The Small Business Administration backed about 40,000 of its 7(a) loans in the first quarter of 2008, down 18% from the same period one year earlier. The drop off in the SBA’s express loan program was even greater, at 30%. Eric Zarnikow, associate administrator for capital access at the SBA attributes the decline to a “weaker economy.” Congresswomen Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, disagrees, saying the SBA’s declining loan volume can’t be attributed entirely to the bad economy. Says Velazquez, “it is important to remember the SBA’s loan program was created to kick in during tough times.”