OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Investing in Main Street Act of 2025

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 24, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 754) to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the amount that may be invested in small business investment companies.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 754

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 ``Investing in Main Street Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. INVESTMENT IN SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Section 302(b) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 682(b)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``5 percent'' and inserting ``15 percent''; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``5 percent'' and inserting ``15 percent''.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 754, the Investing in Main Street Act of 2025, led by my colleagues, Representatives Chu, Finstad, McIver, and Garbarino.

As chairman of the Small Business Committee, one of my top priorities is expanding access to capital for small businesses. The Small Business Investment Company, or the SBIC, program plays a crucial role in this effort by attracting private equity investments to help small businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen our economy.

SBIC has been an invaluable tool for investing in small businesses that build critical technologies and support American national security.

H.R. 754 builds on this success by increasing the maximum allowable investments by SBICs from 5 percent to 15 percent of their excess capital. This change will allow more significant private equity dollars to go toward small businesses.

As we continue working to improve programs that support small businesses, this change will immediately impact our Nation's job creators. I thank my colleague from California for introducing this bipartisan solution to expand successful programs that empower the private sector to invest in small businesses.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward