Posted at 10:40 a.m., Thursday, October 4, 2001

Hawai'i seeking Congress' help

Advertiser Staff

Hawai'i representatives are reminding colleagues in Congress that the economic repercussions of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are being felt acutely in the islands.

Sen. Daniel Akaka said today he had joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to introduce emergency legislation to strengthen and expand access to Small Business Administration loans and management counseling.

Akaka, D-Hawai'i, said the travel slowdown has affected not only airlines and hotels in Hawai'i but also restaurants, shops, tour companies, travel agencies and other small businesses.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawai'i, has pointed out that the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans Program currently helps only businesses located in the area where a disaster occurred.

The emergency legislation introduced by Akaka and others would remove that requirement and extend assistance to businesses elsewhere that have suffered because of the disaster.