Congressional Record, House, December 5, 2022, Page H8741
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, House, dated December 5, 2022, at page H8741, carrying debate on two small business bills, with Ms. Velázquez and Mr. Luetkemeyer each controlling 20 minutes. Ms. Velázquez supports S. 1617, the Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act, which she says closes a loophole in the Small Business Administration's disaster lending program, and S. 1687, which she says ensures that the nation's 62 SBDCs can help small businesses with cybersecurity. The bill text defines a rural area and significant damage as uninsured losses of not less than 40 percent of fair replacement value, and lets the Administrator declare a disaster in a rural area.
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“Congressional Record, House, December 5, 2022, Page H8741.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-12-05-crec-2022-12-05-pt1-pgh8741-0fed7b5467/
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December 5, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8741
Centers will ensure small businesses ‘‘(16) DISASTER DECLARATION IN RURAL New York (Ms. VELÁZQUEZ) and the
have the resources necessary to create AREAS.— gentleman from Missouri (Mr. LUETKE-
a cybersecurity plan and detect cyber ‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph— MEYER) each will control 20 minutes.
‘‘(i) the term ‘rural area’ means any coun- The Chair recognizes the gentle-
risks. ty or other political subdivision of a State,
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to the District of Columbia, or a territory or
woman from New York.
support this legislation and I yield possession of the United States that is des- GENERAL LEAVE
back the balance of my time. ignated as a rural area by the Bureau of the Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I Census; and unanimous consent that all Members
yield myself the balance of my time. ‘‘(ii) the term ‘significant damage’ means, may have 5 legislative days in which to
The use of digital tools dramatically with respect to property, uninsured losses of revise and extend their remarks and in-
not less than 40 percent of the estimated fair clude extraneous material on the meas-
increased during the pandemic, even replacement value or pre-disaster fair mar-
here in Congress; and the massive shift ket value of the damaged property, which-
ure under consideration.
to remote work has resulted in a sig- ever is lower.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
nificant rise in cybersecurity threats ‘‘(B) DISASTER DECLARATION.—For the pur- objection to the request of the gentle-
and attacks. pose of making loans under paragraph (1) or woman from New York?
Guarding against cyberattacks often (2), the Administrator may declare a disaster There was no objection.
comes with significant costs and a sub- in a rural area for which a major disaster Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I
stantial investment of time and re- was declared by the President under section yield myself such time as I may con-
401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief sume.
sources. Unfortunately, small busi- and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S.
nesses operating on thin margins have 5170) and for which individual assistance was 1617, the Disaster Assistance for Rural
fewer resources to dedicate to cyberse- not authorized under section 408 of such Act Communities Act. This bill will close a
curity. (42 U.S.C. 5174) if—
loophole in the Small Business Admin-
S. 1687 ensures that the Nation’s 62 ‘‘(i) the Governor of the State or the Chief
Executive of the Indian tribal government in istration’s disaster lending program,
lead SBDCs are fully equipped to assist which disproportionately impacts
which the rural area is located requests such
small businesses with their cybersecu- homeowners and businesses located in
a declaration; and
rity needs at no cost. The bill would ‘‘(ii) any home, small business concern, remote rural areas.
eliminate the primary obstacle of in- private nonprofit organization, or small agri- Although people assume SBA only
vestment costs and make cybersecurity cultural cooperative has incurred significant provides assistance to small businesses
mitigation easier to adopt. damage in the rural area. after a declared disaster, the opposite
This bill is a commonsense solution ‘‘(C) SBA REPORT.—Not later than 120 days
is true. In fact, according to CRS, ap-
to complex problems. I urge my col- after the date of enactment of this para-
graph, and every year thereafter, the Admin- proximately 80 percent of SBA disaster
leagues to support S. 1687, the Small loans were awarded to individuals and
istrator shall submit to the Committee on
Business Cyber Training Act of 2022, as Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the households rather than businesses.
amended. Senate and the Committee on Small Busi- SBA’s disaster lending program has
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance ness of the House of Representatives a report been an important tool that helps not
of my time. on, with respect to the 1-year period pre- only businessowners, but also home-
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. ceding submission of the report— owners and renters rebuild after disas-
BEYER). The question is on the motion ‘‘(i) any economic injury that resulted ters and emergencies.
offered by the gentlewoman from New from a major disaster declared by the Presi- Under the current law, when the
dent under section 401 of the Robert T. Staf-
York (Ms. VELÁZQUEZ) that the House ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
President declares a disaster under the
suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. ance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) in a rural area; Stafford Act, but does not authorize in-
1687, as amended. ‘‘(ii) each request for assistance made by dividual assistance, the SBA must de-
The question was taken. the Governor of a State or the Chief Execu- clare a disaster for an individual to
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the tive of an Indian tribal government under apply for a loan.
opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being subparagraph (B)(i) and the response of the Yet, for SBA to declare a disaster, a
in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Administrator, including the timeline for minimum amount of physical damage
each response; and must be sustained by a certain number
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on ‘‘(iii) any regulatory changes that will im-
that I demand the yeas and nays. pact the ability of communities in rural of homes and businesses in a county or
The yeas and nays were ordered. areas to obtain disaster assistance under this smaller political subdivision. This pol-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- subsection.’’. icy hurts remote rural areas because
ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- (b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 120 days SBA cannot declare a disaster if a min-
ceedings on this motion will be post- after the date of enactment of this Act, the imum number of homes or businesses
Administrator of the Small Business Admin- aren’t damaged or destroyed.
poned. istration shall issue regulations to carry out This outdated policy is hurting some
f the amendment made by subsection (a).
(c) GAO REPORT.— of our most vulnerable citizens. We
DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR (1) DEFINITION OF RURAL AREA.—In this sub- must close this loophole, especially as
RURAL COMMUNITIES ACT section, the term ‘‘rural area’’ means any major disasters become more prevalent
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I county or other political subdivision of a and destructive due to climate change.
State, the District of Columbia, or a terri- In 2021, the United States experi-
move to suspend the rules and pass the tory or possession of the United States that
bill (S. 1617) to modify the require- enced 20 separate billion-dollar weath-
is designated as a rural area by the Bureau er and climate disasters, which caused
ments for the Administrator of the of the Census.
Small Business Administration relat- (2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after
$145 billion in damage.
the date of enactment of this Act, the Comp- This bill addresses this issue by al-
ing to declaring a disaster in a rural
troller General of the United States shall lowing SBA to declare a disaster in any
area, and for other purposes.
submit to the Committee on Small Business rural area in which a major disaster
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the has been declared by the President but
The text of the bill is as follows:
Committee on Small Business of the House individual assistance hasn’t been au-
S. 1617 of Representatives a report on— thorized under the Stafford Act. It is
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- (A) any unique challenges that commu- critical that SBA disaster lending pro-
resentatives of the United States of America in nities in rural areas face compared to com-
grams be available to all individuals,
Congress assembled, munities in urbanized areas when seeking to
obtain disaster assistance under section 7(b) no matter where they reside or where
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)); they operate their business.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Disaster As-
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and I thank Senators RISCH, SHAHEEN,
sistance for Rural Communities Act’’.
(B) legislative recommendations for im- HASSAN, KENNEDY, and BRAUN for their
SEC. 2.DISASTER DECLARATION IN RURAL
AREAS. proving access to disaster assistance for leadership on this important measure.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7(b) of the Small communities in rural areas. I also thank Mr. GOLDEN, who intro-
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- duced a companion bill on the House
inserting after paragraph (15) the following: ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from side.
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H8742 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 5, 2022
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to the ranking member, and while we may Chair, on behalf of the Majority Lead-
vote ‘‘yes,’’ and I reserve the balance of not have always seen eye to eye, we er, announced that appointment of the
my time. were able to set aside our differences to following individuals to be members of
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I bring more than 20 bipartisan bills to the National Advisory Committee on
yield myself such time as I may con- the floor, including legislation to ex- Institutional Quality and Integrity:
sume. tend the statute of limitations for Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis of Georgia.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. fraud cases involving PPP and COVID Debbie Cochrane of California.
1617, the Disaster Assistance for Rural EIDL. Dr. Jose Luis Cruz Rivera of Arizona.
Communities Act. The spirit of bipartisanship has al- f
Whether it is a hurricane, tornado, ways been central to the day-to-day op- COMMUNITY DISASTER
fire, or flood, we are all too familiar erations of the committee. I look for- RESILIENCE ZONES ACT OF 2022
with a natural disaster’s devastating ward to continuing this tradition.
impact on our communities and con- Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to
American small businesses deserve
stituents. Following a disaster, the suspend the rules and pass the bill (S.
nothing less.
SBA provides valuable services and 3875) to require the President to de-
I once again thank the members of
loans to businesses and homes affected. velop and maintain products that show
the committee and their staff who have
Due to the rural areas being sparsely the risk of natural hazards across the
worked tirelessly through this Con-
populated, they are often outliers when United States, and for other purposes.
gress to aid small business owners and
it comes to disaster assistance. This The Clerk read the title of the bill.
entrepreneurs throughout the country. The text of the bill is as follows:
important legislation corrects this un- I am incredibly proud of all the work
intended consequence by creating a S. 3875
our committee has done to support
rural category for SBA-declared disas- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-
small businesses when they needed it resentatives of the United States of America in
ters. the most.
