House Passes Small Business Committee Bill To Address Regulatory Burdens

Washington, Dec 1. WASHINGTON, DC— House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today issued the following statement after the House passed the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 (HR 527) by a vote of 263-159:

“According to an October Gallup poll, small business owners cited compliance with government regulations as the most important problem facing them today, and according to a 2010 Small Business Administration study, small firms bear a regulatory cost that is 36 percent higher than the cost of regulatory compliance for large businesses. Economic recovery begins with our small businesses but this will not happen unless we rein in the mass of regulations coming from Washington.

“The federal government has gone too far on many nonessential regulations that are harming small businesses. It is our responsibility to remove these barriers and make sure the government carefully considers regulatory consequences on our most robust job creators before finalizing them. That’s why our Committee brought the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 to the floor for a vote. This bill will help small companies by forcing federal agencies to fully examine the impact of their proposed regulations on small businesses and consider less burdensome alternatives if those impacts are significant. I hope the Senate will put politics aside and take up this legislation, and the more than 20 other House-passed jobs bills, so that we can give small businesses the certainty and relief they need to help our economy grow.”

On February 8, 2011, Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves joined House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) to introduce the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 (HR 527). The Small Business Committee held hearings on the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 on March 30, 2011 and June 15, 2011 and marked up the bill on July 13, 2011.

CLICK HERE to view the video of today's floor debate and Chairman Graves' floor speech.s

Small Business Committee Examines SBA Disaster Assistance Programs

Washington, Nov 30. WASHINGTON, D.C.— House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) today held a full committee hearing to examine the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) programs that provide long-term disaster recovery assistance. The hearing focused on the SBA’s implementation of the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2008, designed to improve disaster planning following the abundance of major storms in 2005.

The Committee received testimony from SBA Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Assistance James Rivera and the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Director of Financial Markets and Community Investment William Shear.

“Disasters can happen at any time. And so we must be prepared to respond at a moment’s notice to meet the needs of disaster victims. Major disasters in our recent past have taught us many valuable lessons; one of those is that the SBA must be better equipped to process loan applications instead of burdening victims with endless paperwork, misinformation and delays. 

“It is extremely troubling that six years after the myriad of major storms, such as Katrina, and three years since the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act was made law, the GAO continues to report that statutes have not been fully implemented. While progress has been made, the SBA’s disaster program needs to be a priority with this administration. In the event of a catastrophe, there are thousands of Americans who rely on the SBA for assistance to rebuild their homes and their businesses. We must ensure our i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, so we are able to competently respond at any time.” 

For additional hearing information, click here.

Notable Witness Quotes:

William Shear, Director of Financial Markets and Community Investment at the GAO in Washington, DC, said, “As of November 2011, SBA met requirements for 16 out of 26 provisions of the Act and partially addressed six… However, to fully address statutory requirements the agency must make extensive changes to current programs or implement new programs.”e