Let me begin by talking about our criminal justice system. The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Despite having only 5 percent of the world’s population, we have 25 percent of the world’s inmates. People are locked up in nearly 7,000 facilities across the country – 109 federal prisons, 1,719 state prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, and 3,163 local... Read more »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Committee, led by Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), convened a panel of formerly incarcerated individuals and a representative from a key Small Business Administration (SBA) resource partner for a hearing examining how entrepreneurship can be utilized to provide a second chance for those that have been released from prison. “Returning citizens ... Read more »
In the 116th Congress, this Committee has been committed to taking a closer look at the various SBA contracting programs. Earlier this year, we held an oversight hearing on the Women-Owned Small Business Program, followed by a hearing where we discussed the contracting programs that help veterans bridge the gap between military service and entrepreneurship. Most recently, we examined the 8(a) Busi... Read more »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulation under Chairwoman Judy Chu (D-CA) gathered government officials and representatives from Native contracting groups to examine the SBA’s Native 8(a) program. The hearing comes in the aftermath of government reports and media coverage that brought issues with the program to light. “We owe all b... Read more »
Washington, D.C.— Today, the House passed four bipartisan small business bills to improve key Small Business Administration (SBA) entrepreneurial initiatives that spur business formation and job creation. “When an entrepreneur has a great idea, be it on Main Street in a rural town or a downtown city block, SBA’s entrepreneurial development centers are there to provide guidance and support,” said C... Read more »
Washington, D.C.— Yesterday, Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chair of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, convened a panel of experts from the economic development field to examine the role of Opportunity Zones in the small business economy. In 2017, Opportunity Zones were created with the intention of spurring capital investment in economically disadvantaged a... Read more »
America’s small businesses are a catalyst for creating employment opportunities and driving growth in the U.S. economy. The estimated 30 million small firms in the U.S. represent over 99 percent of all employers, and support nearly 56 million jobs. Small businesses are vital to the well-being of many large and small communities, in rural, suburban, and urban areas. That is why we need to be enacti... Read more »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) sent formal invitations to four of the world’s largest tech companies requesting their appearance at a November hearing on how small businesses are faring in the landscapes of e-commerce and internet traffic. “It is no secret that big tech platforms have grown exponentially in the digital era, altering the... Read more »
Today the Committee is holding an important oversight hearing, during which we will examine the most serious management and performance challenges facing the SBA. We will also discuss the Office of Inspector General’s recommendations for addressing these challenges, as we seek to better understand their underlying causes. The IG is a nonpartisan, independent watchdog tasked with auditing, investig... Read more »
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) called in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Inspector General (IG) for a hearing focused on management and operational concerns at the SBA. The hearing follows the release of an annual report from the IG outlining significant challenges that exist at the agency. “Without a confirmed Administrator a... Read more »
