WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Small Business is holding a full committee markup on seven bills.

Chairman Roger Williams’ opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Here on this Committee, we stand up for hardworking entrepreneurs and small business owners. We understand that it is our job to put forward meaningful policy solutions that encourage growth and make it easier, not harder, for small businesses to grow and thrive.

In today’s markup, we will consider seven bills that address the needs of small business owners across the country. These bills take steps to restore accountability and trust in the Small Business Administration.

We have a job on this Committee: to be a voice for Main Street here in Washington.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, small businesses endured an unprecedented regulatory assault. Those policies continually undermined the SBA’s mission and its core functions.

The bills in this markup correct those wrongs and support the Trump Administration’s policies to ensure that the federal government puts American entrepreneurs first again.

Last Congress, this Committee fought job-killing regulatory burdens that shackled small businesses. We even heard from small business owners that they were told by government officials that the goal was to drive small businesses out of business.

To add insult to injury, the Biden-Harris Administration removed SBA lending standards that put American tax dollars at risk by approving loans for borrowers who were not able to repay them.

For four years, the Biden-Harris SBA moved the agency and its employees further away from its mission of serving Main Street. The SBA began unprecedented activity like electioneering and approving loans for illegal immigrants.

This Committee and the Trump Administration have heard small businesses loud and clear – the guardrails must be put up. And that is what Administrator Loeffler has done in just a few months as SBA Administrator.

Today’s bills work to ensure that no future Administration will be able to lead this kind of assault on our small businesses. These commonsense bills are another step toward unleashing small businesses from government burdens to bring about the Golden Age of Main Street.

As Chairman, I am committed to finding legislative solutions to help small businesses grow and thrive. I’d like to thank our members for bringing these bills forward for consideration in today’s markup.

I am incredibly proud to see our Committee generating sound and responsive legislation to support Main Street.

With that, I yield to the distinguished Ranking Member from New York, Ms. Velazquez.

###