WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, penned Administrator Isabella Guzman of the Small Business Administration (SBA) demanding all communications and documents of former Associate Administrator Patrick Kelley that pertain to the proposed rulemaking changes to the SBA’s flagship 7(a) lending program.

Official inquiries have been made by both the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship regarding the SBA’s Office of Capital Access’ communications with external stakeholders during the notice and comment periods during the two rulemakings for the 7(a) lending program.

Read the full letter here.

Read key excerpts of the letter:

“In the Senate Small Business Committee hearing with then Associate Administrator Patrick Kelley on April 26, 2023, Mr. Kelley was asked whether he had made any, ‘promises or commitments concerning the SOPs documents or agency procedural notices in order to garner support for these rules.’ He testified under oath that he had not. During the hearing, Ranking Member Joni Ernst requested, and Mr. Kelley agreed, to share records of his schedule, phone logs, and email communications during the rulemaking periods for both 7(a) rules for the period covering October 2022 – April 2023.

“Ranking Member Ernst sent a follow-up letter on May 17, 2023, regarding this request. The letter asked that the SBA honor the commitment by Mr. Kelley to share his communication records despite his resignation from the SBA on May 12, 2023. The House Committee on Small Business shares the concerns articulated by Ranking Member Ernst and believes the requested information is vital to better understand the actions taken by Mr. Kelley and ensure nothing nefarious happened outside of the public notice and comment period to influence the outcomes of these rulemakings.”

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