news

At Time of High Risk, Hear from Key FBI, DHS Witnesses on Promoting Small Business Cybersecurity While the weight of Russia’s use of cyberattacks to influence the 2016 U.S. election still hangs heavy, today, Democrats of the House Committee on Small Business heard from a key panel on the steps necessary to protecting America’s small businesses from cyber threats. Hearing… Read more »

After Republicans this week passed another short-term funding bill, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, has released a report highlighting the damage that these stopgap bills have on America’s small businesses. “Lurching from crisis to crisis is no way to govern, and with control of both Congress and the White House,… Read more »

Hours before the federal government could potentially shut down, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Small Business Committee, has released a report showing how America’s small businesses would suffer if the federal government shuts down.  “All segments of the American economy will take a hit if Republicans fail to govern and let the… Read more »

In a Congressional hearing today Democratic lawmakers stressed the importance of engaging small firms when it comes to developing renewable energy, fighting climate change and reducing energy costs. After the Department of Energy’s (DOE) failure to meet their small business contracting threshold, Members of the House Small Business Committee pressed for additional investments in… Read more »

Includes Velázquez Provision to Keep Loans Flowing to Small Firms In a hearing today before the House Small Business Committee, Members of Congress began reviewing bipartisan legislation to strengthen and improve the Small Business Administration’s flagship lending program. Lawmakers heard from a range of lenders and industry witnesses who testified on how the bill,… Read more »

Measure Would Improve Initiative for Businesses in Impoverished Areas The President has signed into law legislation authored by Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) that would improve and reform a popular government program aimed at benefiting firms operating in economically distressed areas.  Created in 1998, the HUBZone program helps small companies in these areas to do business… Read more »

On Wednesday, House Democrats took steps towards protecting small businesses from one of the most pressing and consequential threats they face—cyberattacks. After intelligence agencies confirmed that Russia used cyberwarfare to influence Donald Trump’s presidential victory, cybersecurity is at the forefront of national attention. Seen as an easy target by hackers, small firms… Read more »

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), the Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1, the Republican Tax Scam bill: “As I’ve said before, this bill takes a wrecking ball to our middle class. Small business owners have always been the core of this nation’s middle class and they will also suffer… Read more »

As local businesses and homeowners across Puerto Rico, Houston and Florida continue the long road to recovery, House Committee on Small Business Ranking Member Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) is working to break down barriers to federal assistance. After Superstorm Sandy, federal law prevented small firms who took out a disaster loan from receiving Community Development Block Grant… Read more »

Measure Would Incentivize Rapid, Private Sector Emergency Loans  Today, Small Business Committee Ranking Member Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) unveiled a new initiative to encourage private lenders to assist small business disaster recovery. After Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria devastated local economies, Velázquez’s bill, the Small Business Emergency… Read more »