Comments by Senator Kerry

Last Friday, Senator John Kerry read the following remarks about Grandpa on the Senate floor.


HONORING THE LIFE OF MILTON D. STEWART

United States Senate - November 19, 2004

Congressional Record comments by Mr. KERRY of Massachusetts.

Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to a champion of this Nation's small businesses and to honor the work, dedication and life of Milton D. Stewart, the first Chief Counsel for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. Mr. Stewart passed away at the age of 82, following an extensive and diverse career that included entrepreneurship, government, service to small businesses, law, journalism, and academia.

One of the most highly successful innovations of the House and Senate Small Business Committees came with the creation of the Office of Advocacy within the Small Business Administration. This office was established to represent and advance small business interests before other Federal agencies and the Congress. Congress recognized the importance of small business to the competitiveness of the American economy and understood that government sometimes can get in the way of small businesses doing what they do best--creating jobs.

Over the years, the Office of Advocacy has had a great deal of success and its hand has been strengthened by further congressional action, such as the Regulatory Flexibility Act in 1980 and the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act in 1996. The actions of the office have resulted in billions of dollars in regulatory cost savings for small entities, reducing barriers to market entry and promoting entrepreneurship.

This success is due in no small part to the solid beginnings of the Office of Advocacy under the leadership and through the vision of the very first Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Milton D. Stewart. Milt, in his tenure as Chief Counsel from 1978 to 1981, laid the groundwork for the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the first White House Conference on Small Business, the Small Business Innovation Development Act, and many other initiatives that are now considered part of the core small business policies within this country.

Formerly a small business owner and financier, Milt brought a level of commitment and passion for fostering entrepreneurial spirit. Early in his life, in a family-owned small business begun and managed by his parents, he acquired great respect for the skill and courage of small business entrepreneurs. During his tenure in service to small businesses, Milt served as President of the National Small Business Association, the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies and the Small Business High Technology Institute.

Milt also had significant government service beginning with the Office of War Information during World War II. He also served as special counsel to Governor Harriman of New York and to the New York State Thruway Authority, a Presidential delegate to the second White House Conference in 1986 and Special Counsel to the third White House Conference Commission in 1995. While he was Chief Counsel, his charisma and vision inspired many of those who worked with him and helped develop sound small business policy for our Nation.

His involvement in and dedication to the small business community has made a difference in the lives of millions of entrepreneurs. Thanks to him, small firms now have a greater voice in the creation and implementation of the regulations that govern the way they do business. His family and friends can take pride in that legacy and in Milt's tremendous public service.

My condolences go out to his wife, Joan, and to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren on their loss. Together, we mourn the departure of a great man who embodied the American entrepreneurial spirit. He will be greatly missed.