Steve Chabot

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this issue and for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of a bill that I introduced, H.R. 4100, which, put simply, helps support those Federal attorneys who prosecute major drug traffickers, white collar criminals, and other Federal crimes, and the judges who preside over those cases in our Federal courts. The Federal Bar Association was founded back in 1920 and charted by Congress in 1954. However, in the nearly 64 years of its existence, its charter has never been amended. As a former educator, attorney, and current senior member of the Judiciary Committee, I would note the important work that the Federal Bar Association does to bring civics education to classrooms in my State of Ohio, and they bring that same expertise to other areas all across the country. Without legislation like H.R. 4100, it takes an act of Congress to even allow the Federal Bar Association to make simple changes to their bylaws. More specifically, this legislation gives the association the authority to choose the location of its principal office, restricts its officers from engaging in political activity, and makes other technical changes to conform to commonly used language and other things. This legislation provides the Federal Bar Association the continued ability to support legal research, pro bono, and community projects; continue to educate grade schoolchildren on the Federal judiciary system; and improve the practice of Federal law in our Federal courtrooms all across America. Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank the chairman, Chairman Goodlatte, for his leadership in helping to bring this very important legislation to the floor for consideration, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act of 2018. Despite an improving economy, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups still face numerous challenges. One of the chief challenges that they face is access to capital, getting money. As chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I am pleased to say that we have worked together in a bipartisan manner to pass one piece of legislation that is contained in this, and we support the whole bill, but this one is the HALOS Act, or Helping Angels Lead Our Startups Act. The HALOS Act would improve how investors and small businesses get together at events, called demo days, where the people who have the money and people who need the money can actually get together and streamline some of the problems that they now face. From my State of Ohio, to California, to New York State, all over the country, small businesses are the job creators. Seventy percent of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Hensarling for working with the Small Business Committee and including the HALOS Act in this very important legislation.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, the Small Business Administration's 7(a) Loan Program doesn't have a flashy name. But to millions of small businesses owners across the country it can make or break their company. The program partners with financial institutions to provide loan guarantees that fund their startup costs, equipment expenses, or any other general business purpose. Not surprisingly, it is the agency's most popular program. That's why I, along with my colleague Ranking Member Velazquez, introduced the Small Business 7(a) Lending Oversight Reform Act which the President signed into law last month: to make sure the program is protected and running effectively. We have countless examples of small businesses all across America being helped by the 7(a) Loan Program from small manufacturers, to coffee shops, to garden centers, to gourmet candy stores, to you name it, and they create jobs for more and more Americans. I look forward to seeing how an improved 7(a) Loan Program helps small businesses not only survive, but thrive across the nation.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1700) to amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, this evening, in support of H.R. 1700, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2018, which was introduced by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), and I want to commend her for her leadership on this legislation. This legislation will allow the SCORE program to continue to offer business mentoring and training to thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners each year. The SCORE program currently includes over 11,000 volunteer mentors, with expertise across 62 industries, who collectively provide more than a million hours of business counseling each year. When an entrepreneur seeks a SCORE mentor, they are purposely paired with a business professional with knowledge in a specific field or experience facing specific challenges. This process ensures that the concerns of the entrepreneur are met by the volunteer mentor. In addition to SCORE's mentorship services, the program also offers in-person business training classes at its 350 chapter locations nationwide. Entrepreneurs can also utilize the extensive online training opportunities and free business tools available on SCORE's national website. Last fiscal year, SCORE trained over a half million clients, empowering them to start, run, and scale their business. This legislation will allow SCORE to continue to provide these important services. H.R. 1700 reauthorizes the SCORE program at $10.5 million for fiscal years 2019 and 2020, providing for enhanced services to SCORE clients. This legislation also formally changes the program's name from the Service Core of Retired Executives to the more commonly used name of SCORE. Additionally, H.R. 1700 requires the SCORE Association to further utilize webinars and electronic mentoring as a way of increasing SCORE's presence nationwide. H.R. 1700 will require the SCORE Association to develop a strategic plan for how the program will adapt to meet the needs of America's entrepreneurs over the coming years. This requirement will not only allow for better congressional oversight of the SCORE program, but will also guarantee that taxpayer dollars contributing to the program are effectively used to serve the needs of the small business community. Considering the important role that small businesses play throughout our Nation and our communities, it is our responsibility to ensure that our entrepreneurs and small businesses have the resources that they need to be successful. H.R. 1700 is the way of doing just that, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1700, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2018. