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Velázquez and Small Business Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Preserving Opportunities for Small Government Contractors, Call on Congress to Codify the Rule of Two

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON- The Federal Acquisition Regulation Council released new changes to the main small business section of the government’s contracting regulations, retaining a key policy that allows small businesses to enter, compete, and have success in the federal marketplace. “Despite the Administration’s efforts to rewrite the government’s procurement rules without transparency, accountability and sma...

House Small Business and Science Committee React to Imminent Lapse of SBIR/STTR Programs

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX), House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX), and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) issued the following statement as the SBIR and STTR programs are set to expire at midnight: “We are disappointed that the Senate failed to extend the SBIR and STTR p...

Committee Examines Opportunities and Challenges for Small Businesses in the Creator Economy

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Small Business Committee held a full committee hearing titled “Streaming Success: Small Businesses in the Age of Digital Influence” to examine how content creators are building businesses, the barriers they face, and the broader economic impact of the creator economy Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) emphasized the importance of adapting federal policy to meet ...

House Approves One Year SBIR and STTR Extension

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives voted to advance a bipartisan bill to extend the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through the fiscal year. For over forty years, these initiatives have enabled entrepreneurs to transform bold ideas into cutting-edge technologies while delivering significant value for taxpayers. Without ...

Small Business Committee Advances One-Year Extension of SBIR and STTR Programs

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Small Business voted to advance a bipartisan bill to extend the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through the fiscal year. SBIR and STTR have a four-decade track record of fueling groundbreaking innovation by small firms and delivering strong return on investment for taxpayers. The programs ar...

Ranking Member Velázquez Statement on August Jobs Report

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON D.C.- Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement after the Labor Department released its August jobs report: “Today’s Jobs Report reveals an alarming truth. This downturn is a direct consequence of illegal tariffs, soaring inflation, and the decline of the immigrant workforce, policies pushed by the Trump a...

Velázquez Calls for Reliable Broadband to Support Rural Entrepreneurs

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing titled “Wired for Growth: How Expanding Broadband Can Revitalize Rural Small Businesses.” During the hearing, Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) highlighted how broadband access is critical to the success of rural entrepreneurs and helps ensure rural small businesses can compete on a level playing field. “Rural small b...

Ranking Member Velázquez on July PPI Inflation Data

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON– Today, Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement regarding the July Producer Price Index (PPI) report: “Today’s report reflects the reality that small businesses across the United States are feeling. Prices for critical products are going up and Main Street is being squeezed by Donald Trump’s tariffs. Today’s PPI reading shows that wholesale prices are r...

Velázquez Demands Answers from SBA on DOGE Access to Sensitive Systems

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON– Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, has sent a letter to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler raising serious concerns over the agency’s decision to grant expedited access to sensitive SBA systems for operatives tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to the letter, senior SBA officials authorized broad sy...

Velázquez Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting the Integrity and Impact of the 8(a) Program

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement on the Small Business Administration’s recent actions targeting the 8(a) Business Development Program: “The SBA’s decision to target the use of a key small business contracting program and pressure federal agencies is deeply disappointing. This move strays from t...

Ranking Member Velázquez Statement on July Jobs Report

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON– Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, issued the following statement after the Labor Department released its July jobs report: “Today’s jobs report flashes a bright red warning sign for our economy. Unemployment is up, job growth has slowed across nearly every sector, and revised figures show the past three months were the weakest ...

Ranking Member Velázquez Announces Passage of Bipartisan Small Business Bills at Committee Markup

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON - Today, the House Small Business Committee passed a series of bipartisan bills to combat fraud in federal programs, strengthen SBA oversight and IT modernization, and expand access to capital in rural and underserved communities. Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) praised the collaborative work that brought the legislation forward. “These bipartisan bills reflect a shared commitm...

Hundreds of Small Businesses Endorse Velázquez’s Protecting Small Business Competitions Act

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, announced the endorsement of her legislation, the Protecting Small Business Competitions Act, by a broad coalition of hundreds of small businesses and stakeholder groups representing thousands of small businesses across the country. “As Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee, I frequen...

Velázquez Urges Smart, Sustainable Strategy to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, at a House Small Business Committee hearing titled “Securing America’s Mineral Future: Unlocking the Economic Value Beneath Our Feet,” Democratic Members called for a balanced approach to securing critical minerals, which are essential to clean energy, national defense, and small business innovation. In a prepared statement, Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez emphasized that min...

Scholten Highlights Minor League Baseball’s Impact on Small Business at Subcommittee Hearing

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, led by Ranking Member Hillary Scholten (D-MI), held a hearing titled “Beyond the Ballpark: The Role of Minor Leagues in Economic Growth.” The hearing examined how minor league teams support local economies and boost small businesses in communities across the country. “Minor lea...

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