This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., showcased two bills he has been working on which will, he insisted, “protect America’s small businesses and improve the Small Business Administration (SBA)”
Last week, Rubio brought back the “Hearing Small Business Act” and the “Advocacy Empowerment Act” which he first championed in 2019.
“The Hearing Small Business Act would protect small businesses from burdensome regulations by requiring more government agencies to consider feedback from small businesses in the rulemaking process,” Rubio’s office noted. “The Advocacy Empowerment Act would ensure proper authority for SBA’s Office of Advocacy as it works to enact government-wide regulatory reform.”
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., will introduce the “Hearing Small Business Act” in the U.S. House.
“Small businesses employ millions of Americans and are the cornerstone of our economy,” Rubio said. “These bills would ensure that small businesses have a voice in the regulatory process and make certain the SBA is equipped to advocate on their behalf across the government.”
“Florida’s 2.5 million small businesses are suffering at the expense of out-of-control Washington regulations,” Steube said. “Federal agencies enact many unnecessary and burdensome rules that impede the success of small businesses all over the country. This bill seeks to ensure that the opinions and concerns of small businesses are considered in federal agencies’ rulemaking processes. By expanding SBREFA panels, small businesses across the country will be able to provide input on the impacts of potential regulations and rules before they are enacted. We must give small business owners a meaningful and important voice in the regulatory process.”
Both bills were sent to the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Republican U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa and James Risch of Idaho are co-sponsoring both of Rubio’s bills.
