Roger Williams

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8881) to amend the Small Business Act to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to report on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning by the Administration, and for other purposes.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, due to illness, I was unable to vote on H.R. 5587. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 137. Stated against:

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Stephenville High School, which I am honored to represent in the United States Congress. On February 9, the National Football Foundation named Stephenville High School the national winner of the Hatchell Cup award. This is the highest academic team honor in high school football, and the Yellow Jackets were awarded this distinction with an outstanding 4.0 team GPA. Our community is proud to see Stephenville High School complete the football season undefeated and bring home another State title. The young men and coaches on this team have spent countless hours preparing both on and off the field. The Hatchell Cup recognition is a testament to their hard work and success. I congratulate the players, Head Coach Sterling Doty, and the Stephenville community. Go Yellow Jackets. In God we trust.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3496) to amend the Small Business Act for microloan eligibility for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam 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.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3496, the Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act. This bill was introduced by Delegate King-Hinds and Representative Conaway. The SBA microloan program provides entrepreneurs with access to small-dollar loans through qualified lenders. Sometimes, entrepreneurs do not need to access large sums of capital for their operations. That is where the SBA microloan program can help entrepreneurs get just enough capital to meet their exact needs. Under current law, the SBA apportions microloan program funding to intermediaries in 55 States and territories. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is excluded. This creates unnecessary barriers for small businesses in the Northern Mariana Islands by limiting opportunities for local entrepreneurship and economic growth. H.R. 3496 fixes this oversight and ensures that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is included within the geographic scope of the SBA microloan program, increasing the number of States and territories eligible to receive microloan program funding from 55 to 56. Expanding eligibility for the microloan program will help spur entrepreneurship, strengthen local economies, and ensure that small businesses in all States and territories have a fair opportunity to grow. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3496, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Ms. King-Hinds), my good friend.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3496 to bring access to capital for small businesses in the Northern Mariana Islands. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5763) to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to modify the criteria for loans for plant acquisition, construction, conversion or expansion, and for other purposes.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam 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.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5763, the Main Street Parity Act. I also thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Simon), my friend, for joining me in co-leading this bipartisan effort. The SBA's 504 loan program is an important tool that helps small businesses obtain affordable financing for the acquisition of fixed assets, such as land, buildings, and heavy machinery. To obtain a 504 loan, a small business owner must contribute 10 percent of the total project cost as a form of downpayment. However, if a small business is seeking financing to build something like a surgery center or a nursing home, the SBA imposes additional equity requirements because these properties are deemed limited purpose. This initial equity injection was required because limited purpose properties were believed to be at a higher risk of default. Years of data show that this assumption is incorrect. In fact, many businesses facing these increased costs were at lower risk of default than the broader 504 portfolio. It is time to bring parity to Main Street and remove the unnecessary lender barriers based on outdated assumptions. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5763, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5763 allows small businesses on Main Street to have equal access to SBA 504 loans. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5764) to amend the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to assist small business concerns with the use of artificial intelligence, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam 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.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act, introduced by Representatives Alford and Scholten. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to streamline operations, reduce costs, and boost productivity for small businesses. For many small businesses across the country, adopting these tools remains out of reach because they lack the staff, the expertise, or the capital to do so. Madam Speaker, the AI for Main Street Act helps address this challenge by directing the SBA's Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, to assist small businesses in developing AI technologies into their operations. These centers operate in partnership with universities and community colleges across the country and are trusted advisers to local entrepreneurs. This approach builds on work already underway. In September 2024, America's SBDCs, in partnership with Google, launched America's SBDC AI U, which provides hands-on AI training, clinics, and technical assistance to small businesses. This bill builds on that effort by requiring the SBDC network to have a core duty to assist entrepreneurs nationwide in fighting AI in their businesses. As artificial intelligence becomes a core driver of productivity and competitiveness, Main Street cannot be left behind. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5764, the AI for Main Street Act. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford).

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5764 will directly give small businesses the AI resources and tools for SBDCs across this country. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5788) to amend title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to require an annual portfolio risk analysis of loans guaranteed under such title, and for other purposes.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam 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.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5788, the 504 Program Risk Oversight Act introduced by Representatives Tran and Patronis. This bipartisan piece of legislation would give Congress greater accountability and oversight of the SBA's 504 Loan Program by requiring the SBA to provide Congress and the public with annual, data-driven risk assessments of the 504 loan portfolio. The 504 program is an incredibly important tool that helps small businesses obtain long-term, fixed-rate financing like the acquisition of fixed assets such as land, buildings, and heavy machinery. In fiscal year 2025, the program supported $7.8 billion in loans to small businesses nationwide. Specifically, H.R. 5788 would require the SBA to provide Congress with annual reports on the health of the 504 loan portfolio. This would include an analysis of any risk to the program broken down by multiple data points, including industry concentration, loan age, and gross dollar amount. These reports would be made available to the public within 7 days of being provided to Congress. The transparency measures in this bill are particularly important in light of the House passage of my bill, H.R. 3174, the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act, which raised the loan limit for American manufacturers under the SBA's 7(a) and 504 loan programs to $10 million. I hope it will quickly move through the Senate and to President Trump's desk. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5788 marks a critical step toward identifying and mitigating risks early, strengthening the long-term viability and affordability of the 504 loan program and ensuring continued support for American entrepreneurs. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5788, and I reserve the balance of my time.