Small business bills advanced

The House Small Business Committee approved five bills aimed at helping small business owners and federal contractors.

The proposed legislation includes:

HR 4877 would require the Small Business Administration’s Ombudsman to maintain an online “One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance” website with hyperlinks to the small business compliance guides of each federal agency, as well as points of contact for the guides.

The bill also would require the Ombudsman to annually assess and report on each federal agency’s compliance with Section 212 of the small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act of 1996.
HR 6454 would make it clear that the SBA’s Office of Advocacy has the authority to examine international economic data, and represent small business interests in international discussions, particularly in trade negotiations, in addition to its other duties.
HR 6445 would authorize funding for SBA’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) program for four years. The centers offer free and low-cost business advice and training, serving over 500,000 clients in 2020.
HR 6441 would reauthorize and strengthen the SBA’s Women’s Business Centers program, which offer free and low-cost services to women entrepreneurs and business owners. They served more than 82,000 clients in 2020.
HR 6450 would reauthorize the “SCORE” program, in which volunteers serve as mentors to small businesses.

The next step for the bills is a House vote or inclusion in the annual national defense authorization bill.

More Information:
House SBC news release: https://bit.ly/3vTXYHK