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Microloan Improvement Act of 2021 (Cong. Rec., April 14, 2021)

Summary

This is H1765 of the Congressional Record, House, April 14, 2021, with interleaved columns of suspension debate. Mr. Bilirakis and Mr. Pallone speak in support of a bill introduced by Mr. Griffith to prohibit the transfer of any controlled substance registration without written consent from the agency, to reduce the risk of drug diversion. The page also prints text of the Microloan Improvement Act of 2021, including loan terms of 7 years for loans of $10,000 or less and 10 years for larger intermediary loans, and a program funding section reserving 15 percent for designated underutilized States.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Cite this document

“Microloan Improvement Act of 2021 (Cong. Rec., April 14, 2021).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-04-14-crec-2021-04-14-pt1-pgh1765-ce4edf4352/, SHA-256 b51c108b7a053a7a074915d159e4b6d6fe3b6e20ef2f2eb5c4ba93bd866205d8.

Full text

                                              April 14, 2021                                     CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                     H1765
                                              controlled substance registration of                    was a period of time during which the                    ‘‘(I) in the case of a loan made by an inter-
                                              any registrant if the registrant dies,                  DEA was unaware that a particular                      mediary of $10,000 or less, 7 years; and
                                              ceases legal existence, discontinues                    pharmacy was distributing controlled                     ‘‘(II) in the case of a loan made by an inter-
                                                                                                                                                             mediary of greater than $10,000, 10 years.
                                              business or professional practice, or                   substances.
                                                                                                                                                               ‘‘(ii) NO ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS.—The Ad-
                                              surrenders their registration. This bill                   Failing to properly verify whether a                ministrator may not impose any additional
                                              also codifies DEA authority to ensure                   transfer has been approved creates a                   limitation on the term for repayment of a
                                              accuracy of registrations and limit the                 serious risk of drug diversion. This bill              loan made by an intermediary under this
                                              transfer of such registrations.                         amends the Controlled Substances Act                   paragraph.’’.
                                                 I thank the lead sponsor of this bill,               to prohibit the transfer of any DEA                      (b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 329(c)
                                              Representative GRIFFITH, for his lead-                  registration without consent from the                  of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Busi-
                                              ership on this issue.                                   agency.                                                nesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (Public
                                                 Madam Speaker, I urge my col-                           By requiring written approval from                  Law 116–260; 134 Stat. 2042 15 U.S.C. 636 note)
                                                                                                                                                             is repealed.
                                              leagues to support this bill, and I re-                 the DEA before the transfer of registra-
                                                                                                                                                             SEC. 5. PROGRAM FUNDING FOR MICROLOANS.
                                              serve the balance of my time.                           tion, we decrease the risk of controlled
                                                                                                                                                                (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7(m) of the Small
                                                 Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I                      substances falling into the hands of
                                                                                                                                                             Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)) is amended—
                                              yield myself such time as I may con-                    those who have not been vetted by ap-                     (1) in paragraph (7)(B)—
                                              sume.                                                   propriate regulatory authorities.                         (A) by amending clause (i) to read as fol-
                                                 Madam Speaker, I rise today in sup-                     Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I                     lows:
                                              port of this legislation, which was in-                 urge passage of this very good bill. I                    ‘‘(i) ALLOCATION.—Subject to the avail-
                                              troduced by Representative GRIFFITH.                    yield back the balance of my time.                     ability of appropriations and for the first 2
                                                 In order to prevent people who have                     Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I                       quarters of a fiscal year, of the total amount
                                              not been vetted by authorities in dis-                  also urge support for the bill, and I                  of new loan funds made available for award
                                                                                                      yield back the balance of my time.                     under this subsection in such fiscal year, the
                                              pensing controlled substances, this bill
                                                                                                                                                             Administrator shall—
                                              would clarify that the transfer of any                     The SPEAKER pro tempore. The                           ‘‘(I) reserve 15 percent of such funds for
                                              controlled substance registration with-                 question is on the motion offered by                   award to designated underutilized States;
                                              out written consent from the Drug En-                   the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.                     and
                                              forcement Administration, DEA, is                       PALLONE) that the House suspend the                       ‘‘(II) make the remaining 85 percent of
                                              prohibited.                                             rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1899.                    such funds available for award in any
                                                 A 2018 Energy and Commerce Com-                         The question was taken.                             State.’’; and
                                              mittee report, which summarized the                        The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the                        (B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘to carry
                                                                                                      opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being                 out’’ and all that follows through the period
                                              committee’s bipartisan investigation
                                                                                                      in the affirmative, the ayes have it.                  at the end and inserting the following:
                                              into the distribution of prescription                                                                          ‘‘under clause (i)(I) remains unexpended, the
