Washington, D.C.— Yesterday, the House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation and Workforce Development, led by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), examined the collaborative relationship between research universities and small businesses that fuels technological innovation. Each year, universities and research institutions create thousands of patents that are then commercialized by small busi... Read More »
Our Committee has a longstanding tradition of working in a bipartisan manner on behalf of America’s 30 million small businesses. We work together to make the programs at SBA more effective and seek ways to encourage entrepreneurship and job growth on Main Street. And because small businesses are such an important part of our economy, what we do here impacts the lives of nearly every American. At a... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Committee, under Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) explored the benefits and challenges facing small businesses that utilize Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and other types of employee-owned business models. Worker-owned business have been steadily increasing in popularity over the years, with 12% of the workforce currently employed by a ... Read More »
As Chairman of the Innovation and Workforce Subcommittee, I see every day how much value comes from innovation and entrepreneurship. For decades, the United States has led the world in innovation, in large part because of our commitment to funding research and development at our nation’s universities. Every year, hundreds of patents are developed on our nation’s college campuses. Products like lif... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s 2021 Budget request: "Instead of serving as a blueprint for the future, the Trump budget seeks to slash the funding our small businesses rely on to stay competitive and innovative in a 21st century economy. “I am extremely disappointed that ... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Yesterday, Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Chairwoman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Agriculture, Trade, and Entrepreneurship gathered small business owners and an education expert to examine the impact that childcare has on small business and regional economies. “When parents can’t access affordable childcare, the effects are felt across our economy,... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led four Members of Congress in a bipartisan letter to the Associate Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Allen Gutierrez regarding the agency’s progress in implementing its outreach goals to better provide entrepreneurial services to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, conducted oversight of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Credit Risk Management (OCRM). OCRM is responsible for assessing the risk levels of SBA lending partners and oversees the $120 billion 7(a) and 504 loan portfolios. “The SBA 7(a) loan program plays an essential role in f... Read More »
Today, the Committee will examine the management and performance of SBA’s Office of Credit Risk Management – otherwise known as OCRM. OCRM is responsible for conducting oversight of SBA’s lending programs and its $120 billion 7(a) and 504 loan portfolios. All of us are acutely aware that access to capital plays a vital role in the success of our nation’s 30 million small businesses. Without it, sm... Read More »
Today, the Committee will examine the management and performance of SBA’s field operations, which serve as SBA’s “boots on the ground” across the country and are vital in connecting small business owners with the resources they need to succeed. SBA’s programs and services are delivered through 68 district and 10 regional offices located across the United States and its territories. At the top of t... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Committee under Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) conducted oversight of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Field Operations (OFO). The OFO oversees SBA regional and district offices that are the point of delivery for most SBA initiatives and serve as the agency’s “boots on the ground.” “SBA’s field team serves on the front line... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and eight Committee Democrats sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer expressing concern over the Trump Administration’s decision to impose retaliatory tariffs on European wines, which they say will mainly hurt American small businesses. In October, the Trump Administration imposed a 2... Read More »
As the Chair of the House Small Business Committee, I see every day how innovation and invention drive entrepreneurship. An important part of how we support American inventors is through our patent system. Applying for and obtaining a patent allows small firms to gain access to capital, find licensing deals, and level the playing field with larger competitors---all of which lead to jobs and econom... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Committee under Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) held a hearing examining the issue of patent diversity and how a lack of diversity in the innovation process is hindering the economy and small business. Studies show that women and minorities apply and obtain patents at a rate significantly lower than their white male counterparts, effectively lock... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) issued the following statement after the Labor Department released its December jobs statement: “December’s weak jobs report captures the difficulties that plagued our job creators and small businesses in 2019 under President Trump’s watch. In small business-heavy sectors such as manufacturing, jobs are de... Read More »
