Tribute to Janice Donaldson (Cong. Rec., Dec. 2, 2020)
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated December 2, 2020, at page S7174, with additional statements. Mr. Blumenthal recognizes Mark Davis on his retirement after over five decades in broadcast journalism, including near 37 years with News 8 in Connecticut. A tribute to Janice Donaldson, director of a Small Business Development Center who took over the role in 2002, notes that her office grew from one office serving five counties to seven offices serving 18 counties and helped small businesses with the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans during the pandemic. The page also covers waiting periods in the disability insurance program, citing S. 578 and ALS, and the Lucky Goat Coffee shops of Tallahassee.
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“Tribute to Janice Donaldson (Cong. Rec., Dec. 2, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-12-02-crec-2020-12-02-pt1-pgs7174-2-2109ceb5e7/
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S7174 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 2, 2020
S. 578 waives a waiting period in the ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS from one office serving five counties,
disability program for the compelling to seven offices serving 18 counties. Ad-
case of patients with ALS. ditionally, SBDC expanded its services
There are, of course, other compel- TRIBUTE TO MARK DAVIS from supporting entrepreneurs, to now
ling cases. ∑ Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, enabling clients to grow their existing
And we have to be mindful of the dis- today I wish to recognize Mark Davis small businesses.
ability trust fund which will eventu- on the occasion of his retirement. In her final year as director, Mrs.
ally face depletion. Mark dedicated over five decades to Donaldson faced one of her most dif-
As the Consortium for Citizens with broadcast journalism, including an im- ficult challenges yet. The COVID–19
Disabilities, which is an umbrella orga- pressive near 37 years with News 8. An pandemic forced her office to work re-
nization representing advocates for a award winning-radio news director in motely where they had to quickly ac-
number of disabling conditions, puts it: Boston, Mark quickly adapted to TV climate to the ever-changing economic
‘‘Bills that only fix the problem for some news when he arrived in Connecticut. conditions. Under her leadership, the
people who meet the strict eligibility stand- Throughout his career, he set an exam- SBDC team worked diligently to help
ards for SSDI are likely to lead to interest ple with his honest, unstinting report- small businesses adapt to the pan-
groups requesting waiver of wait periods for ing. Mark covered the administrations demic, advising on financial assistance
other impairments.’’ of seven Connecticut Governors, al- opportunities available, including the
So it is likely that Congress will see ways speaking truth to power. Paycheck Protection Program and
more requests for waivers of waiting His thorough, efficient responses to Economic Injury Disaster Loans
periods for those afflicted with disabil- stories earned Mark the respect of his through the U.S. Small Business Ad-
ities arising from conditions other colleagues. Holding himself to the ministration. This year alone, the cen-
than ALS. highest standard, Mark was always a ter has participated in more than 20,000
Waiting periods in the disability in- consummate professional. Mark’s out-
consulting hours and facilitated the
surance program were put into law for standing and reliable work leaves a re-
awards of approximately $50 million in
various policy reasons. markable legacy in Connecticut jour-
capital to small businesses in her re-
When we waive waiting periods for nalism.
As chief political correspondent, gion.
specific conditions, some of which are Over the years, Mrs. Donaldson has
terribly disabling and even fatal, we Mark remained nonpartisan while dem-
onstrating tireless grit. He was coura- shown paramount dedication to small
change the nature of the disability pro- businesses. She has played a critical
gram. geous and never shied away from ask-
ing the tough questions. At the same role in the economic growth of north-
We change benefits and don’t have east Florida and has nurtured the
any offsetting change to the tax that time, Mark had an uncanny ability to
put politicians at ease, facilitating dis- American dream. Mrs. Donaldson will
funds the disability insurance trust be greatly missed by her colleagues and
fund or any offsetting change to other cussions and ensuring he could provide
a thoughtful, complete story. Trusted the thousands of business owners she
benefits. has assisted throughout her notable ca-
However compelling it is to waive by constituents, he was voted our
State’s best local TV reporter 2 years reer. I wish her the best of luck in all
waiting periods, whenever we do it, we of her future endeavors.∑
accelerate the exhaustion of the dis- in a row by Connecticut Magazine.