                                              opioids by wholesale drug distributors,                    Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speak-                    Administrator may make that portion avail-
                                              and the DEA’s subsequent enforcement                    er, on that I demand the yeas and nays.                able for award in any State or designated un-
                                              practices found that an opioid dis-                        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-                     derutilized State.’’; and
                                              tributor and its pharmacy customer                      ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution                   (2) in paragraph (11)—
                                              did not go through the appropriate                      8, the yeas and nays are ordered.                         (A) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking
                                              process of transferring a registration                     Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur-               ‘‘and’’ at the end;
                                                                                                      ther proceedings on this motion are                       (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the pe-
                                              to a new pharmacy owner.
                                                                                                      postponed.                                             riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
                                                 Failing to contact the DEA appro-                                                                              (C) by adding at the end the following new
                                              priately and to verify whether the                                        f                                    subparagraph:
                                              agency approved the transfer of a reg-                    MICROLOAN IMPROVEMENT ACT                               ‘‘(E) the term ‘State’ means each of the
                                              istration to dispense controlled sub-                                   OF 2021                                several States, the District of Columbia, the
                                              stances creates a serious risk that                                                                            Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United
                                              could lead to drug diversion.                             Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I move                     States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern
                                                 Madam Speaker, of course, I urge a                   to suspend the rules and pass the bill                 Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.’’.
                                              ‘‘yes’’ vote on this.                                   (H.R. 1502) to amend the Small Busi-                      (b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 180 days
                                                                                                      ness Act to optimize the operations of                 after the date of the enactment of this Act,
                                                 Madam Speaker, I yield such time as                                                                         the Administrator of the Small Business Ad-
                                              he may consume to the gentleman                         the microloan program, lower costs for
                                                                                                      small business concerns and inter-                     ministration shall issue regulations to define
                                              from Virginia (Mr. GRIFFITH).                                                                                  the term ‘‘designated underutilized State’’,
                                                                                                      mediary participants in the program,
                                                               b 1415                                                                                        as used in section 7(m)(7)(B) of the Small
                                                                                                      and for other purposes.                                Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(7)(B)), as
                                                Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I                          The Clerk read the title of the bill.                added by this section.
                                              rise today in support of H.R. 1899, the                   The text of the bill is as follows:                  SEC. 6. CREDIT REPORTING INFORMATION.
                                              Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Di-                                        H.R. 1502                            The Administrator of the Small Business
                                              version Act. This is a small but very                     Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-        Administration shall issue rules establishing
                                              important step that could play a key                    resentatives of the United States of America in        a process under which an intermediary that
                                              role in helping contain the opioid epi-                 Congress assembled,                                    makes a loan to a borrower under section
                                              demic.                                                  SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.                                7(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
                                                License to distribute opioids is not a                  This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Microloan             636(m)) shall be required to provide the
                                                                                                      Improvement Act of 2021’’.                             major credit reporting agencies with infor-
                                              commodity to be freely bought and                                                                              mation about the borrower relevant to credit
                                                                                                      SEC. 2. INTEREST RATE FOR CERTAIN INTER-
                                              sold. We must ensure that those who                                MEDIARIES.                                  reporting, such as the borrower’s payment
                                              wish to engage in opioid distribution                      Section 7(m)(3)(F)(iii) of the Small Busi-          activity on the loan.
                                              earn the ability to do so.                              ness Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(3)(F)(iii)) is              SEC. 7. REPORT REGARDING EQUITABLE DIS-
                                                An investigation, as the Speaker has                  amended by striking ‘‘$7,500’’ and inserting                      TRIBUTION.
                                              heard, published by the Energy and                      ‘‘$10,000’’.                                             Section 7(m)(8) of the Small Business Act
                                              Commerce Oversight and Investiga-                       SEC. 3. LINES OF CREDIT AUTHORIZED.                    (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(8)) is amended—
                                              tions Subcommittee in 2018 found that                      Section 7(m)(6)(A) of the Small Business              (1) by striking ‘‘In approving’’ and insert-
                                              the current procedures for transferring                 Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(6)(A)) is amended by in-         ing the following:
                                                                                                      serting ‘‘(including lines of credit)’’ after            ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In approving’’; and
                                              the licenses to distribute controlled                                                                            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                                              substances lacked sufficient account-                   ‘‘fixed rate loans’’.




