Rural Small Business Resilience Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 804, the Rural Small Business Resilience Act.

As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains, I am pleased to put forward this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will ensure rural small businesses can operate on a level playing field.

This bill requires the Small Business Administration to ensure that small businesses located in rural areas have full access to SBA disaster assistance in the wake of a natural disaster.

The SBA's disaster loan program serves as a lifeline for small business owners in need of capital to repair, rebuild, and recover from of the physical and economic losses of a natural disaster.

Unfortunately, the Government Accountability Office recently found that rural communities face unique barriers that inhibit recovery from severe weather events like hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires.

A lack of reliable broadband, cellular service, or physical infrastructure can make it more difficult for small business owners in these communities to learn about and apply for disaster assistance.

We also know that natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe. In my home State of Minnesota, natural disasters have caused about $20 billion in damage and economic loss over the last 5 years alone.

Small businesses are among the most vulnerable to injury. FEMA has reported that more than 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a natural disaster.

We can all agree that every small business owner in this country should have fair access to disaster assistance, regardless of where they live. The Rural Small Business Resilience Act will address this disparity by requiring the SBA to conduct targeted outreach to small business owners in rural communities.

I will close by thanking the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing), the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), and the gentleman from

Florida (Mr. Bean) for their partnership on this important, bipartisan legislation. I also thank Chairman Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for their support of this bill.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 804) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to improve access to disaster assistance for individuals located in rural areas, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 804, the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, led by my colleagues, Representatives Morrison, Downing, Pappas, and Bean.

As we look ahead to the summer months, many Americans are eager for the warm weather and sunshine, but with that comes the reality that hurricane season is approaching. Many communities, particularly in rural America, are still working to recover from the devastating storms of last season, even as we prepare for the next.

Too often, small businesses and disaster survivors in rural communities are unaware of the critical assistance the SBA provides after disasters. That assistance can be the difference between staying open or shutting down for good.

Rural small businesses face unique challenges. Disaster recovery efforts must be tailored to meet the needs of rural America to ensure they have access to the full range of resources and support. The Rural Small Business Resilience Act is critical to ensuring SBA disaster assistance is tailored to the needs of rural America.

As someone who spent a lifetime in business, I know that getting the correct information to the right people at the right time is key. This bill will ensure disaster survivors in rural communities are not left in the dark when they need help the most.

I urge all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 804, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. I also thank Chairman Williams and my colleagues who are leading on this important legislation.

I rise in support of the bipartisan Rural Small Business Resilience Act.

My home in Maryland's Second Congressional District is home to nearly 640,000 small businesses, many of which are in rural communities, all with unique needs and challenges.

I support this bill because it will help ensure small businesses in rural communities receive the resources they need and the support they need to recover during times of crisis by requiring targeted outreach and marketing materials and requiring a deadline to get it done.

Small businesses are the heart of our economy. That is especially true in our rural communities. However, we know that small businesses in rural America often face unique challenges that are often overlooked, especially when it comes to disaster relief programs.

It is simple. We need to make sure that small rural businesses aren't left behind when disasters from pandemics to hurricanes and everything in between strike.

As a county executive, I witnessed firsthand the severe financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which devastated many small businesses.

I saw how rural communities in particular often struggle with limited resources, reduced access to broadband and cellular services, and longer response times when disaster relief is needed.

This bill will help break down those barriers and ensure that rural businessowners are aware of and can effectively access available resources.

I urge my colleagues on both sides to vote ``yes'' and show rural America and our Nation's employers that we are committed to their success.

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

Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H.R. 804, which would require the SBA to close out the GAO recommendation ensuring that individuals in rural areas where a disaster declaration has been made have full access to assistance, including targeted outreach and marketing materials. SBA would have 1 year to close out the recommendation.

On February 22, 2024, GAO issued a report examining how SBA's disaster loan program assists communities after disasters. GAO found that rural areas have characteristics that make recovery difficult, and they face challenges in seeking SBA disaster assistance.

While the SBA had taken steps to address challenges to recovery, including portable outreach centers, virtual outreach, and a whole-of- SBA approach, GAO recommended that SBA distinguish between urban and rural communities in its outreach and marketing plan and take actions to mitigate the challenges encountered by rural communities.

This bill prioritizes SBA's efforts to close out this GAO recommendation and focus on our Nation's rural communities.

I commend Dr. Morrison, Mr. Downing, Mr. Pappas, and Mr. Bean for their work on this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Morrison).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski).

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