[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

[[Page H302]]

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,

[[Page H303]]

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.

                          ____________________