In Brief: Velazquez Offers Bill on Disaster Lending

House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velazquez proposed legislation that would let banks and other Small Business Administration lenders originate and process loans made under the SBA's disaster loan program.

The bill, which the New York Democrat introduced Tuesday, would require the SBA to maintain a reserve staff of 1,000 trained individuals who could be deployed quickly to process loans in the event of disaster.

The legislation is aimed at speeding up the SBA's response to natural disasters. Lawmakers, lenders, and borrowers have criticized the agency for taking too long to get funds into the hands of home and business owners hard hit by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005.

Though the SBA is primarily a guaranteed lender, it makes disaster loans directly to borrowers. Bankers have argued that communities could be rebuilt more quickly if they could help process the loans.

A second bill that Rep. Velazquez introduced would encourage more participation in the SBA's 7(a) loan program. One provision would establish a program to streamline the application process and offer an 85% guarantee on loans of up to $250,000. A similar program was eliminated in 2005.

The House Small Business Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bills today.