WASHINGTON- Today, the House Small Business Committee passed three bipartisan bills to address fraud prevention, recovery of fraudulent pandemic monies, and advocate for Native American business owners through the creation of the Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration (SBA).
“This Committee has played an integral role in conducting oversight of the pandemic relief programs, and today's markup continues that work, said Ranking Member Velázquez. “Whether it's deterring fraud, recovering stolen taxpayer dollars, or ensuring tribal small businesses have access to SBA's full range of resources, it is important for our committee to remain focused on its mission: reviewing, evaluating, and improving SBA's programs so they work for our nation's 36 million small businesses.”
Bills advanced in today’s markup include: H.R.7412 - Put America on Commission Act of 2026 Introduced by Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX) and Rep. Johnny Olzsewski (D-MD)
This bill would establish the Office of Whistleblower Awards within the Office of Inspector General to address financial misconduct pertaining to COVID relief loan and grant programs, where the OIG will then track the case and pay awards to the whistleblower if applicable.
H.R.7396 - Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act Introduced by Reps. Sharice Davids (D-KS), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), and Elijah Crane (R-AZ)
This bill would the statutory authorization of the Office of Native American Affairs at the Small Business Administration to continue aiding underserved populations and communities, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
H.R.7401 - Small Business Lending Fraud Prevention Act Introduced by Reps. Daniel Meuser (R-PA) and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
This bill would require SBA employees who participate in the origination, review, or approval of loans to certify in writing that they do not have a conflict of interest before processing a loan. If an employee discovers a conflict after submitting their certification, they must immediately disclose it to their supervisor and recuse themselves from further involvement in the loan.
