Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1487) to amend the Small Business Act to increase transparency, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 1487, the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act, which will improve SBA's data reporting with respect to the microloan program.

Specifically, the bill would have SBA and microlenders report on the number, amount, and percentage of microloans that went into default in the previous year; the extent to which microloans are provided to small businesses in rural areas; and the average size, interest rate, and amount of fees charged for each microloan.

These metrics will help Congress and the public better evaluate the program and its impact on underserved communities and make improvements as needed.

This program is vital in helping women and minorities obtain much- needed capital. In fiscal year 2020, 47 percent of microloans were made to women-owned small businesses, and more than 51 percent of microloans were made to minority-owned small businesses.

This language was approved unanimously last Congress by both the Small Business Committee and the full House, and I look forward to a similar vote here today.

The version of the bill from last Congress also included a provision that would increase the amount of technical assistance grant funding a rural-serving microlender would receive. I am

pleased that language was included as part of the Economic Aid Act and is now law.

However, our work on the microloan program is not done. H.R. 1487 continues the work to keep strengthening the program, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.

I applaud the bipartisanship shown by the sponsors of these bills, especially the leads, Mr. Burchett and Mr. Kim.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

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

It is often said that information is power. H.R. 1487 will greatly increase the information publicly available about the microloan program's performance and impact.

If we intend to continue to support the smallest of small businesses, we need to make sure the programs targeting them are operating at their best. That starts with improving the data and information available about where the loans are going, how affordable they are, and where the gaps in coverage are.

With more data, the public can assess the impact these loans have in our communities, and Congress will be able to monitor the program and identify areas for improvement.

I thank the gentlemen from Tennessee and New Jersey for their hard work and collaboration in bringing this bill to the floor today.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1487, the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021.

I thank the chair for moving these bills quickly to the House floor. I also want to commend the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kim), and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Newman) for working diligently and in a bipartisan fashion on behalf of America's small businesses.

It is important to note that once Congress creates a Federal Government program, tool, or resource, the work is not done. Members of Congress must examine and determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs in practice to ensure that they are meeting congressional intent.

H.R. 1487 does just this for the microloan program, which delivers capital assistance and counseling to our Nation's smallest businesses. Oftentimes, businesses that are just starting out and taking their first steps as a company are participants in the microloan program.

On an annual basis, the Small Business Administration will be required to report to Congress on the microloan program's default rates, an analysis of credit requirements, the extent and reach of the program in rural areas, and so on.

H.R. 1487 will also increase transparency and provide Congress with tools to ensure it is working on behalf of small businesses across the Nation.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense and straightforward legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), a distinguished gentleman who has worked hard on a lot of small business issues.

Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald), a huge supporter of small businesses and all their issues.

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

The microloan program, which delivers capital assistance to the Nation's smallest businesses, is an important lending tool at the SBA. H.R. 1487, the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021, will deliver comprehensive data and information on the effectiveness of the program.

I applaud all of the Members working on this important legislation in an effort to shine more light on how well the program is working.

From my State of Missouri to both of the Nation's coasts, accessing capital remains a top challenge facing all small businesses. Tools and resources like the microloan program can make a huge difference to small business owners in the early stages of their businesses. We must ensure these programs and tools are operating at a high level and delivering on the goals that Congress set for them. That is why this bill is so important.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1487, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act is important bipartisan legislation that gives all entrepreneurs fair access to the Small Business Administration's microloan program.

As a former small business owner, I know accessible financial resources are important for growth, innovation, and success. Working folks have to jump on the first horse that comes down the pike, as my dad used to say, or need to dip into personal savings, like I did. Wealthy folks have family assets. Inner cities and rural Appalachia don't have those same opportunities, Madam Speaker. These are hardworking Americans just looking to get their foot in the door and to have a fair shot.

This legislation aims to boost rural small business participation in the SBA microloan program by requiring the Small Business Administration to submit to Congress a financial analysis of the microloan program. This ensures Federal microloans are targeted toward rural areas, not just large urban centers, and creates important oversight that reduces fraud and government waste.

These fixes will allow America's entrepreneurs, regardless of background or location, to have easier access to capital that helps them reach their goals.

I am proud to partner with Representatives Andy Kim, Scott Fitzgerald, and Marie Newman on this legislation that will make a difference for east Tennessee's mom-and-pop shops and small businesses across our great country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1487.

Unlike large businesses with access to debt and equity markets, small businesses rely on commercial banking to fund their operations. Should a creditworthy small business be unable to obtain a conventional business loan, the Small Business Administration can help the small business by offering access to capital through the microloan program. The microloan program allows nonprofit intermediaries to make loans of up to $50,000 to small businesses, along with technical assistance.

The program has grown from approving $52 million in loans in 2015 to over $80 million in 2019. Despite this growth, the SBA produces minimal statistics that are needed to evaluate a government guarantee loan program.

This commonsense legislation will require the SBA to produce an annual report detailing additional information about microloans that have defaulted and the number of loans provided to rural areas.

We owe it to Americans to conduct basic oversight to protect their taxpayer dollars while expanding opportunities for rural small businesses to grow and innovate.

I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill to ensure small businesses hit hard by the pandemic have robust access to capital, regardless of their size and location.

Madam Speaker, I want to state for the Record that, on April 15, 2021, I missed four roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: yes--Roll Call Vote 113--on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1899; yes--Roll Call Vote 114--on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1502; yes--Roll Call Vote 115--on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1487; and yes--Roll Call Vote 116--on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1490.