Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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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.''.

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.

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.

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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with the ranking member to get some really good things done.

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, 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.

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