Washington, DC - Today, the House Small Business Committee passed seven bipartisan small business bills to better support underserved entrepreneurs, increase access to capital, and improve federal procurement rules for small firms.
“These seven bills will make needed improvements to SBA programs and services – from focusing on rural, disaster, and disabled communities to improving the SBIC program and contracting rules,” said Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “Main Street small businesses are the lifeblood of our nation’s economy, driving innovation and job creation, and helping millions of Americans achieve the American dream. I stand committed to creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs so they can continue to thrive and uplift local communities.”
H.R. 7984,the“Rural Small Business Resilience Act”
Introduced by Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Tracey Mann (R-KS)
This bill would require the SBA to close out the GAO recommendation ensuring that individuals in rural areas for which a disaster declaration has been made have full access to assistance, including targeted outreach and marketing materials. SBA would have one year to close out the recommendation.
H.R. 5333, the “Investing in All of America Act of 2023”
Introduced by Reps. Dan Meuser (R-PA) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI)
This bill amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to exclude from the limit on leverage certain amounts invested in smaller enterprises located in rural or low-income areas and small businesses in critical technology areas.
H.R. 8014, the “Transparency and Predictability in Small Business Opportunities Act”
Introduced by Reps. Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) and Mark Alford (R-MO)
The bill would require the Small Business Administrator to issues regulations addressing cancelled solicitations for small business contracts to provide for the disclosure of additional information; and to require the OSDBUs to help small businesses seek additional opportunities if a solicitation on which they made an offer is canceled.
H.R. 7987, the “Plain Language in Contracting Act”
Introduced by Reps. Nick LaLota (R-NY) and Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI)
H.R 7987 would require that any documents related to small business government procurements that are posted on SAM.gov, including solicitations and requested for proposals, to be written in a manner that is “clear, concise and assessable” to a small business concern.
H.R. 7988, the “Small Business Procurement and Utilization Reform (SPUR) Act of 2024”
Introduced by Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA)
The bill would require the SBA to include the number of new entrants into the federal market in the methodology by which they score each federal agency’s small business performance.
H.R. 7985, the “Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act of 2024”
Introduced by Reps. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) and Marc Molinaro (R-NY)
H.R. 7985 requires the Small Business Administration to submit a report to Congress on the challenges facing entrepreneurs with disabilities within 180 days.
H.R. 7989, the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY About Disability Employment Act”
Introduced by Reps. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) and Chris Pappas (D-NH)
H.R. 7989 would require the Small Business Administration and National Council on Disability to collaborate to help people with disabilities pursue small business ownership and employment opportunities and submit a report to Congress about related activities and accomplishments.
