[Pages H739-H740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2025

  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 832) to clarify the primary functions and duties of 
the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 832

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Advocacy 
     Improvements Act of 2025''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE 
                   OFFICE OF ADVOCACY OF THE SMALL BUSINESS 
                   ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Primary Functions.--Section 202 of Public Law 94-305 
     (15 U.S.C. 634b) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and the international 
     economy'' after ``economy'';
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking ``complete'' and 
     inserting ``compete''; and
       (3) in paragraph (12), by striking ``serviced-disabled'' 
     and inserting ``service-disabled''.
       (b) Duties.--Section 203(a) of Public Law 94-305 (15 U.S.C. 
     634c) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) represent the views and interests of small businesses 
     before foreign governments and international entities for the 
     purpose of contributing to regulatory and trade initiatives 
     which may affect small businesses.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.

                              {time}  1615


                             General Leave

  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 832, better known as 
the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act.
  I thank my colleagues, Representatives Van Drew, Tran, and 
Goodlander, for joining me in support of this critical legislation.
  By design, the SBA Office of Advocacy acts as the independent voice 
representing the views and interests of all small businesses within the 
Federal Government. This means calling attention to harmful regulations 
and inefficient rules preventing small businesses from competing for 
government contracts.
  This legislation would clarify the functions and duties of the SBA 
Office of Advocacy when advocating for small businesses on the world 
stage, specifically when regulatory international trade initiatives are 
being developed.
  Small business voices can easily be drowned out during these 
important conversations. This legislation fixes that problem by 
ensuring the views of Main Street are represented and heard before 
foreign governments and international entities.
  My hope this Congress is that we can continue to look for bipartisan 
ways to make the SBA Office of Advocacy more effective in helping our 
American small businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 832, the Small Business 
Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025.
  The Office of Advocacy was established in 1976 to be an independent 
voice for small businesses within the Federal Government and is tasked 
with representing the views of small businesses before Congress, the 
White House, and other Federal agencies.
  The office has regional advocates on the ground that provide outreach 
to small businesses, local chambers of commerce, and other associations 
to hear firsthand the concerns of small businesses. It works closely 
with Federal agencies to elevate these concerns throughout the 
rulemaking process.
  Over the years, their work has saved small businesses billions in 
regulatory costs while still accomplishing the important goals of the 
regulations. However, their charter does not specifically state that 
they have the authority to represent the views and interests of small 
businesses before foreign governments and international entities.
  As our economy has become increasingly more interconnected and more 
small businesses are tapping into international markets, it makes sense 
to give the office the authority to advocate on behalf of small 
businesses overseas.
  The Office of Advocacy has proven to be a strong proponent for small 
businesses in the Federal Government and is well-poised to promote 
their views in the international regulatory arena.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Williams, Mr. Tran, Mr. Van Drew, and Ms. 
Goodlander for their bipartisan work on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H740]]

  

  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Tran).
  Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 832, the Small 
Business Advocacy Improvements Act.
  This bipartisan bill would provide small businesses with improved 
access to international markets by expanding the function and duties of 
SBA's Office of Advocacy.
  In particular, the bill authorizes the office to represent the views 
and interests of small businesses in international discussions and 
analyze international economic data for the benefit of America's small 
business owners.
  As the world becomes more and more connected, participating in the 
global economy is vital to small businesses' success.
  I proudly represent California's 45th Congressional District, an 
international hub for America's small businesses. Businesses in my 
district connect with diverse companies and international markets every 
day and are a dynamic part of the economic engine driving southern 
California. Over 90,000 small businesses call Orange County home, 
including many in Little Saigon, where exporting and importing goods 
and working with partners overseas is an important part of their 
success and allows them to grow.
  This bill would ensure that small businesses have a strong voice 
advocating on their behalf regarding international matters and help us 
to better understand how international economies impact our Nation's 
small businesses.
  I am proud to be a co-lead on this bill, and I thank Chairman 
Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for working together to advance 
this bill to the floor, as well as my colleagues Congressman Van Drew 
from New Jersey and Congresswoman Goodlander from New Hampshire, for 
working with me to improve SBA's Office of Advocacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
bipartisan bill.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New Hampshire (Ms. Goodlander).
  Ms. GOODLANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud great-
granddaughter, granddaughter, and daughter of New Hampshire small 
business owners. I proudly represent New Hampshire on the Small 
Business Committee here in the House of Representatives, and today, I 
am very proud to be a cosponsor of this important bipartisan 
legislation.

  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 832, the Small Business 
Advocacy Improvements Act. I am very proud to be doing this together 
with Chairman Williams, Congressman Van Drew, and Congressman Tran.
  My family's small business story is an American story. It is a New 
Hampshire story. My home State is home to more than 136,000 small 
businesses. That is 99 percent of all New Hampshire businesses and more 
than 305,000 small business employees.
  Small businesses are truly the beating heart of New Hampshire's 
economy, from our cutting-edge aerospace and life sciences companies to 
our retailers on Main Streets. From my hometown, Nashua, all the way up 
to the North Country, New Hampshire small businesses are truly world 
class.
  At a moment when big businesses in our economy are more consolidated 
than ever before in so many industries, small businesses are living 
through some of the most truly uncertain times in American history, 
from the threats of Federal funding freezes to the threats of trade 
wars against our neighbors and allies.
  In Congress, I am fighting every single day to ensure that New 
Hampshire small businesses get true advocates and a seat at the table 
in trade negotiations and discussions that impact our international and 
interconnected economy. I am looking for a level playing field for 
small businesses to compete and equal access to critical Federal 
resources.
  I have traveled all across New Hampshire and heard directly from 
small business owners and employees about the concerns they have about 
the use of tariffs, which are an important tool in leveling the 
economic playing field, but they will have a real impact on our small 
businesses in New Hampshire.
  I am really proud to be a part of cosponsoring this legislation 
because what it is going to be is a commonsense solution to empower an 
important office within the Small Business Administration, the Office 
of Advocacy, to represent small businesses on international issues.
  It is a critically important seat at the table for our small 
businesses at a time when they need advocates here in Congress and 
throughout the executive branch.
  I am very proud to be a part of this legislation, and I thank Mr. 
Chairman and Ranking Member Velazquez for keeping the Small Business 
Committee one of the most bipartisan committees in Congress.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on 
H.R. 832, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support 
this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaLota). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 832.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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