Blaine Luetkemeyer

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, the Guidance Clarity Act. The Federal Government produces hundreds of rules, regulations, and laws every year. Without the help of legal teams and consultants, individuals and small businesses cannot possibly keep up with everything that is coming out of Washington. The purpose of guidance is to assist those Americans in understanding rules and regulations and give them suggestions on how to adhere to them. Guidance is not approved by Congress, nor does it go through the Federal rulemaking process which allows for public input and legal scrutiny of agency actions. Guidance is not backed up by law, nor is it enforceable by law enforcement. It is, quite simply, a suggestion. Unfortunately, in past years, many regulators have threatened punitive action against businesses for not following guidance. That is unacceptable, and quite frankly, it is illegal. To be clear, I am not talking about businesses breaking the law or ignoring Federal regulations. Guidance documents are meant to clarify or to inform the public about policy topics and are not legally binding. Small businesses deserve clarity on what documents are legally binding and should not be punished for deviating from guidance documents. Regulators have no legal authority to enforce guidance, and any attempt to do so is an egregious abuse of power. On top of that, with thousands of guidance documents being produced, instead of achieving their intended goal--which is to provide clarity-- they are causing even more confusion. With some regulators enforcing guidance while others do not, small businesses and entrepreneurs are driven deeper into the regulatory maze of the Federal Government. My bill is a very simple fix to that confusion. The Guidance Clarity Act ensures the first page of guidance documents includes the plain language statement declaring that guidance is not law, nor can it legally be enforced as law. This small but critical statement clarifies for citizens and regulators on the ground that guidance is meant to be helpful; a suggestion that can be put in place or completely ignored. It will help regulators do their jobs more efficiently and small businesses, who lack the resources to employ teams of lawyers, continue to create jobs and grow the economy. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will agree that American small businesses have enough to worry about. They are working hard to keep their employees paid and their customers happy. They don't have time to worry about keeping track of and abiding by agency suggestions that were never meant to be anything more than just that. I thank Chairwoman Maloney, Ranking Member Comer, and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. LaTurner) for their leadership in supporting the bill and bringing it to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of the Guidance Clarity Act.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating Constitution week. 234 years ago, The United States Constitution was signed guaranteeing our freedoms and inalienable rights from government tyranny. Our most sacred document defines our nation's principles and fundamental values that are the cornerstone for the greatness this country has achieved. In honoring the Framers of the Constitution, let us take a moment and reflect on the promise of our civil liberties and celebrate the Constitution as the bedrock of the freedoms that together we all enjoy and cherish as Americans. Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating freedom, liberty, and the United States Constitution.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss S.J. Res. 15, House Democrats' attempt to limit the ability of our Nation's banks to serve consumers by overturning the true lender rule. The true lender rule was finalized by the OCC in 2020, in an effort to clarify who was the true lender in national bank third-party relationships. By providing this clarity, these third-party entities were able to provide financial services in partnership with financial institutions with the protections of legal precedence. Partnering with third parties like fintechs gives financial institutions the ability to increase access to credit, especially for low- and moderate-income consumers and small businesses. Unfortunately, the bill before us is nothing more than a politically motivated attempt by Democrats to make it more expensive and difficult for banks to serve customers, and its passage will have long-term consequences. According to the Congressional Review Act, if this legislation is passed, the OCC will not have the ability to issue a similar rule down the road. This will leave bank-fintech partnerships in limbo with a great deal of uncertainty regarding the loans they make and who is the true lender in the relationship. Democrats are constantly putting their disdain for America's banks ahead of the needs of their constituents, and this bill is another prime example of this unfortunate practice. I firmly oppose this bill and its prevention of widespread financial inclusion, especially for low- and moderate-income consumers.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Kiara Strayhorn for winning two state titles at the Class 5 Track and Field Championship. Kiara earned a total of twenty-eight points out of the thirty points the Capital City Lady Cavaliers put on the board. Strayhorn should be commended for her hard work and dedication throughout this past year. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Kiara Strayhorn for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dijonay Dawson for winning three gold medals at the Class 5 Track and Field Championship. Dijonay earned a total of nine points out of the eleven the Jefferson City Lady Jays put on the board. Out of her three gold medals, two medals were in individual races and one was in a relay. Dijonay should be commended for her hard work and dedication throughout this past year. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Dijonay Dawson for a job well done.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the St. Elizabeth High School Softball & Baseball Programs on being inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. St. Elizabeth High School fielded its first softball and baseball programs in 1951. Since 1991, they have combined to reach 15 Final Fours, including winning seven state championships, and each has had 38 All-State selections. St. Elizabeth's softball program has won four state titles (1992, 1994, 2002, 2011), finished as a runner-up in 1993 and 1997, and was fourth in 1991. St. Elizabeth's baseball program has captured three state championships (1995, 1997, 2019) and was runner-up in 2018. The Hornets also placed third in 1996 while their 1984, 2010 and 2011 teams each placed fourth in the state. As a native of St. Elizabeth this honor is especially personal for me. I graduated from St. Elizabeth but more importantly, my wife Jackie and I have watched generations of kids grow into young adults and go on to become exceptional members of our community and communities around Missouri. Both of our daughters played on the softball team and our son played on the baseball team where they and their teammates learned invaluable life lessons about hard work, commitment, and teamwork. Thanks to the coaches, teachers, and administrators we have been lucky enough to have over the years, our little town has experienced success well beyond the ball field. This honor is certainly a testament to all of the kids who worked so hard to achieve athletic success but also to the parents and a community that supports one another and always prioritized our future generations. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the St. Elizabeth High School Softball and Baseball Programs on multiple extraordinary seasons and their much-deserved Hall of Fame induction.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present for a recorded vote on April 15, 2021 during a period of time for H.R. 1502, the Microloan Improvement Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 114.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, 2020 was a difficult year for small businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic hit small businesses hard. This is especially true for small businesses that were just starting out. As our country continues to recover, the SBA's programs and resources must be ready to assist the Nation's job creators along the way. The microloan program is a key tool for many small business owners. The reforms in H.R. 1502 are commonsense improvements that will continue to provide assistance and resources to America's Main Street businesses. Madam Speaker, I urge and recommend my colleagues to support H.R. 1502, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 1502, the Microloan Improvement Act of 2021. Before I begin, I would like to thank the chairwoman for working in a bipartisan manner on behalf of our Nation's small businesses. The bills before us today were developed in the 116th Congress and have been updated and reintroduced in this Congress. They focus on the Small Business Administration's existing government guaranteed loan programs. These programs are important resources and tools for the Nation's smallest businesses as they seek out financing. Now, more than ever, these programs need to be ready for small businesses as they begin and continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. As ranking member of the Committee on Small Business, I want to make sure we focus, or continue to focus on these programs that assist the Nation's small businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups. The first bill is the Microloan Improvement Act. This legislation enhances and expands SBA's microloan program which provides loans of $50,000 or less. This program, which is delivered to small businesses through a partnership with microloan intermediaries, concentrates on low-dollar loans and technical assistance. When a small business is starting out, counseling and capital assistance are true drivers of continued and prolonged success. H.R. 1502 further enhances the program for micro-borrowers by expanding the repayment terms of the program and providing additional tools in their toolbox. Additionally, the bill removes the burdensome 1/55th rule that delays dollars from flowing to microloan intermediaries within the first two fiscal quarters of the year and replaces it with an allocation mechanism that will provide more equitable access to all States across the Nation. I would like to thank Mr. Kim, Mr. Garbarino, Ms. Newman, and Mr. Burchett for concentrating their efforts on this legislation. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1502, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), who has been a leader in small business issues.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1487, the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021. I thank the chair for moving these bills quickly to the House floor. I also want to commend the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kim), and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Newman) for working diligently and in a bipartisan fashion on behalf of America's small businesses. It is important to note that once Congress creates a Federal Government program, tool, or resource, the work is not done. Members of Congress must examine and determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs in practice to ensure that they are meeting congressional intent. H.R. 1487 does just this for the microloan program, which delivers capital assistance and counseling to our Nation's smallest businesses. Oftentimes, businesses that are just starting out and taking their first steps as a company are participants in the microloan program. On an annual basis, the Small Business Administration will be required to report to Congress on the microloan program's default rates, an analysis of credit requirements, the extent and reach of the program in rural areas, and so on. H.R. 1487 will also increase transparency and provide Congress with tools to ensure it is working on behalf of small businesses across the Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense and straightforward legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), a distinguished gentleman who has worked hard on a lot of small business issues.