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                                                                                                      SEC. 4. EXTENDED REPAYMENT TERMS.
                                                                                                                                                               ‘‘(B) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator
                                              ability.                                                                                                       shall include in the report submitted under
                                                In one instance, a distributor and its                  (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7(m)(6) of the
                                                                                                                                                             paragraph (10), and make publicly available
                                                                                                      Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(6)) is
                                              pharmacy customer did not go through                                                                           on the website of the Administration, infor-
                                                                                                      amended by adding at the end the following:
                                              the appropriate process of transferring                                                                        mation on how the Administration has met
                                                                                                        ‘‘(F) REPAYMENT TERMS.—
                                              registration to a new pharmacy owner,                                                                          the requirements of subparagraph (A).’’.
                                                                                                        ‘‘(i) LIMITATION ON REPAYMENTS TERM.—The
                                              but the mistake wasn’t caught until                     repayment term for a loan made under this                The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
                                              long, long afterward. As a result, there                paragraph shall not be more than—                      ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from



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                                              H1766                                              CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                      April 14, 2021
                                              Minnesota (Ms. CRAIG) and the gen-                        The microloan program is uniquely                    their doors open because support is
                                              tleman from Missouri (Mr. LUETKE-                       suited to address this problem, and to-                simply not reaching them.
                                              MEYER) each will control 20 minutes.                    day’s bill strengthens the program and                   As a former small business owner, I
                                                The Chair recognizes the gentle-                      is long overdue.                                       know firsthand how loans can make an
                                              woman from Minnesota.                                     I encourage my colleagues to support                 absolutely life-changing difference for
                                                               GENERAL LEAVE                          the bill.                                              an entrepreneur.
                                                Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I ask                         Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal-                      However, the reality is that too
                                              unanimous consent that all Members                      ance of my time.                                       many small businesses, especially
                                              may have 5 legislative days in which to                   Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speak-                        those led by women, or minorities, or
                                              revise and extend their remarks and in-                 er, I yield myself such time as I may                  those in rural communities, don’t have
                                              clude extraneous material on the meas-                  consume, and I rise in support of H.R.                 access to the primary lending programs
                                              ure under consideration.                                1502, the Microloan Improvement Act                    offered by the Small Business Adminis-
                                                The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there                     of 2021.                                               tration or private sector.
                                              objection to the request of the gentle-                   Before I begin, I would like to thank                  Microloans are designed to help
                                              woman from Minnesota?                                   the chairwoman for working in a bipar-                 start-ups and new small businesses
                                                There was no objection.                               tisan manner on behalf of our Nation’s                 that don’t have banking relationships
                                                Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I yield                     small businesses.                                      with access to larger capital. But for
                                              myself such time as I may consume.                        The bills before us today were devel-                too many businesses, these microloans
                                                Madam Speaker, I rise in support of                   oped in the 116th Congress and have                    have been unreachable.
                                              the bill before us today, H.R. 1502, the                been updated and reintroduced in this                    That is why I am proud to co-lead the
                                              Microloan Improvement Act of 2021.                      Congress. They focus on the Small                      Microloan Improvement Act to ensure
                                                Today, we are considering four bipar-                 Business     Administration’s    existing              that, regardless of background or loca-
                                              tisan bills that were approved by the                   government guaranteed loan programs.                   tion, every business has equitable ac-
                                              Small Business Committee and the full                   These programs are important re-                       cess to capital.
                                              House of Representatives last year. I                   sources and tools for the Nation’s                       With this legislation, we are expand-
                                              am proud of the committee’s work on                     smallest businesses as they seek out fi-               ing the number of community-based
                                              behalf of small businesses and pleased                  nancing.                                               lenders eligible for the lowest interest
                                              that we worked together to get things                     Now, more than ever, these programs                  rates on loans. That means these lend-
                                              done. Our small businesses deserve                      need to be ready for small businesses as               ers can offer lines of credit to more
                                              nothing less.                                           they begin and continue to recover                     small businesses.
                                                I would like to thank the chair-                      from the COVID–19 pandemic. As rank-                     Now more than ever, we have an obli-
                                              woman, Ms. VELÁZQUEZ, for giving me                    ing member of the Committee on Small                   gation to remove barriers that prevent
