[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H273-H275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2019

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 128) 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. 128

       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 2019''.

     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''.

[[Page H274]]

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


                             General Leave

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. 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 measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 128, 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 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. The office has 
already been participating in various international working groups on 
regulatory cooperation and trade initiatives with the sole focus of 
protecting and raising the interests of small businesses.
  Their unique knowledge is necessary in trade negotiations to prevent 
indirect consequences from harming small firms and providing a more 
equitable playing field within international trade. That is why I urge 
my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 128, the Small Business 
Advocacy Improvements Act of 2019.
  I would like to once again thank Chairwoman Velazquez for working in 
a cooperative and bipartisan manner to bring this measure to the House 
floor. I would also like to thank our colleague from Kentucky (Mr. 
Comer) for his leadership in sponsoring this legislation. He will be 
speaking here shortly.
  This bipartisan bill, which passed the House back in the 115th 
Congress, the last Congress, simply clarifies the role of the Office of 
Advocacy of the United States Small Business Administration, which is 
charged with representing small businesses before Federal agencies 
whose policies and activities may affect them. The office also examines 
the role of small businesses in the American economy and the 
contributions they make in improving competition.
  Advocacy is vital to ensuring that small firms are heard when the 
Federal Government makes policy decisions that will impact them. The 
current law is silent regarding Advocacy's ability to study the role of 
small businesses in international economies, which is an important 
avenue for many small companies as they seek opportunities to expand 
overseas. This legislation would clarify that Advocacy should include 
international economies as part of its research functions, which will 
help us to better understand how international economies impact our 
Nation's small businesses.
  The current law is also silent regarding Advocacy's authority to 
represent small businesses before foreign governments and international 
entities. This bill clarifies that Advocacy may represent small 
business views and interests before foreign governments and other 
international entities by contributing to regulatory and trade 
initiatives. Considering Advocacy's experience with regulatory and 
trade initiatives, it makes sense to ensure that the needs of America's 
small businesses are fairly represented in the international space as 
well.
  Again, I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman 
from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), and Chairwoman Velazquez for working on this 
important legislation and producing a simple solution to clarify the 
role of this office, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
straightforward legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Kentucky (Mr. Comer).
  Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 128, the 
Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2019.
  I am proud, once again, to be the sponsor of this legislation which 
passed the House in a bipartisan manner during the 115th Congress. I 
want to thank my colleague, Chairwoman Velazquez, for working with me 
on this bill.
  The Office of Advocacy at the United States Small Business 
Administration plays a vital role in ensuring that Federal agencies 
adequately consider how their policies impact America's 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 such as trade initiatives and regulations. This 
is a problem that we can easily address.
  For many small businesses, exporting and operating overseas is an 
important part of their success and allows them to grow. Given the 
Office of Advocacy's knowledge and research on how domestic regulations 
impact small businesses, it is appropriate for the office to advocate 
and research small business interests on international matters as well, 
especially since international opportunities play a vital role for many 
of our Nation's small businesses.
  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.

                              {time}  1730

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  This commonsense legislation provides the Chief Counsel for Advocacy 
the statutory authority to represent the Nation's small businesses in 
the international realm. This timely legislation will provide the 
office with greater latitude to represent America's small businesses 
internationally.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  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. Today is an important step to break down international 
barriers for small entrepreneurs entering into the world of trade.
  Finally, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), for his 
diligence on this matter.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 128 the 
``Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act,'' which clarifies the 
duties of the SBA's Office of Advocacy.
  I support this legislation because, among other things, it mandates 
the SBA Office of Advocacy to examine small business issues in 
international economies and authorizes the Office to represent small 
businesses interests before international entities and foreign 
governments dealing with regulatory and trade initiatives that affect 
small businesses.
  The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy is an 
independent voice for small

[[Page H275]]

business within the federal government that advocates on the behalf of 
this vital sector of the U.S. economy.
  H.R. 128 clarifies and amends the duties of the Office of Advocacy to 
better serve the concerns of small businesses before Congress, the 
Federal Government and the international economy.
  Small businesses are a critical component of the United States 
economy and the 8 million minority owned businesses reflect the 
diversity of our economy and our country.
  Small businesses make up 44 percent of the U.S. wages and salaries 
paid annually to employees which helps stimulate and drive the rest of 
the U.S. economy.
  SBA reported in 2018 that 99.9 percent of businesses within the 
United States are classified as Small Businesses, encompassing almost 
50 percent of all employees with the United States.
  In Texas, 98.6 percent of firms with employees were small businesses 
in 2012 and 93 percent of goods exported internationally were by small 
businesses.
  By including the international economy within the interests of the 
SBA Office of Advocacy, small businesses will be able to compete 
effectively with international entities and expand to their full 
potential.
  For these reasons, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
128 and upholding the importance of small businesses within our own 
economy and our presence internationally.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 128.
  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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