    [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2025)]
    [House]
    [Pages H739-H740]
    From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2025

      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
    pass the bill (H.R. 832) 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. 832

           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 2025''.

         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.

                                  {time}  1615

                                 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 the bill.
      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 such time as I may
    consume.
      Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 832, better known as
    the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act.
      I thank my colleagues, Representatives Van Drew, Tran, and
    Goodlander, for joining me in support of this critical legislation.
      By design, the SBA Office of Advocacy acts as the independent voice
    representing the views and interests of all small businesses within the
    Federal Government. This means calling attention to harmful regulations
    and inefficient rules preventing small businesses from competing for
    government contracts.
      This legislation would clarify the functions and duties of the SBA
    Office of Advocacy when advocating for small businesses on the world
    stage, specifically when regulatory international trade initiatives are
    being developed.
      Small business voices can easily be drowned out during these
    important conversations. This legislation fixes that problem by
    ensuring the views of Main Street are represented and heard before
    foreign governments and international entities.
      My hope this Congress is that we can continue to look for bipartisan
    ways to make the SBA Office of Advocacy more effective in helping our
    American small businesses.
      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. 832, the Small Business
    Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025.
      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.
      The office has regional advocates on the ground that provide outreach
    to small businesses, local chambers of commerce, and other associations
    to hear firsthand the concerns of small businesses. It works closely
    with Federal agencies to elevate these concerns throughout the
    rulemaking process.
      Over the years, their work has saved small businesses billions 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 and interests of small
    businesses before foreign governments and international entities.
      As our economy has become increasingly more interconnected and more
    small businesses are tapping into international markets, it makes sense
    to give the office the authority to advocate on behalf of small
    businesses overseas.
      The Office of Advocacy has proven to be a strong proponent for small
    businesses in the Federal Government and is well-poised to promote
    their views in the international regulatory arena.
      Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Williams, Mr. Tran, Mr. Van Drew, and Ms.
    Goodlander for their bipartisan work on this bill.
      Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

    [[Page H740]]

      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
      Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
    California (Mr. Tran).
      Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 832, the Small
    Business Advocacy Improvements Act.
      This bipartisan bill would provide small businesses with improved
    access to international markets by expanding the function and duties of
    SBA's Office of Advocacy.
      In particular, the bill authorizes the office to represent the views
    and interests of small businesses in international discussions and
    analyze international economic data for the benefit of America's small
    business owners.
      As the world becomes more and more connected, participating in the
    global economy is vital to small businesses' success.
      I proudly represent California's 45th Congressional District, an
    international hub for America's small businesses. Businesses in my
    district connect with diverse companies and international markets every
    day and are a dynamic part of the economic engine driving southern
    California. Over 90,000 small businesses call Orange County home,
    including many in Little Saigon, where exporting and importing goods
    and working with partners overseas is an important part of their
    success and allows them to grow.
      This bill would ensure that small businesses have a strong voice
    advocating on their behalf regarding international matters and help us
    to better understand how international economies impact our Nation's
    small businesses.
      I am proud to be a co-lead on this bill, and I thank Chairman
    Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for working together to advance
    this bill to the floor, as well as my colleagues Congressman Van Drew
    from New Jersey and Congresswoman Goodlander from New Hampshire, for
    working with me to improve SBA's Office of Advocacy.
      Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important
    bipartisan bill.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
      Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
    New Hampshire (Ms. Goodlander).
      Ms. GOODLANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud great-
    granddaughter, granddaughter, and daughter of New Hampshire small
    business owners. I proudly represent New Hampshire on the Small
    Business Committee here in the House of Representatives, and today, I
    am very proud to be a cosponsor of this important bipartisan
    legislation.

      Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 832, the Small Business
    Advocacy Improvements Act. I am very proud to be doing this together
    with Chairman Williams, Congressman Van Drew, and Congressman Tran.
      My family's small business story is an American story. It is a New
    Hampshire story. My home State is home to more than 136,000 small
    businesses. That is 99 percent of all New Hampshire businesses and more
    than 305,000 small business employees.
      Small businesses are truly the beating heart of New Hampshire's
    economy, from our cutting-edge aerospace and life sciences companies to
    our retailers on Main Streets. From my hometown, Nashua, all the way up
    to the North Country, New Hampshire small businesses are truly world
    class.
      At a moment when big businesses in our economy are more consolidated
    than ever before in so many industries, small businesses are living
    through some of the most truly uncertain times in American history,
    from the threats of Federal funding freezes to the threats of trade
    wars against our neighbors and allies.
      In Congress, I am fighting every single day to ensure that New
    Hampshire small businesses get true advocates and a seat at the table
    in trade negotiations and discussions that impact our international and
    interconnected economy. I am looking for a level playing field for
    small businesses to compete and equal access to critical Federal
    resources.
      I have traveled all across New Hampshire and heard directly from
    small business owners and employees about the concerns they have about
    the use of tariffs, which are an important tool in leveling the
    economic playing field, but they will have a real impact on our small
    businesses in New Hampshire.
      I am really proud to be a part of cosponsoring this legislation
    because what it is going to be is a commonsense solution to empower an
    important office within the Small Business Administration, the Office
    of Advocacy, to represent small businesses on international issues.
      It is a critically important seat at the table for our small
    businesses at a time when they need advocates here in Congress and
    throughout the executive branch.
      I am very proud to be a part of this legislation, and I thank Mr.
    Chairman and Ranking Member Velazquez for keeping the Small Business
    Committee one of the most bipartisan committees in Congress.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I
    reserve the balance of my time.
      Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on
    H.R. 832, and I yield back the balance of my time.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
    this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
      The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaLota). 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. 832.
      The question was taken.
      The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
    being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
      Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
    nays.
      The yeas and nays were ordered.
      The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
    proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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