[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H301-H303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2023
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 399) 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. 399
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 2023''.
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.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 399, better known as the Small Business
Advocacy Improvements Act. The SBA Office of Advocacy is charged with
looking out for the interests of small businesses across the entirety
of the Federal Government. In many cases, this means calling out the
negative impacts of regulations that are hurting small businesses or
looking for inefficient rules that are preventing small businesses from
competing for government contracts.
This legislation expands the SBA Office of Advocacy's mission to
include advocating for small businesses on international trade issues.
As our economy has become more and more intertwined with the rest of
the world, overseas markets have become more accessible for small
businesses.
However, when various regulations come out setting the rules of the
road for trade agreements, small business voices can easily be drowned
out. This bill solves this problem and ensures that Main Street America
has someone fighting for their interests as international trade
regulations are being created.
{time} 1315
I thank my friend from Missouri for introducing this bill again in
the 118th Congress and for always being a fierce advocate for our
Nation's job creators.
Additionally, I hope that as this Congress progresses, we can
continue to look for bipartisan ways to make the SBA Office of Advocacy
more effective in helping our small businesses across the country.
Mr. Speaker, 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. 399, the Small Business
Advocacy Improvements Act of 2023.
Let me begin by welcoming the new chairman of the Small Business
Committee (Mr. Williams of Texas).
The committee has a long tradition of setting partisan differences
aside and working together on behalf of America's small businesses. I
am glad we are off to a good start in the 118th Congress.
Today, we are considering three bills that overwhelmingly passed the
House in the last Congress. As the chairwoman of the House Small
Business Committee in the 117th Congress, I worked closely with my
colleagues on the committee and stakeholders to craft dozens of bills
that will increase access to capital, expand opportunities for free and
low-cost counseling, and boost entrepreneurship. The three bills we are
considering today are a product of that hard work, and I am hopeful
that we will continue in the spirit of bipartisanship and focus on
areas of agreement throughout the 118th Congress.
Turning to our first bill, the Office of Advocacy was established in
1976 to be an independent voice for small businesses within the Federal
Government and is tasked with representing the views of small
businesses before Congress, the White House, and other Federal
agencies.
To that end, the office has regional advocates on the ground that
provide
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outreach to small businesses, local chambers of commerce, and other
associations to hear firsthand the concerns of small businesses. The
office works closely with Federal agencies to elevate these concerns
throughout the rulemaking process.
Over the years, their hard work has saved small businesses billions
of dollars in regulatory costs while still accomplishing the important
goals of the regulations. However, their charter does not specifically
state that they have the authority to represent the views of small
businesses before foreign governments and international entities.
H.R. 399 will simply clarify that the Office of Advocacy has the
authority to examine international economic data and represent small
businesses in international discussions, particularly in trade
negotiations.
I thank Chairman Williams, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Carter of Louisiana,
and Mr. Mfume for their bipartisan work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with
the ranking member to get some really good things done.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer), my dear friend and a great patriot.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 399,
the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2023.
America's regulatory environment plays a huge role in the way small
businesses operate. They don't have access to the teams of lawyers
needed to navigate the maze of government red tape that currently
exists, and they certainly don't have the resources to make their
voices heard on the international stage. This bill, which is identical
to the bill that passed the House in the 117th Congress, gives small
businesses that voice.
Specifically, H.R. 399 gives the Small Business Administration's
Office of Advocacy the authority to represent small business interests
before foreign governments and international entities. That
representation is critical as the government renews and negotiates
trade agreements and international commerce.
I thank my colleague, Congressman Troy Carter from Louisiana, for
working with me in a bipartisan manner to improve the SBA's Office of
Advocacy.
I thank Chairman Williams for helping bring this legislation forward
and congratulate him on his new role as chairman of the Small Business
Committee. As a proven champion for Main Street America, small
businesses are in good hands with Chairman Williams at the helm.
Mr. Speaker, I recommend a ``yes'' vote on this bill that puts
America's small businesses first.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Luetkemeyer,
Carter, and Mfume for their work on this bill that will give small
businesses a strong voice in the international regulatory arena.
All too often, small businesses' views are drowned out by larger
companies with sophisticated legal departments and armies of lobbyists.
SBA's Office of Advocacy works tirelessly to ensure that small business
interests are heard at all levels of government.
Now that the world is more connected, more and more small businesses
are participating in the global economy. Looking ahead, they will need
a strong voice advocating on their behalf in international discussions
and trade negotiations.
The Office of Advocacy is ready, willing, and able to assume this
responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr.
Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the
Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act.
Small businesses help make up the foundation of our country's
economy, with over half of Americans owning or working for small
businesses. As the driving force behind our economy, it is crucial that
the government uplift them at every possible point.
This bill clarifies the function and duties of the Office of Advocacy
of the Small Business Administration to allow the Office of Advocacy to
represent the views and interests of small businesses before foreign
governments and international entities. This will allow American small
businesses to be better represented in international markets and in
negotiations with foreign entities.
Whether domestic or abroad, our small businesses deserve a seat at
the table if discussions are going to affect the bottom line.
My district is an international hub. We have some of the most
important and highest traffic ports in the United States. Louisiana
businesses connect with diverse companies and international markets
across the globe every day. This bill will ensure that small business
owners have someone at the table fighting for them.
I will continue to do everything in my power to support American
small businesses so they can better compete in the international
market.
I thank our chair and Congressman Luetkemeyer for working with me on
this important bipartisan bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
General Leave
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. 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 this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses are facing unprecedented economic
headwinds. From broken supply chains to rising interest rates, many of
these challenges are brand new for many businessowners.
I hope that we will be taking up meaningful legislation to help
alleviate some of these large challenges, but in the meantime, we need
to ensure small businesses have as many people fighting for them in
Washington as possible.
H.R. 399 will allow Main Street to have one more voice looking out
for their interests as trade regulations are being developed. This has
the potential to open up new markets and expand their reach into the
global economy.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 399 the Small
Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2023, which classifies the
primary function and duties of the Office of Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration, and for other purposes.
Specifically, the bill would set requirements for the Small Business
Administration to include research on how small firms contribute to the
global economy.
H.R. 399 also requires the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration to represent the views and interests of small businesses
before foreign governments and international entities to contribute to
regulatory and trade initiatives that may affect small businesses.
According to the United States trade Representative, small firms,
which account for two-thirds of all new jobs in recent decades, are the
backbone of the American economy.
Small businesses make up 98 percent of all known U.S. exporters and
indirectly support roughly four million jobs in local communities
around the nation.
Residents in Houston take pride in their neighborhoods and places of
business, and when faced with hardships--most notably Hurricane Harvey
in 2017--they band together, resilient, and unwavering in their will to
move forward.
Small businesses, especially minority owned businesses, face many
challenges.
Nationwide, women and minorities start businesses at a much higher
rate than their white and/or male counterparts, despite facing
disproportionate amounts of obstacles while establishing and
maintaining their ventures.
By enabling more women and minorities to start small businesses, we
will see advancements in wealth and greater economic mobility.
According to a study by Next Street, research shows that self-
employed business owners, specifically minority women in Houston,
experience faster earning growth compared to employees who are
compensated by salaries.
A study by the University of Georgia states that the buying power of
African American,
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Asian American, and Native American consumers has increased over the
past 30 years to $3 trillion in 2020, making up 17.2 percent of the
nation's total buying power that year. (Based on data provided by the
U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and other
sources.)
I strongly support the Small Businesses Advocacy Improvements Act
because it allows women and minorities who own small companies to
express their interests and opinions in the on the global market.
I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 399 because of
the significant effects its passage will on millions of small business
owners around the nation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 399.
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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