Skip to Content

Media Advisories

Committee to Hold Hearing on Duplicative SBA Initiatives WEDNESDAY

Week Ahead for the Committee: April 28-May 2

Committee to Hold Hearing on Duplicative SBA Initiatives

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Small Business Committee, chaired by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), today announced the schedule for the week of April 28, 2014:
 
On Wednesday, April 30, at 1:00 p.m., the Small Business Committee will conduct a hearing titled SBA-created Initiatives: Necessary or Redundant Spending? The hearing will examine Small Business Administration (SBA)-created initiatives and whether these programs are duplicative of other existing proven entrepreneurial development programs.
 
In 2012, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found overlap and duplication among 52 programs meant to support entrepreneurial endeavors at the USDA, Commerce, HUD, and SBA. Despite this finding, SBA-created initiatives, which lack congressional approval and adequate performance metrics, are being developed and funded at rates comparatively higher than programs with clear Congressional mandates. Notably, the SBA requested a total of $33 million for their own SBA-created initiatives – an increase of $12 million from what was requested and appropriated in FY2014 – while Congressionally-approved program funding requests remained static.

“The SBA’s core mission is to help provide small business access to capital, promote federal contracting with small firms, and provide entrepreneurial counseling,” said Chairman Graves. “But unfortunately, the Administration continues to experiment with taxpayer dollars on initiatives that are created without clear performance measures and Congressional oversight. Without proper public debate and involvement from the legislative branch, I’m afraid these programs are more susceptible to inefficiency, waste, and duplication.”

Watch the hearing live HERE.
 
Event Details:
Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 1:00 p.m. EDT
2360 Rayburn House Office Building
Small Business Committee
SBA-created Initiatives: Necessary or Redundant Spending?

###