Roger Williams

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 481, which condemns the disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks across the United States. On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists murdered and took hostage innocent Israelis in an unprovoked attack. Since then, anti-Semitic incidents have reached unprecedented levels across this great country. The attack in Boulder, Colorado, is the most recent incident following the murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members in Washington, D.C., and the attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family, as we previously heard. This growing trend of politically and religiously motivated violence directed at Jewish individuals and institutions across the United States is totally unacceptable. Every American has the right to assemble peacefully and practice their faith without fear of violence. Acts of anti-Semitism, whether expressed through threats, vandalism, or violence, are fundamentally incompatible with the values of this Nation. Today, remember those who we have lost and stood with the Jewish community. There is no place for hate or violence in the United States of America. Congress must fully condemn these attacks and stand against anti-Semitism in all forms. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this important resolution. In God We Trust.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 458, I call up the bill (H.R. 2966) to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to require an applicant for certain loans of the Administration to provide certain citizenship status documentation, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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 submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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. 2966, the American Entrepreneurs First Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Van Duyne from the great State of Texas. For 4 years under the Biden-Harris administration, the SBA approved loans for illegal immigrants despite their ineligibility. This bill requires citizenship verification of SBA loan assistance applications to ensure that taxpayer-backed loans go only to American entrepreneurs. This Congress, the Committee on Small Business is working to carry out the Made in America agenda alongside the Trump administration. It is critical that we get the capital necessary for U.S.-owned small businesses to ensure they have everything they need to expand and grow. This bill codifies both President Trump's executive order to end taxpayer subsidization of open borders and Administrator Loeffler's SBA 7(a) program guardrails put in place earlier this year. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this bill for Main Street America so Americans can achieve the dream of entrepreneurship and business ownership, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the great State of Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).

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

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this commonsense legislation, the American Entrepreneurs First Act. We need to put the guardrails up to support Main Street America. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 458, I call up the bill (H.R. 2931) to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to relocate certain offices of the Small Business Administration in sanctuary jurisdictions, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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 submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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. 2931, the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Finstad. This legislation does exactly what is necessary to ensure SBA employees are safe. Despite inheriting one of the most secure borders in American history, President Biden relaxed border policies, and today, communities continue to deal with these consequences. I am talking about everything from crime against small businesses forced to close their storefronts to the death of innocent Americans, and it hasn't stopped, as evidenced by the tragedy in Boulder, Colorado, earlier this week. Thankfully, President Trump is taking action to restore the rule of law with executive orders that stop the Federal subsidization of areas that refuse to comply with immigration laws. This legislation, in part, codifies those efforts and the work already done at the SBA. Under Administrator Loeffler's leadership, the regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle will be moved to safer communities within those States; but there are other cities that need to be reached. Under this bill, the SBA administrator will make determinations on what offices will be moved and will make those decisions public to ensure transparency. It is important to note that SBA services to small businesses nationwide will not be interrupted by passing this legislation. When a small business in any jurisdiction needs assistance, they can still go to their local small business development center or their community lender. The previous administration's border crisis should not put the safety of small businesses who go to the SBA offices and the SBA employees who work in those offices at risk. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are going to argue that Republicans are working to close SBA offices. This bill simply relocates these offices. As I said before, lending and counseling services for small businesses will still be provided to constituents. I urge all of my colleagues who support this bill to make Main Street safe again. 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 Missouri (Mr. Alford).

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 458, I call up the bill (H.R. 2987) to amend the Small Business Act to require a limit on the number of small business lending companies, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

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 under consideration.

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. 2987, the CEASE Act, introduced by Representative Bresnahan. This bill is simply a reversal of an irresponsible change made by the Biden administration's SBA, which raised concerns on both sides of the aisle. Unlike a traditional community bank, small business lending companies, or SBLCs, are regulated by the SBA. Historically, the SBA recognized that they had finite resources to conduct oversight of the SBLCs, reinforcing a need for a cap on the number of SBLCs. Despite this, in 2023, the Biden administration lifted the 40-year moratorium on licensing the SBLCs to participate in its flagship 7(a) program, a government-backed lending program. The SBA heard concerns from Members from both Chambers and both sides of the aisle. Even the ranking member, Ms. Velazquez, said earlier this week during the Rules Committee hearing that she was one of the first to raise questions when the SBA lifted the licensing moratorium. Biden's SBA hid behind promises of lender oversight and stronger borrower protection yet still awarded a license to an unqualified entity. This entity, which was seeking to sell its business when it was awarded a license, ultimately surrendered its license before it could even make a 7(a) loan. This legislation puts the guardrails back and restores integrity to the 7(a) program, ensuring taxpayer dollars are safe. I am confident that the 16 SBLCs can and will be overseen effectively under Administrator Loeffler's leadership. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, 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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Bresnahan).

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

Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. 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. 1642) to amend the Small Business Act to include requirements relating to graduates of career and technical education programs for small business development centers and women`s business centers, 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.