Rural Small Business Resilience Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 804, which would require the SBA to close out the GAO recommendation ensuring that individuals in rural areas where a disaster declaration has been made have full access to assistance, including targeted outreach and marketing materials. SBA would have 1 year to close out the recommendation.

On February 22, 2024, GAO issued a report examining how SBA's disaster loan program assists communities after disasters. GAO found that rural areas have characteristics that make recovery difficult, and they face challenges in seeking SBA disaster assistance.

While the SBA had taken steps to address challenges to recovery, including portable outreach centers, virtual outreach, and a whole-of- SBA approach, GAO recommended that SBA distinguish between urban and rural communities in its outreach and marketing plan and take actions to mitigate the challenges encountered by rural communities.

This bill prioritizes SBA's efforts to close out this GAO recommendation and focus on our Nation's rural communities.

I commend Dr. Morrison, Mr. Downing, Mr. Pappas, and Mr. Bean for their work on this bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Morrison).
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source