Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2019

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 128, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2019.

I would like to once again thank Chairwoman Velazquez for working in a cooperative and bipartisan manner to bring this measure to the House floor. I would also like to thank our colleague from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) for his leadership in sponsoring this legislation. He will be speaking here shortly.

This bipartisan bill, which passed the House back in the 115th Congress, the last Congress, simply clarifies the role of the Office of Advocacy of the United States Small Business Administration, which is charged with representing small businesses before Federal agencies whose policies and activities may affect them. The office also examines the role of small businesses in the American economy and the contributions they make in improving competition.

Advocacy is vital to ensuring that small firms are heard when the Federal Government makes policy decisions that will impact them. The current law is silent regarding Advocacy's ability to study the role of small businesses in international economies, which is an important avenue for many small companies as they seek opportunities to expand overseas. This legislation would clarify that Advocacy should include international economies as part of its research functions, which will help us to better understand how international economies impact our Nation's small businesses.

The current law is also silent regarding Advocacy's authority to represent small businesses before foreign governments and international entities. This bill clarifies that Advocacy may represent small business views and interests before foreign governments and other international entities by contributing to regulatory and trade initiatives. Considering Advocacy's experience with regulatory and trade initiatives, it makes sense to ensure that the needs of America's small businesses are fairly represented in the international space as well.

Again, I want to thank the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), and Chairwoman Velazquez for working on this important legislation and producing a simple solution to clarify the role of this office, and I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

This commonsense legislation provides the Chief Counsel for Advocacy the statutory authority to represent the Nation's small businesses in the international realm. This timely legislation will provide the office with greater latitude to represent America's small businesses internationally.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 128) to clarify the primary functions and duties of the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 128, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act.

There are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States representing more than 99 percent of all businesses. These small firms employ nearly 50 percent of all private-sector employees in the U.S. The SBA Office of Advocacy represents an important tool for these businesses because it is their voice that the office embodies in all matters of government.

Clarifying the authority of Advocacy to examine international economic data and represent small business interests in international discussions, particularly in trade negotiations, raises the ability of small American firms to participate in a global market. The office has already been participating in various international working groups on regulatory cooperation and trade initiatives with the sole focus of protecting and raising the interests of small businesses.

Their unique knowledge is necessary in trade negotiations to prevent indirect consequences from harming small firms and providing a more equitable playing field within international trade. That is why I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

There is no question that we need to support our small businesses across the country, no matter their location or industry, when they are attempting to break into international commerce.

Today's bill leverages the unique position and knowledge of the SBA's Office of Advocacy to amplify the voice of small firms in international settings. Today is an important step to break down international barriers for small entrepreneurs entering into the world of trade.

Finally, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer), for his diligence on this matter.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 128 the ``Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act,'' which clarifies the duties of the SBA's Office of Advocacy.

I support this legislation because, among other things, it mandates the SBA Office of Advocacy to examine small business issues in international economies and authorizes the Office to represent small businesses interests before international entities and foreign governments dealing with regulatory and trade initiatives that affect small businesses.

The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy is an independent voice for small

business within the federal government that advocates on the behalf of this vital sector of the U.S. economy.

H.R. 128 clarifies and amends the duties of the Office of Advocacy to better serve the concerns of small businesses before Congress, the Federal Government and the international economy.

Small businesses are a critical component of the United States economy and the 8 million minority owned businesses reflect the diversity of our economy and our country.

Small businesses make up 44 percent of the U.S. wages and salaries paid annually to employees which helps stimulate and drive the rest of the U.S. economy.

SBA reported in 2018 that 99.9 percent of businesses within the United States are classified as Small Businesses, encompassing almost 50 percent of all employees with the United States.

In Texas, 98.6 percent of firms with employees were small businesses in 2012 and 93 percent of goods exported internationally were by small businesses.

By including the international economy within the interests of the SBA Office of Advocacy, small businesses will be able to compete effectively with international entities and expand to their full potential.

For these reasons, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 128 and upholding the importance of small businesses within our own economy and our presence internationally.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 128, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2019.

I am proud, once again, to be the sponsor of this legislation which passed the House in a bipartisan manner during the 115th Congress. I want to thank my colleague, Chairwoman Velazquez, for working with me on this bill.

The Office of Advocacy at the United States Small Business Administration plays a vital role in ensuring that Federal agencies adequately consider how their policies impact America's small businesses. While the Office of Advocacy has done excellent work on behalf of our Nation's small businesses, the current law is silent on whether it can research and advocate on behalf of small business on international matters such as trade initiatives and regulations. This is a problem that we can easily address.

For many small businesses, exporting and operating overseas is an important part of their success and allows them to grow. Given the Office of Advocacy's knowledge and research on how domestic regulations impact small businesses, it is appropriate for the office to advocate and research small business interests on international matters as well, especially since international opportunities play a vital role for many of our Nation's small businesses.

This bill advances the Office of Advocacy's mission to advocate for America's small businesses and clarifies its authority on international small business issues. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan bill.