                                              the opportunity to manage time today                    Business, I want to make sure we                       small    businesses    from    receiving
                                              on these four important small business                  focus, or continue to focus on these                   microloans. With this legislation, we
                                              bills.                                                  programs that assist the Nation’s                      are cutting bureaucratic red tape that
                                                I would also like to thank the rank-                  small businesses, entrepreneurs, and                   has restricted growth and job creation.
                                              ing member, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, who                        start-ups.                                               From mom-and-pop shops, to family-
                                              will be handling the floor proceedings                    The first bill is the Microloan Im-                  owned stores, to every small business,
                                              today with me.                                          provement Act. This legislation en-                    they will all benefit. That is why this
                                                Prior to the COVID–19 pandemic, the                   hances and expands SBA’s microloan                     legislation is supported by Democrats
                                              Subcommittee on Economic Growth,                        program which provides loans of $50,000                and Republicans, and I am so glad to
                                              Tax, and Capital Access, under the                      or less. This program, which is deliv-                 partner today with my Republican col-
                                              leadership of Mr. KIM, held a hearing                   ered to small businesses through a                     leagues. I am happy to work in a bipar-
                                              on the microloan program, where we                      partnership with microloan inter-                      tisan fashion to help our inter-
                                              heard from a panel of intermediaries                    mediaries, concentrates on low-dollar                  mediaries provide assistance to our
                                              who reported that many of the pro-                      loans and technical assistance.                        local entrepreneurs.
                                              gram’s rules, largely unchanged since                     When a small business is starting                      Let’s pass this legislation so we can
                                              1991, are outdated and restrict them                    out, counseling and capital assistance                 support the smallest of the small busi-
                                              from meeting today’s demand for start-                  are true drivers of continued and pro-                 nesses in all of our communities.
                                              up financing and providing more tech-                   longed success. H.R. 1502 further en-                    Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speak-
                                              nical assistance.                                       hances the program for micro-bor-                      er, I yield such time as he may con-
                                                In response, Mr. KIM crafted the                      rowers by expanding the repayment                      sume to the gentleman from Tennessee
                                              Microloan Improvement Act of 2020, a                    terms of the program and providing ad-                 (Mr. BURCHETT), who has been a leader
                                              series of proposals designed to update                  ditional tools in their toolbox.                       in small business issues.
                                              the program’s rules and, ultimately,                      Additionally, the bill removes the                     Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, I
                                              help microloan intermediaries extend                    burdensome 1/55th rule that delays dol-                thank the ranking member for yield-
                                              more affordable capital to first-time                   lars from flowing to microloan inter-                  ing.
                                              entrepreneurs.                                          mediaries within the first two fiscal                    I rise in support of Representative
                                                I was proud to support the Microloan                  quarters of the year and replaces it                   KIM’s Microloan Improvement Act. I
                                              Improvement Act last Congress and                       with an allocation mechanism that will                 am proud to be an original cosponsor of
                                              was pleased to see some of its provi-                   provide more equitable access to all                   this important legislation.
                                              sions become law as part of the Eco-                    States across the Nation.                                Access to financial capital is essen-
                                              nomic Aid Act last December.                              I would like to thank Mr. KIM, Mr.                   tial to the success of America’s small
                                                Today’s bill, the Microloan Improve-                  GARBARINO, Ms. NEWMAN, and Mr.                         businesses and their entrepreneurs.
                                              ment Act of 2021, is virtually the same                 BURCHETT for concentrating their ef-                   This bipartisan bill is straightforward
                                              as last Congress’ version without the                   forts on this legislation.                             and effective. It increases the number
                                              policies we have already enacted into                     Madam Speaker, I urge my col-                        of nonprofit community-based lenders
                                              law.                                                    leagues to support H.R. 1502, and I re-                that can offer loans through the SBA’s
                                                Madam Speaker, we have heard time                     serve the balance of my time.                          microloan program.
                                              and again many entrepreneurs lack the                     Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I yield                      Representative KIM’s bill works in
                                              experience needed to demonstrate their                  such time as she may consume to the                    tandem with the Microloan Trans-




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                                              creditworthiness to conventional lend-                  gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. NEW-                    parency and Accountability Act, my
                                              ers. The COVID–19 pandemic has high-                    MAN).                                                  small business legislation that we will
                                              lighted these gaps in financing, show-                    Ms. NEWMAN. Madam Speaker, I                         debate shortly, to expand access to fi-
                                              ing the smallest of small businesses,                   rise today, excitedly, on behalf of the                nancial resources that will help our as-
                                              especially those owned by women and                     millions of small businesses across our                piring small business owners and entre-
                                              minorities, struggle the most to afford                 Nation that are truly suffering from                   preneurs chase down the American
                                              access to capital.                                      the pandemic and struggling to keep                    Dream.