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the gentlewoman from North Carolina if she has any further speakers this evening, and, if not, I believe I have the right to close. So if she has any concluding remarks, I would be happy to yield if the gentlewoman has any other speakers to speak on this issue because I would be closing then.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the commonsense improvements in this bill will allow the SCORE program to continue its mission: helping entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses. With over 99 percent of all businesses in the United States being classified as small, it is vital that these business owners have access to effective entrepreneurial resources. H.R. 1700 would ensure that, regardless of location, a small-business owner can access SCORE mentoring and training. Mr. Speaker, I would, again, like to commend the gentlewoman from North Carolina for her leadership on this important matter. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2655) to amend the Small Business Act to expand intellectual property education and training for small businesses, and for other purposes.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I rise this evening in support of another bill, H.R. 2655, the Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017, and I want to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans) for his leadership on this bill. As small entrepreneurs continue to expand their businesses both here and abroad, they must have the tools they need to protect their intellectual property. Entrepreneurs and small-business owners have generated more than 63 percent of new jobs over the last two decades, and small businesses represent about 96 percent of employer firms in high-patenting manufacturing industries. However, the process for obtaining copyright, trademark, and patent protections both in the United States and abroad can be daunting, even for the most experienced small-business owners. We need to ensure that small-business owners have the tools they need to protect their innovative ideas and products, as intellectual property protections are essential to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. Small-business owners often do not have the knowledge or resources to protect their ideas and products, especially when they are competing in the international marketplace. Most simply cannot afford to retain attorneys to guide them through the difficult process of obtaining intellectual property protections, which leaves them vulnerable to their innovative ideas and products being stolen both here in the United States and internationally. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by my friend and colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans) addresses this issue by forming a partnership between the SBA, the Small Business Administration, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, giving entrepreneurs the full breadth of knowledge of the Small Business Development Center system and the USPTO. The partnership will provide training for small-business owners, which can be provided by the USPTO, the SBA, or a Small Business Development Center either electronically or at a physical location. This legislation utilizes existing resources at both agencies to better assist small-business owners and expand their outreach efforts to provide small businesses with the resources they need to address intellectual property issues. Considering the important role that small entrepreneurs play in our global marketplace, it is our responsibility to ensure that they have the resources they need to better protect their intellectual property. H.R. 2655 addresses this important small business issue and, therefore, I would urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank Mr. Evans for his leadership on this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, this legislation strengthens the partnership between two important Federal agencies that help small businesses protect what they have created: the SBA and the USPTO. It is important that small firms across the Nation have access to all the tools that they need to protect their creations from intellectual property theft. Therefore, I would urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Cincinnati Children's Hospital on their remarkable achievement of being ranked the second-best children's hospital in the nation and the best hospital to treat pediatric cancer and diseases affecting the digestive tract according to U.S. News and World Report. Over the past seven years, this hospital, located in my district, has consistently been rated third best overall in the nation. Their commitment to excellence is continually recognized across the country, and they have been a stalwart in the Cincinnati community for a long time. Not only do they provide world class care for their patients, but they also engage with the local community and throughout the region. Without a doubt, the hospital prioritizes the kids they treat and their families. To continue that mission, the hospital has recently started construction on a new clinical care building. I will continue to work with them to ensure that I am doing whatever I can to help them further succeed as they move forward. Again, I want to congratulate Cincinnati Children's Hospital on this tremendous accomplishment, and look forward to them becoming number one in the future. They make Cincinnati proud.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Republic of Azerbaijan which celebrates the 100th anniversary of its independence on May 28--next Monday. On May 28, 1918 the Republic of Azerbaijan declared independence. Tragically, independence was short lived as the Bolsheviks invaded Azerbaijan and the country was eventually absorbed into the Soviet Union. The Azeri people never lost their desire to be free from their Soviet occupiers, however. With the fall of the U.S.S.R., Azerbaijan once again declared its independence in 1991. The United States recognized Azerbaijan's independence on both occasions. Azerbaijan has proven to be a key security partner of the United States, providing unwavering support for the NATO mission in Afghanistan dating back to 2002. Azerbaijan also established diplomatic relations with our close ally Israel over 25 years ago and has a small but thriving Jewish community. Azerbaijan is also a leader in the energy sector. Azerbaijan is spearheading the Southern Gas Corridor which will bring natural gas from the Caspian Sea to our allies in Europe. This diversification of energy supplies will lessen Europe's reliance on Russia. Azerbaijan also provides Israel with 40 percent of its imported energy. Azerbaijan is a true friend of the United States and I once again commend the Republic of Azerbaijan on the 100th anniversary of its independence.