[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8804-H8805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2018

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6316) to clarify the primary functions and duties of the 
Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6316

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Advocacy 
     Improvements Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE 
                   OFFICE OF ADVOCACY OF THE SMALL BUSINESS 
                   ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Primary Functions.--Section 202 of Public Law 94-305 
     (15 U.S.C. 634b) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and the international 
     economy'' after ``economy'';
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking ``complete'' and 
     inserting ``compete''; and
       (3) in paragraph (12), by striking ``serviced-disabled'' 
     and inserting ``service-disabled''.
       (b) Duties.--Section 203(a) of Public Law 94-305 (15 U.S.C. 
     634c) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph 5, by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph 6, by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) represent the views and interests of small businesses 
     before foreign governments and international entities for the 
     purpose of contributing to regulatory and trade initiatives 
     which may affect small businesses.''.


[[Page H8805]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 6316, the Small Business Advocacy 
Improvements Act of 2018, which clarifies the role of the Office of 
Advocacy of the United States Small Business Administration.
  The Office of Advocacy is charged with representing small businesses 
before Federal agencies whose policies and activities may affect small 
businesses. It also examines the role of small business in the American 
economy and the contributions small businesses can make in improving 
competition. This office plays a vital role in ensuring that small 
businesses are heard when the Federal Government makes policy decisions 
that will impact them.
  Currently, the law is silent regarding the Office of Advocacy's 
ability to study the role of small business in international economies, 
which is an important avenue for small businesses as they seek 
opportunities to expand overseas. This bill would clarify that the 
Office of Advocacy should include international economies as part of 
its research functions.
  The law is also silent regarding the Office of Advocacy's authority 
to represent small businesses before foreign governments and 
international entities. It is important for small businesses to have 
their views and interests on regulatory and trade initiatives 
represented in the international space.
  This bill clarifies the Office of Advocacy's ability to represent 
small business views and interests before foreign governments and other 
international entities for the purpose of contributing to regulatory 
and trade initiatives.
  I want to thank Mr. Comer and Ms. Adams for working on this issue and 
producing a simple solution to clarify the Office of Advocacy's role.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6316, the Small Business 
Advocacy Improvements Act.
  There are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States, 
representing more than 99 percent of all businesses. These small firms 
employ nearly 50 percent of all private sector employees in the U.S. 
The SBA's Office of Advocacy represents an important tool for these 
businesses because it is their voice that the office embodies in all 
matters of government.
  Clarifying the authority of advocacy to examine international 
economic data and represent small business interests in international 
discussions, particularly in trade negotiations, raises the ability of 
small American firms to participate in a global market.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), and I thank him for his leadership 
on this bill.
  Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6316, the 
Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2018.
  I am proud to be the sponsor of this bipartisan legislation. The 
Office of Advocacy at the United States Small Business Administration 
plays a vital role in ensuring Federal agencies take into account how 
their policies impact small businesses.
  While the Office of Advocacy has done excellent work on behalf of our 
Nation's small businesses, the current law is silent on whether it can 
research and advocate on behalf of small business on international 
matters. This is a problem that we can easily fix.
  Given the Office of Advocacy's knowledge and research on how 
regulations impact small businesses, it is appropriate for the office 
to advocate and research small business interests on international 
matters. This bill advances the Office of Advocacy's mission to 
advocate for America's small businesses and clarifies its authority on 
international small business issues.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
bipartisan bill.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  There is no question that we need to support our small businesses 
across the country, no matter their location or industry, when they are 
attempting to break into international commerce. Today's bill leverages 
the unique position and knowledge of the SBA's Office of Advocacy to 
amplify the voice of small firms in international settings.
  I commend Congressman Comer and Congresswoman Adams in taking the 
important step to break down international barriers for small 
entrepreneurs entering into the world of trade.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to, again, thank Mr. Comer and Ms. Adams 
for their leadership on this measure.
  The Office of Advocacy is a critical Federal agency charged with 
representing America's 30 million small firms across the Federal 
Government. They have done outstanding work on behalf of our Nation's 
small businesses. But as we have discussed, current law is silent on 
whether it can research and advocate on behalf of small business on 
international matters. This bipartisan legislation offers a simple 
solution to allow the Office of Advocacy to expand their role in 
international matters.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1715

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 6316.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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