Pappas’s Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Support for Rural Small Businesses Passes House

On Wednesday, a bipartisan bill led by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) passed the House with bipartisan support. The bill focuses on improving the Small Business Administration’s Office of Rural Affairs to strengthen support for rural small businesses in New Hampshire and across the country.

“I know from my own experience running a small business, as well as frequent meetings with small businesses and entrepreneurs across New Hampshire, that rural businesses face unique challenges when it comes to accessing capital and contending with workforce shortages,” said Congressman Pappas. “This legislation would improve the Office of Rural Affairs to ensure rural businesses receive the support and resources they deserve from SBA and strengthen our rural economies and communities. I urge the Senate to take it up swiftly, and deliver these improved resources to our Main Street businesses.”

Background:

The Office of Rural Affairs was created as a subsection of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1990 to act as a liaison between rural small businesses and the federal government. Throughout its existence, though, the office has had inconsistent leadership and remained effectively dormant to the detriment of the rural businesses it is intended to help.

H.R. 5265, the Small Business Administration Rural Performance Report Act would require the SBA to issue an annual report on the activities of the Office of Rural Affairs as well as a report on the findings of its Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Agriculture (USDA), improving transparency at the Office of Rural Affairs. Pappas leads this bipartisan legislation alongside Representatives Alford, Luetkemeyer, Ellzey, and Bean.