Additionally, the legislation requires Congress assembled,
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
the Government Accountability Office, vote ‘‘yes’’ on S. 1617, and I yield back This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Community
GAO, to report on how rural areas are the balance of my time. Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022’’.
specifically impacted by disasters, and The SPEAKER pro tempore. The SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
the legislation requires the SBA to an- question is on the motion offered by Section 101(b) of the Robert T. Stafford
nually report on all rural disaster dec- the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
larations. VELÁZQUEZ) that the House suspend the Act (42 U.S.C. 5121(b)) is amended—
Small businesses are the lifeblood of rules and pass the bill, S. 1617. (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
the economy in rural communities, and the end;
The question was taken.
we must ensure that they have the (2) in paragraph (6), by adding ‘‘; and’’ at
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the the end; and
ability to receive SBA assistance when opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being (3) by adding at the end the following:
a disaster strikes. in the affirmative, the ayes have it. ‘‘(7) identifying and improving the climate
I thank my Senate colleagues for Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on and natural hazard resilience of vulnerable
their support for rural communities that I demand the yeas and nays. communities.’’.
and their work on this legislation. The yeas and nays were ordered. SEC. 3. NATURAL HAZARD RISK ASSESSMENT.
Mr. Speaker, S. 1617 will provide The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- (a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Robert T.
rural areas with enhanced eligibility ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
for SBA-disaster-declared loans. This ceedings on this motion will be post- sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5131 et seq.) is amend-
bipartisan bill takes an important step poned. ed by adding at the end the following:
to aid rural communities and small ‘‘SEC. 206. NATURAL HAZARD RISK ASSESSMENT.
f ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
businesses when a disaster strikes.
Mr. Speaker, S. 1617 passed the Sen- MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE ‘‘(1) COMMUNITY DISASTER RESILIENCE
ate in September, and I urge my col- ZONE.—The term ‘community disaster resil-
A message from the Senate by Ms. ience zone’ means a census tract designated
leagues to support this legislation. Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that by the President under subsection (d)(1).
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance the Senate has passed with an amend- ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible
of my time. ment in which the concurrence of the entity’ means—
Ms. VELÁZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I House is requested, a bill of the House ‘‘(A) a State;
yield myself the balance of my time. of the following title: ‘‘(B) an Indian tribal government; or
This legislation to update SBA’s pol- ‘‘(C) a local government.
H.R. 1193. An act to amend title VI of the
icy to provide assistance to home- ‘‘(b) PRODUCTS.—The President shall con-
Public Health Service Act to direct the Di-
owners and businesses in remote rural tinue to maintain a natural hazard assess-
rector of the National Institutes of Health,
areas is long overdue. Individuals af- ment program that develops and maintains
in consultation with the Director of the Na-
fected by natural disasters need SBA products that—
tional Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, to
‘‘(1) are available to the public; and
assistance now more than ever, par- establish a program under which the Direc-
‘‘(2) define natural hazard risk across the
ticularly with the threat of major dis- tor of the National Institutes of Health shall
United States.
asters due to climate change. support or conduct research on valvular ‘‘(c) FEATURES.—The products maintained
A business’ location shouldn’t deter- heart disease and for other purposes. under subsection (b) shall, for lands within
mine their eligibility for aid in the The message also announced that the States and areas under the jurisdiction of In-
wake of a natural disaster. Simply put, Senate has passed a bill of the fol- dian tribal governments—
it is not fair for SBA loans to be avail- lowing title in which the concurrence ‘‘(1) show the risk of natural hazards; and
able for individuals impacted by a tor- of the House is requested: ‘‘(2) include ratings and data for—
‘‘(A) loss exposure, including population
nado or flood in an urban area, but not S. 4052. An act to reauthorize a program for
equivalence, buildings, and agriculture;
a remote rural area just because the early detection, diagnosis, and treated re-
‘‘(B) social vulnerability;
number of properties damaged by the garding deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns,
‘‘(C) community resilience; and
disaster didn’t meet an arbitrary infants, and young children, and for other
‘‘(D) any other element determined by the
purposes.
threshold. President.
The SBA’s disaster lending program The message also announce that the ‘‘(d) COMMUNITY DISASTER RESILIENCE
has been an essential tool helping peo- Senate agrees to the amendment of the ZONES DESIGNATION.—
ple get back on their feet after a dis- House of Representatives to the bill (S. ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days
3662) entitled ‘‘An Act to temporarily after the date on which the President makes
aster and the program should be avail-
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increase the cost share authority for the update and enhancement required under
able to help as many people as possible. subsection (e)(4), and not less frequently
I thank Ranking Member LUETKE- aqueous film forming foam input-based than every 5 years thereafter, the President
MEYER for working with me to get this testing equipment, and for other pur- shall identify and designate community dis-
bill passed today. poses.’’. aster resilience zones, which shall be—
In the 117th Congress, Representative The message also announced that ‘‘(A) the 50 census tracts assigned the high-
LUETKEMEYER joined the committee as pursuant to Public Law 110–315, the est individual hazard risk ratings; and
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