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald), a huge supporter of small businesses and all their issues.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. The microloan program, which delivers capital assistance to the Nation's smallest businesses, is an important lending tool at the SBA. H.R. 1487, the Microloan Transparency and Accountability Act of 2021, will deliver comprehensive data and information on the effectiveness of the program. I applaud all of the Members working on this important legislation in an effort to shine more light on how well the program is working. From my State of Missouri to both of the Nation's coasts, accessing capital remains a top challenge facing all small businesses. Tools and resources like the microloan program can make a huge difference to small business owners in the early stages of their businesses. We must ensure these programs and tools are operating at a high level and delivering on the goals that Congress set for them. That is why this bill is so important. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1487, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), someone who believes in cutting red tape to help ease the regulatory burden on all our small businesses.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1490, the 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2021. When capital options are limited for a small business, the SBA offers numerous lending programs, including the 504/Certified Development Company Loan Program. Also known as a 504/CDC loan, the program provides long-term and fixed-rate financing that primarily supports purchases of real estate and machinery. Due to the program's unique cost structure that includes a small business, a lender, and a certified development company, the process is often lengthy and cumbersome. H.R. 1490 takes important steps to streamline the closing process and ensures the Nation's job creators move through the program in a smooth and efficient manner. Additionally, H.R. 1490 enhances the 504/CDC loan program for America's small manufacturers. By increasing the maximum loan amount for small manufacturers, H.R. 1490 ensures these small businesses have the capital to expand and create jobs in Missouri and beyond. Enhancements to lending resources and tools, such as those outlined in H.R. 1490, is exactly what our small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups need. I want to highlight the work of Ms. Craig from Minnesota, Mrs. Kim from California, Mr. Chabot from Ohio, and Ms. Davids from Kansas on this important matter. I would also like to thank the chairwoman for her efforts as well. The changes in H.R. 1490 will improve delivery of the 504/CDC loan program for all of America's small businesses. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 1490. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney), a small business owner herself who knows the importance of cutting red tape and how it can be linked to success of a small business.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, we have one more gentleman coming, but there is a long path between his office and here. Apparently he is not here on time, so I am prepared to close. Madam Speaker, as our economy continues to recover and as our small businesses rebuild, existing Federal Government programs, tools, and resources need to be ready to provide assistance. Processes that are slow and unwieldy must be examined and retooled to ensure they are working on behalf of small businesses and the American public. H.R. 1490, the 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2021, takes these steps to streamline the program while ensuring it is a viable option for small businesses as they recover and grow. Additionally, H.R. 1490 places a direct focus on our Nation's small manufacturers. We must continue to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure these programs are ready for recovery. With that, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1490. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), a really hard worker and a big supporter of small businesses around this country.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1482, the 504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act of 2021. I thank the chair again for advancing all these bills that are meant to assist small businesses across the Nation. I also thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop), the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids), the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig), as well as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for working in a bipartisan manner to strengthen the 504/CDC loan program. Government programs, especially government guaranteed loan programs, are only as strong as the oversight that is required. In order to protect and safeguard American tax dollars, executive branch agencies must have a watchful eye focused on these programs. The Office of Credit Risk Management is a division at the Small Business Administration that is charged with overseeing many of the government guaranteed lending programs that the SBA offers to small businesses. H.R. 1482 ensures the Office of Credit Risk Management has a trained eye focused on the 504/CDC loan program. Specifically, the legislation outlines how the office should conduct reviews under the lending program. Additionally, H.R. 1482 details the enforcement authority of the Office of Credit Risk Management. These enhancements will ensure the program operates effectively and efficiently into the future. Lastly, the bill requires the SBA to clearly and concisely define how the 504/CDC loan program operates in conjunction with the Nation's environmental laws and rules. Unfortunately, this process currently lacks certainty by the SBA. Simply put, Federal Government programs require robust oversight and the programs must have clear rules for small businesses. H.R. 1482 addresses both of these issues head on. Madam Speaker, I urge and recommend all my colleagues to support H.R. 1482, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the former chairman of the Small Business Committee.