WASHINGTON -- Days away from the expiration of the SmallBusiness Administration's programs and authorities, the House ofRepresentatives recently approved a temporary extension.

The extension was granted Sept. 26 to give Congress more time tocomplete a comprehensive review and reauthorization of the agency,according to House Small Business Committee Chairman Don Manzullo(R-Ill.). H.R. 6159, authored by Manzullo, extends all theprograms, including pilot programs, and authorities of SBA beyondthe current expiration date of Sept. 30, 2006.

"This temporary extension is necessary to give us more time tocomplete a more comprehensive reauthorization of the SBA," Manzullosaid. "We are still working on a package that would improve theSBA's response to catastrophic disasters and expand the reach ofthe SBA's finance and entrepreneurship programs to more smallbusinesses in America. We will also eliminate unnecessary programsat the SBA and combat waste, fraud and abuse by increasing finesfor misuse of SBA programs."