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                                              April 14, 2021                                     CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE                                                                      H1767
                                                I encourage my colleagues to support                     Mr. WEBER of Texas. Madam Speak-                       ‘‘(I) the number of loans made in an
                                              this important bipartisan legislation.                  er, on that I demand the yeas and nays.                 amount greater than $20,000; and
                                                Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I have                         The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-                        ‘‘(II) the average size and charge-off rate of
                                              no further speakers and I am prepared                   ant to section 3(s) of House Resolution                 such loans;
                                                                                                                                                                ‘‘(xiv) the subsidy cost to the Administra-
                                              to close. I reserve the balance of my                   8, the yeas and nays are ordered.                       tion;
                                              time.                                                      Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur-                  ‘‘(xv) the number and percentage of
                                                Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Madam Speak-                         ther proceedings on this motion are                     microloans that were made to refinance
                                              er, I yield myself the balance of my                    postponed.                                              other loans;
                                              time.                                                                     f                                       ‘‘(xvi) the number and percentage of
                                                Madam Speaker, 2020 was a difficult                                                                           microloans made to new program partici-
                                              year for small businesses. The COVID–                    MICROLOAN TRANSPARENCY AND                             pants and the number and percentage of
                                              19 pandemic hit small businesses hard.                     ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2021                           microloans made to previous program par-
                                              This is especially true for small busi-                   Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I move                      ticipants;
                                              nesses that were just starting out.                     to suspend the rules and pass the bill                    ‘‘(xvii) the average amount of technical as-
                                                As our country continues to recover,                                                                          sistance grant monies spent on each loan;
                                                                                                      (H.R. 1487) to amend the Small Busi-
                                              the SBA’s programs and resources                                                                                and’’; and
                                                                                                      ness Act to increase transparency, and                    (7) by adding at the end the following:
                                              must be ready to assist the Nation’s                    for other purposes.                                       ‘‘(B) PRIVACY.—Each report submitted
                                              job creators along the way.                               The Clerk read the title of the bill.                 under subparagraph (A) shall not contain
                                                The microloan program is a key tool                     The text of the bill is as follows:                   any personally identifiable information of
                                              for many small business owners. The                                         H.R. 1487                           any borrower.’’.
                                              reforms in H.R. 1502 are commonsense                      Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-           The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu-
                                              improvements that will continue to                      resentatives of the United States of America in         ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
                                              provide assistance and resources to                     Congress assembled,                                     Minnesota (Ms. CRAIG) and the gen-
                                              America’s Main Street businesses.                       SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
                                                Madam Speaker, I urge and rec-                                                                                tleman from Missouri (Mr. LUETKE-
                                                                                                        This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Microloan
                                                                                                                                                              MEYER) each will control 20 minutes.
                                              ommend my colleagues to support H.R.                    Transparency and Accountability Act of
                                              1502, and I yield back the balance of my                2021’’.                                                   The Chair recognizes the gentle-
                                              time.                                                   SEC.    2.   PORTFOLIO   RISK           ANALYSIS   OF   woman from Minnesota.
                                                                                                                    MICROLOANS.                                                 GENERAL LEAVE
                                                                b 1430                                  Section 7(m)(10) of the Small Business Act              Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I ask
                                                 Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I yield                    (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(10)) is amended—                      unanimous consent that all Members
                                              myself the balance of my time.                            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
                                                                                                                                                              may have 5 legislative days in which to
                                                 As the small business economy starts                 through (F) as clauses (i) through (vi), re-
                                                                                                      spectively, and adjusting the margins ac-               revise and extend their remarks and in-
                                              to recover from the COVID–19 pan-                                                                               clude extraneous material on the meas-
                                                                                                      cordingly;
                                              demic, entrepreneurs will need as many                    (2) by amending clause (iv), as so redesig-           ure under consideration.
                                              affordable capital options as possible.                 nated, to read as follows:                                The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
                                              That is why the Economic Aid Act in-                      ‘‘(vi) the number, amount, and percentage             objection to the request of the gentle-
                                              cluded PPP updates, grants for hard-                    of microloans made by intermediaries to                 woman from Minnesota?
                                              hit venues, and other enhancements to                   small business concerns—                                  There was no objection.
                                              SBA’s business loan programs, includ-                     ‘‘(I) that went into default in the previous            Ms. CRAIG. Madam Speaker, I yield
                                              ing the microloan program.                              year; and
                                                                                                                                                              myself such time as I may consume.
                                                 Today’s bill takes the next step after                 ‘‘(II) that were charged off in the previous
