Guzman Testimony

Summary

Written testimony of Isabella Casillas Guzman, nominee for Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship on Wednesday, February 3, 2021. Addressed to Chairman Rubio and Ranking Member Cardin, the statement describes her nomination by President Biden and her role as California's Small Business Advocate. It states that small businesses number over 30 million and have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn. The nominee pledges, if confirmed, to implement COVID-19 relief and recovery programs effectively and equitably, to strengthen the agency's systems and processes, and to be transparent and responsive to the committee.

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                         Isabella Casillas Guzman
        Nominee; Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
       Written Testimony, U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business &
                             Entrepreneurship
                       Wednesday, February 3, 2021
                                 10:30 a.m.
                             Washington, D.C.


Good Morning Chairman Rubio, Ranking Member Cardin, Members of the
Committee – it is an honor to appear before you today.
As a product of and lifelong advocate for America’s small business community, I
am honored and profoundly grateful that President Biden has nominated me to
serve as the next Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Now more than ever, I am deeply committed to helping support our nation’s small
businesses and entrepreneurs and would be proud to lead the SBA and help small
businesses start, operate, grow, and be resilient.
Let me tell you about my background. I grew up in a small business family in
California – visiting and working with my dad at his veterinary hospital.

What I remember more than anything: I loved the connection he had with the
clients he served every day. At a young age, I experienced firsthand how important
small business owners are to the communities they serve and why we rightly call
them the fabric of our neighborhoods. They enliven our main streets, create the
products and services that enrich our lives, and innovate to solve the world’s
problems.

If confirmed, I pledge to serve as their voice and represent the enormous diversity
across our small businesses – from independent contractors and sole proprietors to
startups and innovative technology and science-based firms to main street and
manufacturing – of all sizes and all stages of development.

At over 30 million strong, small businesses power our economy – they represent
vastly all of our nation’s total businesses and employ nearly half of the private
workforce.

But they are facing an unprecedented crisis and need our support to survive and
thrive again. As this committee knows so well, small businesses across the country

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have been devastated by the pandemic and economic downturn. I feel a sense of
urgency that we need to work harder than ever, think more creatively than ever,
and build more collaboration than ever to meet this moment.

Throughout my career I have started businesses and helped entrepreneurs launch
and grow their firms, and I appreciate and understand the challenges they face
every day. We all know a small business owner who works so hard – wearing
multiple hats to tenaciously pursue their dreams.


As California’s current Small Business Advocate, I have also seen the impossible
situations and intense frustrations small business owners are experiencing as they
attempt to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have experienced revenue
drops, increasing debt and shrinking cash flows as a result of the health and safety
guidance and lockdown restrictions.
Small businesses need a team behind them. SBA must be a part of that team –
helping them access capital, and connecting them to marketplaces to build
revenues and networks that can help them navigate resources to improve outcomes
so that they can do what they do best: create our nation’s jobs and help spur our
economy.
I am confident that I can hit the ground running and deliver the recovery policies of
the Administration and this committee.
President Biden is committed to addressing inequities in our economy and
providing relief to those who are struggling during the pandemic. He has focused
on building our economy back better and strengthening our small businesses.
And, America’s small businesses are counting on effective and equitable
implementation of COVID-19 relief and recovery programs passed by Congress
and implemented by the SBA. Because their survival is at risk.
If confirmed, I would leverage my prior experience serving in leadership at the
SBA and commit to working diligently to be a good steward of its programs. I am
committed to ensuring the agency has the right systems, technology and operating
processes in place to advance its mission and reach all our small businesses. Most
importantly, I will work to ensure funds get into the hands of the small businesses
who have been hurt the most by the pandemic and economic crisis through no fault
of their own.



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I also pledge to be transparent, responsive, and accessible to this committee about
SBA’s operations and needs.
President Biden has committed to advancing racial justice and equity for all
Americans. If confirmed, I am committed to helping the SBA advance opportunity
for all including our underserved entrepreneurs who have faced historic barriers to
start and grow their businesses.
I am deeply honored by the President’s nomination and look forward to getting to
work immediately with the mission-driven civil servants at the SBA to help all of
America’s small businesses build better futures for their families and communities.
Their success is our country’s success.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to the Committee’s questions.




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