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for their leadership. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5044, the Service- Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act. This bill ensures that the surviving spouses of Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses are able to retain the Service Disabled Veteran Owned status of their small business for 3 years, as was mentioned, after the passing of the veteran spouse. This policy is already codified in title 38 of the United States Code. However, there is a lack of parity between title 38 and the Small Business Act. I have heard from several small businesses about this issue, including one in my district, that this discrepancy creates legal uncertainty and confusion in the application of this important policy. What we are trying to do is clear it up. To guarantee clarity and certainty for the administration of these Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, the Small Business Act must conform with the policy prescribed in title 38. H.R. 5044 dispels any legal uncertainty, ensuring that these important policy changes to the law are sustained. Most importantly, this bill provides peace of mind for surviving spouses of veteran business owners. And one of the main things a veteran is always looking out for is making sure that his or her spouse is taken care of after they are gone. So this will not only give the surviving spouse peace of mind, but the veteran himself or herself peace of mind ahead of time. Again, I thank the chairman and the ranking member and members of the House Veterans Affairs' Committee for their leadership in clearing this up and, again, giving peace of mind to veterans and their spouses all over America. I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5044.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged resolution, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4743) to amend the Small Business Act to strengthen the Office of Credit Risk Management within the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3170) to amend the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, before we get into the business at hand, I would like to thank our ranking member, Ms. Velazquez, all of our minority and majority members on the committee, and their staffs for working in a bipartisan manner to produce this strong package of small business bills. Our committee strives to be bipartisan and an example, really, for our fellow Members. That can't be done without equal effort on both sides. Again, I want to thank Ms. Velazquez for always working with us-- usually working with us--in a bipartisan manner, and I want to thank all the members in the committee for doing that as well. Mr. Speaker, last week was National Small Business Week all across America. I like to call small businesses our biggest asset as a Nation. And because of the actions of this Congress and our President, small businesses are the most optimistic they have been in more than three decades. It is vital to our Nation's economy that these small businesses succeed. As technology evolves, so must our small businesses. Just as important as the ice cream shop on Main Street is the online startup company. We have an obligation to do everything we can to create an economy where all small businesses flourish, because a community that has successful small businesses thrives, and this is good for all of us all across the country. This leads us to the first piece of legislation before us today. Advances in information technology, or IT, have helped small businesses to rapidly increase their productivity, enter new markets, and offer consumers new and innovative services and products. However, IT has advanced so quickly that it has been difficult to keep pace with the ever-growing cyber threats. Unfortunately, small businesses are becoming increasingly targeted by cyber criminals. While larger companies have more resources to detect and combat cyber attacks, small businesses often do not learn they have been hacked until it is too late. As chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, I have heard too many firsthand accounts of this occurring. One story that stands out to me is the story of a small-business owner who owned an indoor go-karting facility in Maine and had a number of employees and their families who depended on it. He told our committee that he was struck by a phishing scam. He logged on to his business account, and, to his utter disbelief, his bank account was zero. This happened on a payday, no less. So all these people, who are depending on him to pay them, his bank account is zero because some hacker got into it. Stories like these are why Congressman Evans and I have introduced H.R. 3170, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2017. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would establish a cyber counseling certification program in lead small business development centers, or SBDCs, to assist small businesses with planning and implementing cybersecurity measures to defend against cyber attacks. The cyber assistance offered by trained staff at SBDCs would be provided at no cost, or low cost, to small businesses. Cyber planning assistance will encourage small businesses to take a more proactive approach to defending themselves from cyber attacks by leveraging the expertise from SBDCs and their partner agencies and institutions, rather than being forced to react after an attack. When provided with the right resources, small businesses can be assured that they have an effective cyber plan in place. I would like to thank Mr. Evans for his collaboration on this bill, and I would urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Norman).

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall).

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any further speakers on this bill.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close, and I will be brief. Mr. Speaker, America's small business development centers must have the best possible cybersecurity training so that they can better assist small businesses to detect and combat cyber attacks. In our committee's efforts to spotlight these serious and growing threats, it has become clear that we need to think outside the box as we work to thwart cyber attacks, and the bipartisan bill before us today is a step in that direction. I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I want to again thank the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the ranking member, for her leadership on this. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.