Mark’s exceptional record as an in-
ability trust fund. f
sightful, driven, and honest reporter
And that affects people with all
leaves a historic mark and emphasizes
forms of disability.
the vital role he and his fellow report- RECOGNIZING LUCKY GOAT
In order to help make Social Secu-
ers play in keeping people well in- COFFEE COMPANY
rity combined disability and retire-
formed in Connecticut and across the ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, chairman
ment trust funds whole, my amend-
Nation. His professional partnership of the Senate Committee on Small
ment would offset the cost of the ALS
with Joe Sferrazza established a model Business and Entrepreneurship, each
bill.
of unmatched teamwork that will have week I recognize a small business that
My amendment simply changes the
an impact for years to come. exemplifies the American entrepre-
minimum monthly withholding thresh- I applaud his lifetime of tenacious
old for recovery of any overpayment of neurial spirit at the heart of our coun-
commitment to comprehensive, fair
Social Security benefits to reflect the try. It is my privilege to recognize a
work focused on uncovering the truth,
increase in benefits we have seen since and I know my colleagues will join me family-owned business that invests
SSA established the current minimum in thanking Mark for his extraordinary heavily in its customers, employees,
of $10 in 1960. contributions to regional reporting.∑ and community. Today, it is my honor
My amendment simply changes the to name the Lucky Goat Coffee Com-
f
threshold amount from $10 to 10 per- pany of Tallahassee, FL, as the Senate
cent of the monthly benefit payable, as TRIBUTE TO JANICE DONALDSON Small Business of the Week.
is already done in the SSI program. ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, as chair- In 2010, Ben Pautsch founded Lucky
With this change, SSA would recover man of the Senate Committee on Small Goat Coffee Company as a coffee
overpayments more efficiently and bet- Business and Entrepreneurship, today I wholesale and distribution company.
ter fulfill its stewardship obligations to recognize and honor the career of Jan- Ben, a graduate of Florida State Uni-
Social Security’s trust funds, while re- ice Donaldson, Director of the Small versity—FSU—focused on providing
taining safeguards for beneficiaries Business Development Center—SBDC— high-quality beans to local coffee cafes.
surrounding overpayments. at the University of North Florida, The Tallahassee-based business grew
Guardrails to protect beneficiaries to UNF. At the end of this month, she will quickly as orders poured in. Their rep-
ensure that collections don’t create retire after serving the small business utation for roasting the best grounds
hardships are maintained. community for 31 years. led to the creation of the first Lucky
Nothing in my amendment leads to Since 1981, Mrs. Donaldson has sup- Goat coffee shop in 2015. The appealing
benefit cuts of even a penny that a re- ported small business owners and en- storefront and large warehouse allowed
tiree or disabled worker has earned. trepreneurs in the Jacksonville area. Lucky Goat to spread their knowledge
This policy is something that has After graduating from the University and passion for coffee through various
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE
been in numerous budgets of the Presi- of Georgia in 1980, Janice joined the classes and tours, strengthening their
dent, including President Obama and SBDC at UNF as editor of the office customer relationships in the process.
now President Trump. newsletter. After 21 years with the of- Today, Lucky Goat Coffee has grown
I urge my colleagues to support my fice, Mrs. Donaldson took over as direc- to include five coffee shops in Tallahas-
amendment, to ensure that we protect tor in 2002 and has been a resilient see and a franchise location in Jack-
the integrity of Social Security’s trust leader throughout her years of service. sonville. Their Tallahassee-based head-
funds while also protecting bene- During her tenure as director, the quarters provides more than 350 whole-
ficiaries. center’s service area grew immensely, sale customers across the country with
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