Dear Chairman Rubio and Ranking Member Cardin:
The undersigned small business organizations urge the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship to expeditiously schedule a confirmation hearing for Isabel Guzman, President-elect Biden’s nominee to serve as the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
We are grateful for the work of this Committee to address the economic suffering on Main Street caused by COVID-19. Passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in April provided a lifeline for millions of small businesses over the past ten months. Last month’s enactment of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (Economic Aid Act) promises to provide assistance for parts of the economy that need help the most.
Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on entrepreneurs, their employees, and their communities. 62% of small businesses fear the worst is yet to come.[1] Main Street employers and employees are counting on leadership at the SBA to deliver on the commitments Congress made in passing the CARES Act and the Economic Aid Act.
Administrator Carranza’s successor will be expected to deliver on a newly authorized Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), administer increased funding for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and grants, prioritize emergency aid for disadvantaged communities, and oversee a new grant program for shuttered venue operators. The aid provided by these critical programs would benefit from having an SBA Administrator confirmed and actively engaged as part of the President’s Cabinet.
Thank you for considering our views.
Sincerely,
Agricultural Retailers Association
Air Conditioning Contractors of America
America's SBDC
American Beverage Licensees
American Council of Engineering Companies
American Dental Association
American Foundry Society
American Home Furnishings Alliance
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Institute of Architects
Asian American Hotel Owners Association
Associated General Contractors of America
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Associated Wire Rope Fabricators
Association For Manufacturing Technology
Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees
Association of Women's Business Centers
Brick Industry Association
CA Network of Women's Business Centers
California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity
California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns
California Hotel and Lodging Association
Council for Responsible Nutrition
Credit Union National Association
Financial Executives International
Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
GovEvolve
HUBZone Contractors National Council
Independent Community Bankers of America
Independent Office Products & Furniture Dealers Alliance
Innovative Lending Platform Association
Institute of Makers of Explosives
International Franchise Association
International Sign Association
International Wood Products Association
Invest in Women Entrepreneurs Initiative
Kansas Global Trade Services, Inc.
National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship
National Association for the Self-Employed
National Association of Chemical Distributors
National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders
National Association of Music Merchants
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
National Association of REALTORS®
National Association of Surety Bond Producers, Inc.
National Automatic Merchandising Association
National Automobile Dealers Association
National Business League, Inc.
National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International
National Cotton Council
National Federation of Independent Business
National Grain and Feed Association
National Grocers Association
National Independent Automobile Dealers Association
National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
National Lime Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
National Retail Federation
National RV Dealers Assoc
National Small Business Association
NextGen Chamber of Commerce
Pet Industry Distributors Association
Professional Beauty Association
Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Small Business Council of America
Small Business Investor Alliance
Small Business Legislative Council
Small Business Majority
Small Business Roundtable
Specialty Equipment Market Association
The Fertilizer Institute
The Latino Coalition
The SCORE Foundation
The Transportation Alliance
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
United Veterinary Services Association
U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation
Western Electrical Contractors Association
Women Veterans Business Coalition
Women's Business Enterprise National Council
cc: Members of the Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
[1] MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index (December 15, 2020). Available at: https://www.uschamber.com/sbindex/pdf/sbi_reports/SBI_2020_Q4.pdf.
