Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Passed House
Summary
This bill would strengthen the SBA Office of Rural Affairs by reorganizing its leadership, expanding outreach, and requiring public reporting and clearer definitions to better support rural small business concerns.
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- Rural small businesses: Defines “rural small business concern” using existing SBA rules and directs the Office to promote SBA and other federal programs through webinars and outreach events targeted to rural communities.
- Leadership and resource partners: Creates a dedicated Assistant Administrator in the competitive service with required education or experience in rural affairs and development assistance, and names resource partners such as Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE chapters, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers.
- Transparency and program oversight: Requires a public report not less than 180 days after enactment and annually that lists the Assistant Administrator, budget, full-time staff, the number of webinars and outreach events, a summary of activities, information gathered from outreach, and an analysis of SBA lending programs serving rural small business concerns.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Rural webinars and yearly SBA reports
This bill would require webinars and outreach events for rural small businesses across regions. The Assistant Administrator would invite SBA district offices, resource partners, and federal and state agencies. The SBA would post a public report within 180 days of enactment and every year after. Reports would list the office leader, budget, staff, activities, event counts, an analysis of SBA rural lending, and feedback from events.
Stronger SBA office for rural businesses
This bill would set a new Assistant Administrator to lead the SBA Office of Rural Affairs. The person would be a competitive service employee with rural small-business experience. It would shift the office from only giving information to actively promoting SBA and other federal help. If enacted, this could make it easier for rural owners to find and use programs.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Cosponsors
Wied
WI • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 8/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov