With Russia’s hacking of the U.S. elections dominating headlines, a key Congressional panel today zeroed in on cyber weaknesses at the federal agency charged with protecting small businesses. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has been exposed by multiple government accountability reports for a range of IT issues including leadership and management problems, staff turnover and… Read more »
Democrats on the House Small Business Committee jumped at the opportunity to reevaluate one of the most popular lending programs to help small businesses access capital, 504 loans. In a hearing today before the panel’s Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, Ranking Member Dwight Evans (D-PA) led Democrats in calling for an increase in lending to minority-owned… Read more »
Say Swifter Internet Key to Small Business Growth
Democrats on the House Small Business Committee this week pressed for answers on what can be done to accelerate wider adoption of broadband in rural and lower income areas. In a hearing today before the panel’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy, and Trade, Democrats called for a sustained push to address gaps in broadband access… Read more »
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), the Ranking Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, released the following statement regarding the release of Senate Republicans’ Trumpcare bill:
“Before the Affordable Care Act, entrepreneurs were disproportionately represented among the ranks of the uninsured. In 2007,… Read more »
As the Administration undertakes steps to renegotiate major trade agreements like NAFTA, House Democrats today stressed the importance of empowering small businesses to export their products abroad. At a hearing before the House Small Business Committee, lawmakers heard about a range of issues facing entrepreneurs seeking to expand into new markets. In particular, the hearing focused on… Read more »
Measures Would Reform Procurement, Technology Grants, Capital Access Programs
Today, the House Committee on Small Business approved a number of legislative initiatives designed to bolster small business growth, fuel the economy and spark innovation. If signed into law, the package would reform a range of federal programs affecting the small business sector. The bipartisan effort… Read more »
In a hearing this week before the House Committee on Small Business, Democrats expressed alarm that internal issues in the Small Business Administration (SBA) have hindered services for small businesses. In particular, SBA provided incentives for federal employees to retire early all while failing to properly restructure the agency, thereby depriving small businesses of necessary… Read more »
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), released the following statement regarding the House’s consideration of H.R. 10, the “Wrong CHOICE Act”, Republican legislation to gut Dodd-Frank:
“In 2008, Main Street small businesses were victims of reckless gambles by corporate bad actors and lax government oversight. Small business… Read more »
Members of the House Small Business Committee this week pressed the case for improving the procurement process for small businesses competing in the federal marketplace. The hearing focused on the process by which the federal government can change work requirements in contracts toward the end of a project, often creating challenges for smaller contractors. When federal agencies issue… Read more »
Congresswoman Alma Adams
Ranking Member, House Subcommittee Committee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations
Opening Statement
Joint Hearing on Federal Contracting Change Orders
May 25, 2017
Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this valuable hearing. Today’s discussion continues our ongoing work to help more small businesses compete successfully in the federal… Read more »
