Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) announced several committee hearings throughout November: Wednesday, November 3, 2021- 10 A.M.- Hybrid Hearing: Entrepreneurship in the New Economy Thursday, November 4, 2021- 10 A.M.- Hybrid Hearing: The Community College Pipeline to Small Businesses (Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Work... Read More »
I wish to start by thanking our distinguished witnesses for joining us today for this vital hearing on the state of the global supply chain and its impact on small businesses. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a once-in-a-generation crisis that has created massive economic challenges for businesses and consumers alike. An extraordinary increase in demand for goods has exacerbated the many weaknesse... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Chairman Dean Phillips (D-MN) held a hearing examining the impact of global supply chain issues on American small businesses. The hearing occurred in the wake of product shortages and shipping delays around the world that have affected the day-to-day operations of small firms. “The complexities of the global supply... Read More »
The United States Government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. In fiscal year 2020 alone, Federal agencies obligated more than $650 billion in federal contracts. Through its buying power, the Federal Government is uniquely positioned to incentivize the economy and strengthen the industrial base. Thus, it is vital that small businesses have ample opportunity to compete in... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure, led by Chairman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), held a remote hearing examining the recent decline in the federal small business supplier base. The hearing focused on the policy of Category Management and its impact on small firms; small contractors testified on the challenges the policy presents for t... 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 September jobs report: “The September jobs report shows that the economy is steadily progressing toward recovery. Our national unemployment rate fell to 4.8%; a mark America didn’t hit following the Great Recession until January 2016. T... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Committee led by Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), held a hearing examining the challenges facing the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Entrepreneurial Development (OED). “The strength of our recovery is dependent on the well-being of small businesses,” said Chairwoman Velázquez. “That’s why SBA’s entrepreneurial development progr... Read More »
Our nation’s 30 million small businesses are the foundation of the American economy. Small firms employ nearly half the private workforce, account for 44% of economic activity, and export over $1 trillion in goods annually. It is hard to overstate the importance of small firms to the country’s economic wellbeing. Recognizing the structural importance of these firms, and the need for new business f... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) announced several committee hearings throughout October: Wednesday, October 6, 2021- 10:00 A.M.- Hybrid Hearing: SBA’s Entrepreneurial Development Programs Witness: Mark Madrid, Associate Administrator, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Small Business Administration Wednesday, October 13, 2021- 12:00 ... Read More »
The COVID crisis dealt a severe blow to American workers. In 2020, the pandemic raised unemployment rates, halted wage growth, and lowered employees’ satisfaction with their jobs. This shock occurred as the labor force was already contending with rising income and wealth inequality and growing uncertainty surrounding retirement security. The Small Business Committee serves as the voice of small fi... Read More »
In Maine, we have been home to a strong logging and forest products industry for hundreds of years. It’s part of our identity as a state and thousands of Mainers still make their living in the woods or in mills making things out of forest products. The industry has faced tough times in recent decades for a variety of reasons: disastrous trade policies, demand slumps, and much more. But loggers and... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Yesterday, the House passed the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes multiple measures to create more opportunities for small businesses in the government contracting space. Committee members advanced numerous bipartisan amendments focused on helping small firms that were included in the final bill. “The federal government is the largest purchaser of goods a... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led 58 Members of Congress in introducing a resolution to recognize September 13th through September 17th as National Small Business Week. The United States has celebrated small business week annually since 1963 to commemorate the contributions of small business owners and their more than 60 million employ... Read More »
"Today we will be considering the small business title of reconciliation pursuant to S. Con. Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, which will provide $25 billion over ten years to the Small Business Administration. As required by House Rules, copies of the Committee Print have been made available to members and the public at least 24 hours in advance. "Small busin... Read More »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Committee, led by Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), approved legislation to deliver $25 billion in funding to invest in small business programs. The committee now sends the bill to the House Budget Committee for inclusion in the Build Back Better Act. “Small businesses are the foundation of our economy and ultimately the key to our nation makin... Read More »
