  Extends the National Flood Insurance Program.

•  Extends the EB-5 visa program, Special Immigrant Status to Religious Workers Other than Ministers, and Preferential Treatment for Certain Religious Refugees.

•  Extends the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program.

•  Extends the U.S. Forest Service's authority to accept fees for certain botanical sales.

•  Extends the authority to issue grazing permits.

•  Extends the authority to provide funds for schooling in Puerto Rico.

•  Extends the authority to fund the Ryan White Care Act, which provides medical services to individuals with HIV/AIDS.

•  Extends the Republic of Palau's eligibility to participate in certain education programs.

•  Extends provisions from the FY 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 2346) requiring Iraq to match certain U.S. assistance and permit funding for governments that participate in presidential-approved power sharing arrangements with Hamas.

•  Extends Overseas Comparability Pay Adjustments for those in the Foreign Service.

•  Extends authority to provide grants for Radio Free Asia.

•  Extends the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.

•  Extends the authority of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance, the Government National Mortgage Association, FHA's Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, and the HOPE VI housing program.

•  Extends authority for the National Transportation Safety Board to pay its training facility lease.

•  Extends the FAA's authority to spend money from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF), and its authority to charge taxes.

•  Extends federal highway and surface transportation programs and authorizes the appropriation of funding from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).

 

COST

The conference report accompanying H.R. 2918, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2010, would appropriate $32.24 billion in funding for the legislative branch in FY 2010.

According to CBO, the legislation would appropriate $ 1.183 trillion in discretionary spending in FY 2010 if CR spending levels remained constant for the entire Fiscal Year.

 

H.R. 3854 is expected to be considered under a structured rule, making 16 amendments in order. The rule also provides suspension authority for unemployment compensation legislation to be considered through October 30, 2009. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR) on July 9, 2009. H.R. 3854 was approved by the Committee on Small Business by voice vote on October 21, 2009.

H.R. 3854 is an omnibus small business package, comprised of eight individual bills dealing with small business loan programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA).  The legislation also establishes two new small business programs.

SBA 7(a) Loans:  SBA 7(a) loans are long-term loans for business startups or expansions delivered through commercial lending institutions and guaranteed by the SBA.  The "stimulus" bill passed earlier this year created two new pilot loan programs.

H.R. 3854 authorizes such sums as necessary to guarantee $20 billion in 7(a) loans in each of the Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011.  The bill also extends a business stabilization loan program to provide up to $50,000 to small businesses to make payments on existing loans through September 30, 2011.  This program was created by the "stimulus" and its authorization expired on September 30, 2009.

The bill would codify an existing rural lending outreach program to provide 7(a) loans of up to $250,000 to rural businesses.  The loans would be provided by rural lenders and guaranteed by the SBA.

H.R. 3854 provides permanent authorization for the Community Express program and the increased veteran participation program.  These are currently pilot programs.  Community Express is a program under which approved SBA lenders are authorized to adopt SBA's most streamlined and expedited loan procedures to provide a unique combination of financial and technical assistance to borrowers located in the nation's underserved communities.  The veterans participation program eliminates borrower and lender fees and guarantees 90 percent of loans to veteran-owned small businesses.

The legislation would establish a lender training program to educate new and existing lenders about the SBA's lending system, policies, and procedures.  SBA would charge a fee to offset the program's cost.

Finally, the bill would create a capital backstop program at SBA to operate during a recession or when SBA lending falls by 30 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.  Under this program, the SBA would accept applications from businesses if they are unable to find a lender in their area.  The SBA would attempt to find a bank nationally to make the loan.  If the SBA cannot find a lender, the SBA would be authorized to make the loan.  Members may be concerned that the SBA has not done direct lending in the 7(a) program since the enactment of the Federal Credit Reform Act.  Small Business Committee Republicans have raised concerns over SBA providing direct loans, especially if no U.S. bank is willing to make it, and the degree to which taxpayers would be exposed to losses.

CDC Economic Development Loans:  The bill authorizes SBA to guarantee $9 billion in Community Development Company (CDC) loans in Fiscal Year 2010 and $10 billion in 2011 and doubles the debenture sizes that CDCs can issue.  CDCs are private nonprofit corporations which contribute to the economic development of a community, working with the SBA and private lenders to finance small businesses which will create or retain jobs.  The bill also improves the capacity of CDCs to liquidate their own loan portfolios by authorizing SBA to delegate to certain CDCs the ability to foreclose and liquidate defaulted loans that are guaranteed by the agency.

