Roger Williams

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3174, the Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act. The ability to manufacture in the United States is vital to our country's economic and national security. However, for decades, America's policies have shipped good-paying manufacturing jobs overseas and opened the door for foreign adversaries to fill the void. We must reverse this trend which would require more than just luck. That is why the Trump administration has been championing progrowth and pro-American policies that are fueling a domestic manufacturing comeback. Now, Congress can do its job to reverse the trend and support the revitalization of American manufacturing. Small American manufacturers account for 98 percent of U.S. manufacturing companies. Like all small businesses, access to capital, or the appropriate amount of capital, is challenging. H.R. 3174 gives small American manufacturers access to capital at a level they need to start or grow their operations. This legislation increases the loan limit for small American manufacturers under the SBA's 7(a) and 504 lending programs from $5 million to $10 million. This will provide American manufacturing the capital they need to invest in new technology, hire, grow, and create onshore jobs that we have carelessly lost overseas. H.R. 3174 is essential to keep pace with demand for capital and bring jobs back to the U.S. Two weeks ago, the Committee on Small Business heard testimony from the industry and other manufacturing stakeholders about the importance of this bill for small manufacturers across the country looking to grow and reshore their businesses. It is often the case that when Congress passes a bill to support an industry, it will come at a cost to taxpayers. This is not the case with H.R. 3174 because the SBA's 7(a) and 504 loan programs operate under zero subsidy, meaning zero cost to the taxpayer. The Congressional Budget Office's review found that any costs would be insignificant in this area. H.R. 3174 presents Congress with the critical opportunity to usher in the golden age of American manufacturing. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3174, to support made in America, small businesses, and the revitalization of the American manufacturing base. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3174 that supports American manufacturing, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4491) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to implement certain recommendations relating to information technology modernization, and for other purposes.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4491, the SBA IT Modernization Reporting Act, introduced by Representative Cisneros from the great State of California and Representative Jack from the great State of Georgia. The SBA is charged with certifying small businesses to participate in certain government contract opportunities. Last year, the Biden-Harris SBA sought to implement a new certification portal. Unfortunately, this portal's lackluster planning, creation, and rollout left the SBA with a ticking time bomb. The Biden administration's failed Unified Certification Portal rollout resulted in delays, errors, and cybersecurity risks, shutting out small businesses from vital government contracting opportunities. While this committee shared bipartisan concerns with the Biden-Harris SBA over its rollout plan, or lack thereof, former Administrator Guzman failed to listen, and the results were damaging. Small businesses were delayed for months, sometimes longer, to get approval from the SBA to compete for governmental contracts. To make matters worse, the SBA allowed small businesses to use the new portal without conducting minimum cyber threat assessments. Entrepreneurs didn't just face delays, but their sensitive personal and business information was put at risk of cybercrime. The SBA IT Modernization Reporting Act ensures that this will not happen at the SBA again. This bill requires the SBA to implement the GAO's recommendations to establish stronger safeguards and improve oversight of IT initiatives so small businesses can rely on an efficient contract certification system. Small businesses should not be held back by government mismanagement. This bipartisan, commonsense bill restores accountability and helps Main Street focus on what it does best--innovate. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to protect both the SBA and small businesses alike. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4495) to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain pandemic programs, and for other purposes.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4495, the SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act, a companion piece of legislation to S. 1199, introduced by Senator Ernst. H.R. 4495 is bipartisan legislation introduced by the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Downing) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Conaway). For 4 years, the Biden administration's SBA failed to address over $200 billion in COVID-19 era fraud. H.R. 4495 extends the soon-to- expire statute of limitations for two pandemic-era relief programs: The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The statute of limitations for these programs is set to expire this December. These two programs combined provided over $44 billion in grants and funding for small businesses during the pandemic. Unfortunately, fraudsters stole COVID relief funds from small businesses across the country. These fraudsters hope that the statute of limitations for their crimes will pass, allowing them to skirt justice. As Congress, we cannot let this happen. American taxpayer dollars should be protected at all costs. In the 117th Congress, we took similar action to extend the statute of limitations under the Paycheck Protection Program and the COVID EIDL program. Today, we have the chance to close this final loophole so that fraudsters do not get away with defrauding American taxpayers and entrepreneurs. This legislation sends a clear message that the era of taking advantage of the American taxpayer is simply over. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4495, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the great State of Montana (Mr. Downing).

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

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation. We cannot let fraudsters get away with American taxpayer dollars. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4549) to amend the Small Business Act to clarify the responsibilities of the Office of Rural Affairs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4549, the Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act. This bill was introduced by Representative Goodlander from the great State of New Hampshire, Representative Wied from the great State of Wisconsin, and Representative Golden from the great State of Maine. Mr. Speaker, 46 million Americans live in rural communities. The small businesses of rural America face distinct and persistent challenges, such as a shortage of business assistance resources and limited access to capital. These challenges often hinder their growth and sustainability. The SBA Office of Rural Affairs was created to serve our rural entrepreneurs. However, it is often underutilized and thus ineffective. This bill addresses these challenges by clarifying the critical responsibilities of the Office of Rural Affairs and qualifications for leadership to prioritize the rural communities. This bill ensures that the office will be utilized to reach rural entrepreneurs anywhere they are in Main Street America. These efforts will strengthen local networks and equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge and support necessary for long-term growth. H.R. 4549 is about investing in the future of rural America, creating jobs, and ensuring resources reach all businesses across America. I thank Representatives Goodlander, Wied, and Golden for introducing this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4549, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to support rural small businesses, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2066) to amend the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to exclude from the limit on leverage certain amounts invested in smaller enterprises located in rural or low-income areas and small businesses in critical technology areas, and for other purposes, as amended.

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. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2066, the Investing in All of America Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Meuser from the great State of Pennsylvania and Representative Scholten from the great State of Michigan. One of the most significant barriers to economic growth across America is the lack of access to capital for small businesses, including investment opportunities. While some regions and industries are flush with investment, too many small businesses struggle to attract investment capital that they would need to help them to grow. The Investing in All of America Act strengthens one of the most effective public-private partnerships the SBA has to offer: the Small Business Investment Company, or SBIC, program. This program has a proven track record of turning promising small businesses into household names, all without spending any taxpayer dollars. By unleashing nearly $20 billion in private capital, this bipartisan bill would expand opportunities for small manufacturers, rural communities, and businesses critical to our national security. It means more jobs, greater innovation, and a stronger economy. This commonsense solution rewards hard work and fuels private investment into small businesses across America without new spending or more red tape. I ask my colleagues to support this bill for Main Street America, driving capital back into the hands of small business owners where it belongs. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to increase access to capital for America's small businesses. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I recognize Dale Petroskey for his outstanding leadership and dedicated service as President and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber. Under his guidance, the Chamber has helped make North Texas one of the most dynamic and business-friendly regions in America. Dale has also been a great friend, we've shared many conversations about leadership, community, and our love of baseball. I congratulate him on his remarkable tenure and thank him for representing the very best of Texas.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5100) to extend the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes.