[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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