                                                                                                      year by such intermediaries;’’;
                                                                                                                                                                Madam Speaker, I rise in support of
                                              that relief effort toward fully modern-                                                                         the bill before us today, H.R. 1487, the
                                                                                                        (3) in clause (vi), as so redesignated, by
                                              izing and optimizing SBA’s microloan                                                                            Microloan Transparency and Account-
                                                                                                      striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
                                              program. For nearly 30 years, this pro-                   (4) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as              ability Act, which will improve SBA’s
                                              gram has had a strong track record of                   clause (xviii), and adjusting the margin ac-            data reporting with respect to the
                                              success and has helped to launch many                   cordingly;                                              microloan program.
                                              successful small businesses, especially                   (5) by striking ‘‘On November 1, 1995,’’ and            Specifically, the bill would have SBA
                                              those owned by women and minority                       all that follows through ‘‘the following:’’ and         and microlenders report on the num-
                                              entrepreneurs. The record is full of suc-               inserting the following:
                                                                                                        ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on February
                                                                                                                                                              ber, amount, and percentage of
                                              cess stories as the program has grown                                                                           microloans that went into default in
                                              from a simple pilot program to a vital                  1, 2022, and annually thereafter, the Adminis-
                                                                                                      trator shall submit to the Committee on                 the previous year; the extent to which
                                              lending tool with strong stakeholder                                                                            microloans are provided to small busi-
                                                                                                      Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the
                                              and congressional support.                              Senate and the Committee on Small Busi-                 nesses in rural areas; and the average
                                                 The legislation before us today re-                  ness of the House of Representatives, and               size, interest rate, and amount of fees
                                              news our commitment to startups by                      make available to the public on the website             charged for each microloan.
                                              easing access to the program for even                   of the Administration, a report on the effec-             These metrics will help Congress and
                                              more aspiring entrepreneurs and mak-                    tiveness of the microloan program during
                                                                                                                                                              the public better evaluate the program
                                              ing the program nimbler for inter-                      the fiscal year preceding the date of the re-
                                                                                                      port. Such report shall include—’’;                     and its impact on underserved commu-
                                              mediaries and borrowers alike.
                                                 Passing this bill will be another step                 (6) in subparagraph (A), as so designated,            nities and make improvements as need-
                                              to help lead our Nation out of this pan-                by inserting after clause (vi) the following            ed.
                                              demic and build back the economy by                     new clauses:                                              This program is vital in helping
                                              embracing America’s entrepreneurial
                                                                                                        ‘‘(vii) the number and type of enforcement            women and minorities obtain much-
                                                                                                      actions taken by the Administrator against              needed capital. In fiscal year 2020, 47
                                              spirit.                                                 noncompliant intermediaries;
                                                 I applaud the work by Mr. KIM and                                                                            percent of microloans were made to
                                                                                                        ‘‘(viii) an analysis of compliance by inter-
                                              Mr. GARBARINO for their bipartisan                                                                              women-owned small businesses, and
                                                                                                      mediaries with the credit availability re-
                                              work on the microloan program. I en-                    quirements of paragraph (3)(E) for loans in             more than 51 percent of microloans
                                              courage all of my colleagues to vote                    an amount greater than $20,000;                         were made to minority-owned small
                                              ‘‘yes,’’ and I yield back the balance of                  ‘‘(ix) the extent to which microloans are             businesses.
                                              my time.                                                provided to small business concerns in rural              This language was approved unani-
                                                 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The                         areas;                                                  mously last Congress by both the
                                              question is on the motion offered by                      ‘‘(x) the number of underserved borrowers,            Small Business Committee and the full




SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
                                                                                                      as defined by the Administration, partici-              House, and I look forward to a similar
                                              the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms.
                                                                                                      pating in the microloan program;                        vote here today.
                                              CRAIG) that the House suspend the                         ‘‘(xi) the average rate of interest for each
                                              rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1502.                                                                               The version of the bill from last Con-
                                                                                                      microloan;
                                                 The question was taken.                                ‘‘(xii) the average amount of fees charged            gress also included a provision that
                                                 The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the                      for each microloan;                                     would increase the amount of technical
                                              opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being                    ‘‘(xiii) the average size of each microloan,          assistance grant funding a rural-serv-
                                              in the affirmative, the ayes have it.                   including—                                              ing microlender would receive. I am



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