SBA Microloans:  H.R. 3854 authorizes such sums as necessary to make $80 million in technical assistance grants and $110 million in direct loans in Fiscal Year 2010 and 2011 under the SBA Microloan program.  This program provides short-term loans of up to $35,000 for working capital and the purchase of supplies, inventory, and equipment.  The bill also increases loan limits for intermediary lenders to $1 million for the first year of participation and $7 million in the remaining years.  Finally, the bill expands the eligibility for intermediary lenders so that lenders with no experience making microloans would be eligible to participate if one of its employees has at least three years of experience.

Small Business Investment Company (SBIC):  H.R. 3854 authorizes $5 billion in loans for Fiscal Year 2010 and $5.5 billion in 2011 for the SBA's SBIC program.  The bill would additionally increase the maximum leverage and ratio of loans to money on hand for SBICs.  H.R. 3854 provides for a streamlined process for successful operators of SBICs to get new licenses.

The mission of the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program is to improve and stimulate small businesses by supplementing the flow of private equity capital and long term loan funds for the sound financing, growth, expansion and modernization of small business operations.  SBICs are privately owned and managed investment funds, licensed and regulated by SBA, that use their own capital plus funds borrowed with an SBA guarantee to make equity and debt investments in qualifying small businesses.

New Market Venture Capital and Renewable Energy Capital Investment Programs:  The New Markets Venture Capital Program is a developmental venture capital program designed to promote economic development and the creation of jobs in low-income geographic areas.  H.R. 3854 authorizes $100 million in Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 for the New Markets Venture Capital program.  50 percent of this amount would used for loan guarantees for venture capital companies developing and investing in small business concerns in low-income or manufacturing areas.  The bill further authorizes $20 million in Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 for grants, of which 50 percent would be for such companies.  Companies receiving such assistance would have to raise at least $3 million in private capital, as opposed to $5 million under current law.  The bill expands the number of areas in which these companies can operate to coincide with all the areas designated as eligible for New Market tax credits. 

H.R. 3854 authorizes $30 million in operational assistance grants and $1 billion in loan guarantees for each of Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 for the Renewable Energy Capital Investment Program.  This program would be made permanent under the bill; it is currently a pilot program created by the 2007 energy bill that allows Small Business Investment Companies to invest in small businesses involved in renewable fuel production.

Small Business Health IT Financing Program:   H.R. 3854 amends the Small Business Act to establish a new small business health information technology financing program.  The SBA Administrator would be authorized to guarantee up to 90 percent of the amount of a loan made to a medical practitioner for the acquisition of health information technology for use in medical practice and for the costs associated with the installation of the technology.  The maximum amount of loan principal guaranteed could not exceed $350,000 for a single medical professional or $2 million for a group of associated professionals.

The Administrator may impose a guarantee fee on the borrower for the purpose of reducing the cost of the guarantee to zero.  The Administrator may also impose annual servicing fees on lenders not to exceed 0.5 percent of the outstanding balance of the guarantees on lenders' books.  Loans guaranteed would have a deferral period of one to three years.

The bill authorizes such sums as are necessary for the cost of guaranteeing $10 billion in health IT loans.

Small Business Early-Stage Investment:  The bill also establishes a new grant program for venture capital funds to invest in early-stage small businesses in targeted industries.  Targeted industries include manufacturing, energy, agriculture, IT, digital media, and defense.  H.R. 3854 authorizes $200 million for the first full fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment.  Grants could not exceed $100 million for any company.  A grant made to a participating investment company may not be in an amount that exceeds the amount of the company's non-federal capital.

Disaster Loans:  H.R. 3854 amends the SBA disaster loan program to enable SBA to better respond to major disasters.  Specifically, the bill authorizes such sums as necessary in Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 to administer the program and increases the limit for disaster loans to $3 million (from $1.5 million) and increases the aggregate loan limit amount for a borrower to $3 million (from $2 million). 

The bill further allows SBA to issue grants of up to $100,000 for small businesses affected by a disaster.  Such sums as may be necessary are authorized for $100 million in such grants in each of Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011.  H.R. 3854 authorizes $50 million in loan applicant assistance grants for each of Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011.  These grants would go to women's business centers, small business development centers, Veteran Business Outreach Centers, and chambers of commerce in an area affected by a disaster.

