Overview
Title
To clarify the primary functions and duties of the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 832 is a plan to help a group in the U.S. government better understand and support tiny businesses, even when these businesses deal with other countries. The plan also fixes some words to make sure everything is clear and correct.
Summary AI
H.R. 832, titled the “Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025”, aims to clarify and enhance the role of the Office of Advocacy within the Small Business Administration in the United States. The bill proposes amendments to existing laws to include the international economy in the Office's functions and ensure terms are corrected for clarity. It also introduces a duty for the Office to represent small businesses' views and interests before foreign governments and international entities, especially concerning regulations and trade initiatives impacting these businesses.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The "Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025," as introduced in the 119th Congress, proposes updates to the functions and duties of the Office of Advocacy within the Small Business Administration (SBA). This bill intends to enhance the Office's ability to act on behalf of small businesses by expanding its scope to include international business activities and correcting specific language errors in existing legislation.
Significant Issues
One of the primary changes proposed by the bill is the inclusion of "the international economy" within the Office of Advocacy’s sphere of responsibilities. This addition implies a broader engagement in global markets, though the bill does not specify the mechanisms for implementing this expanded role, particularly regarding budget and oversight.
The bill also introduces a new duty for the Office to represent small businesses before foreign governments and international entities. This responsibility is integral to aligning the interests of U.S. small businesses with international trade and regulatory processes. However, the bill lacks clarity on the funding and strategic objectives of this new role, which leaves room for potential financial and operational ambiguity.
Additionally, the bill corrects two typographical errors within relevant statutes, changing "complete" to "compete" and "serviced-disabled" to "service-disabled." While these corrections ensure linguistic precision, the long-term impacts on legal or regulatory interpretations remain unspecified.
Broad Impact on the Public
By expanding the Office of Advocacy's mandate to include international considerations, the bill could potentially foster a more integrated approach for small businesses looking to engage with global markets. For the general public, this could mean increased business opportunities and possibly more robust economic competition. However, without explicit guidance on execution and financial support, these benefits might be challenging to realize effectively.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For small businesses, particularly those with aspirations to enter or expand in the international market, the bill could provide a valuable resource by facilitating access to global trade networks and regulatory bodies. This advocacy might help small businesses overcome barriers that traditionally favor larger enterprises.
On the other hand, the lack of clear funding or strategic plan presents potential risks, like misallocation of resources or ineffective advocacy, which could be detrimental to small businesses relying on the Office's expanded role.
For foreign governments and international entities, this bill means they might have to adapt to a more active and involved U.S. Office of Advocacy participating in regulatory and trade discussions. Such changes could lead to adjustments in how they engage with U.S. small businesses.
Overall, while the intentions of the bill appear to promote the interests of small businesses comprehensively, its success will largely depend on the subsequent detailed planning and resource allocation by legislative bodies and the SBA.
Issues
The amendment to paragraph (1) of Section 202, which includes 'the international economy' in the scope of the Office of Advocacy's functions, could significantly broaden its mandate. This change lacks clear guidance on how it will be implemented, particularly concerning budgetary implications and oversight mechanisms, raising concerns about potential unaccounted or unchecked expansion of responsibilities.
The addition of duties in Section 203(a) paragraph (7) to represent small businesses before foreign governments and international entities lacks clarity on how these activities will be funded or what specific objectives they aim to achieve. This could lead to unclear and potentially costly obligations without a defined strategy.
The broad terminology of 'regulatory and trade initiatives' in Section 203(a) paragraph (7) may cause ambiguity due to its undefined scope, potentially leading to challenges in ensuring clear objectives and responsibilities, thus affecting international relationships or policy execution.
The amendment in Section 202 paragraphs (9) and (12) to correct language from 'complete' to 'compete' and 'serviced-disabled' to 'service-disabled' are important for accuracy but require an assessment of any legal or regulatory impacts these corrections might have, which is not addressed.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Act gives it the title “Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025.”
2. Amendment to primary functions and duties of the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section modifies the functions and duties of the Office of Advocacy within the Small Business Administration by updating certain terms and adding a new responsibility to represent small businesses in discussions with foreign governments and international entities to influence regulations and trade matters.