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Oversight of Federal Government programs is paramount to ensure American taxpayer dollars are used wisely. H.R. 1482 not only increases the oversight capabilities of the SBA over the 504/CDC loan program, but also requires clear and concise guidance for small business owners moving forward. There are sound changes that will improve the program for future 504/CDC borrowers. I applaud all Members for working on this legislation and all of the small business bills before us today. We must continue to put our Nation's job creators at the forefront of this economic recovery. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a few moments to make a couple comments here with regard to all the bills that we have offered here today. All these bills dealt with things that deal with oversight. We, as legislators in this body, have two jobs. One is to provide legislation to improve the lives of our businesses and the people in this country, protect our country. Second is to provide oversight over all of the activities that go on within the executive branch, as well as the judicial branch, to whatever extent we can. In our committee, we oversee the legislation with regard to the Small Business Administration, as well as oversight of their activities. We have come to find over the last several weeks here that the inspector general reports that the SBA is not being run as well as it should. There is fraud rampant in some of the programs, which is verified by the AG reports. We have a new Administrator who has got her hands full because of the lack of knowledge of what goes on with all the brand-new things going on. So we have got a real problem and we, as legislators, have got to step up. These bills today are just one step in the process of providing the kind of oversight that it takes. We will continue to provide oversight, I can assure you. And those listening and watching today need to take heart in the fact that we are going to continue to provide the kind of oversight over the Small Business Administration and all of its programs that we have been tasked with and are responsible for. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1482, the last bill we will discuss today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act of 2021, as amended. The Paycheck Protection Program has proven to be a successful rescue vessel for millions of small businesses across the country. When COVID- 19 wiped out their operations, their plans, and their next steps, the PPP provided stability and confidence to small businesses in a time of darkness. With over two rounds of funding, the program has provided 7\1/2\ million loans for approximately $687 billion. According to the SBA's own statistics, the program assisted or saved roughly 50 million American jobs from April of last year to August of last year. This has been a monumental task for the SBA and the Department of Treasury. However, more work needs to be done to ensure this program can wrap up smoothly for small businesses and lenders. Currently, PPP loans are facing lengthy delays as error codes force multiple back-and-forth conversations between small businesses, lenders, and the SBA. It is these cross-checks that are creating uncertainty as to how the loans will proceed. Complicating this even further, the PPP is set to expire 2 weeks from tomorrow, and the SBA is reporting that the end date will prevent all loans that are currently in the pipeline from being processed. Under no circumstances should an American small business that applied for a PPP loan have their loan discarded due to a bureaucratic technical delay at the SBA. Simply put, if they completed their PPP paperwork on time, their loans should be considered. To correct this, H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act, provides a 30-day exclusive window for the SBA to fully process and consider all PPP applications that are received before the program concludes. Additionally, given the current demand for the PPP and the billions of dollars remaining within the program, H.R. 1799 extends the application window for 60 days. As a reminder, Congress reformed and replenished the PPP in December with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, providing the program with $284.5 billion. This funding should be reserved solely for American small businesses and should remain available to them through a program that is proven to be successful. I thank Chair Velazquez for working in a collaborative manner with me to ensure the program remains available to the hardest-hit small businesses through May 31 and that the SBA will have enough time to fully consider and address all error codes. Additionally, I look forward to working with Chair Velazquez to address other PPP issues in the coming weeks. I applaud the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim) and the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Bourdeaux) for working efficiently and in a bipartisan manner to address these issues that are creating uncertainty across the Nation. I urge and recommend all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1799, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).