Regulations:  The bill requires SBA to promulgate regulations to carry out its provisions within 180 days of enactment.

 

BACKGROUND

H.R. 3854 is a combination of eight bills that would extend some "stimulus" programs and allow SBA to increase loans, provide capital to low-income areas and renewable-energy industries, and make loan guarantees to small health care firms purchasing health information technology. The SBA, created in 1953, has a loan portfolio of about 220,000 loans worth over $50 billion. The SBA operates several financing programs that are intended to bridge the gap in the conventional markets that small businesses encounter in trying to secure access to capital.

COST

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has not yet produced a cost estimate for H.R. 3854. The Committee on Small Business estimates that the bill would cost $1.47 billion over two years.

AMENDMENTS

1)    Rep. Velazquez (D-NY):  The Manager's Amendment would make technical changes and require reports on the business stabilization program, existing loan size limits, and the state of private sector lending for small businesses.  The amendment would also enable SBA to provide loans for the purchase of unoccupied manufacturing centers of equipment.  The health IT financing program would also be expanded to provide eligibility for home health care providers.

2)    Rep. Schock (R-IL):  Require SBA to pay the claim of a lender who demonstrates it followed the requirements of the National Lender Training Program, unless SBA has clear evidence that the lender failed to comply.

3)    Rep. Schock (R-IL):  Requires quarterly reports on the Administrator's progress towards the expansion of the Renewable Energy Capital Investment Program; and requires the Administrator to establish regulations necessary to carry out the program within 180 days after enactment.

4)    Rep. Bright (D-AL):  Requires each SBA district office that contains a rural area to establish a marketing plan for rural businesses regarding financing and investment alternatives, designate an employer as a Rural Business Outreach Specialist, and host at least one annual outreach seminar.

5)    Rep. Flake (R-AZ):  Prohibits the earmarking of grants made available through the Small Business Early-Stage Investment program.

6)    Rep. Kosmas (D-FL):  Adds "photonics technology" to the list of targeted business sectors qualified to receive grants under the Small Business Early-Stage Investment Program.  Photonics is technology that uses light, often from a laser.

7)    Rep. Gingrey (R-GA):  Increases from five years to seven years the period to participate in the Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Program.

8)    Rep. Kratovil (D-MD):  Provides SBA with authority under the 7(a) program to guarantee 100 percent of loans made to veteran owned small businesses, up to $3 million.

9)    Rep. Paulsen (R-MN):  Requires a study and a report to Congress to determine the feasibility of a program to increase investment in the research, development and commercialization of medical technology by small businesses.

10)  Rep. Massa (D-NY):  Creates a Young Entrepreneur program in the SBA to assist the development of new businesses by young people who remain in their local area.  Repayment on such loans would be deferred for six months.

11)  Rep. Foxx (R-NC):  Sunsets all programs established or extended in the bill at the end of their authorizations or after five years, whichever is earlier.  The Administrator would maintain the authority to carry out responsibilities regarding all outstanding loans, grants, and other outstanding commitments made before the authorization expiration.

12)  Rep. Kissell (D-NC):  Allows for repayment of SBA 7(A) loans (granted to small businesses after enactment of this bill) to be deferred for a maximum of 12 months from receipt of final loan disbursement if that small business concern is classified in sector 23 of the North American Industry Classification System (construction).

13)  Rep. Peters (D-MI):  Increases the maximum amount of stabilization loans in high unemployment areas to $75,000 and delays repayment of stabilization loans in high unemployment areas to 18 months for new loans made after enactment of the Act.  Would give the Administrator the ability to designate high unemployment areas eligible for operating assistance grants under the New Market Venture Capital program.

14)  Rep. Brown-Waite (R-FL):  Requires individuals directly engaged in loan application analysis and/or underwriting under the new Capital Backstop program to have at least two years of experience in those activities.

15)  Rep. Brown-Waite (R-FL):  Clarifies that the Capital Backstop Program is authorized to start immediately upon enactment through September 30, 2011.

16)  Reps. Nye (D-VA) and Buchanan (R-FL):  Allows the Administrator to make loans to homeowners to be used for the repair or replacement of toxic drywall manufactured in China.