Why it Matters

The House Small Business Committee will mark up 10 measures on Sept. 16, addressing small business cybersecurity, manufacturing, federal contracting, disaster loans, access to capital and threats from foreign adversaries.

Among the measures is H.R. 10329, the Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act, which would require the Small Business Administration to provide small businesses with information about threats posed by foreign adversaries, including intellectual property theft, cyber intrusions, counterfeit goods, illicit trade and predatory investment practices.

H.R. 10238, the Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Act, would require the SBA to disseminate cybersecurity information and resources to small businesses, while H.R. 9718, the Reshoring American Manufacturing Act, would require the agency to maintain a website providing resources for small businesses seeking to move manufacturing capacity to the United States.

The committee will also consider H.R. 10328, the Badge-to-Business Act, which would provide no-collateral SBA Express loans for qualified career law enforcement officers, and H.R. 4615, the Small Business Payment for Performance Act, which would provide interim partial payments to qualifying small business contractors seeking equitable adjustments after changes to federal construction contracts.

Other measures on the agenda address disaster loan outreach, implementation of Government Accountability Office recommendations, Small Business Investment Company reporting, the SBA's 504 loan program and support for small manufacturers.

Broader Context

The markup will be led by Committee Chair Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), as lawmakers consider proposals spanning federal contracting, manufacturing, cybersecurity and access to capital.

The Combating Foreign Threats to Main Street Act is a bipartisan proposal introduced by Williams and Rep. Derek Tran (D-CA). The legislation focuses on foreign activities that can harm small businesses or U.S. economic and national security, including intellectual property and trade-secret theft, cyberattacks, forced labor, customs evasion and other illicit trade practices.

The Reshoring American Manufacturing Act would direct the SBA's Office of Manufacturing and Trade to establish and maintain an online resource for small businesses considering moving some or all of their manufacturing capacity to the United States.

Fox Corp. reported $1.34 million in lobbying expenditures for the second quarter. The American Gaming Association spent $730,000 in the first quarter on lobbying, including efforts involving federal sports betting excise tax issues and gambling addiction treatment measures. Koch Government Affairs LLC reported $40,000 in second-quarter lobbying expenditures covering various tax policy proposals.

The Bottom Line

The 10-measure markup would advance a broad package of small business legislation addressing cybersecurity, foreign threats, domestic manufacturing, federal contracting, disaster assistance and access to capital. Measures approved by the committee could then advance toward consideration by the full House.

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