Staff Reports
In a passionate and assertive statement, the leading Republican on the House Small Business Committee made it abundantly clear that he holds President Joe Biden accountable for his failure to appoint a replacement for a pivotal position dedicated to advocating for small-business owners. Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX), in a strongly worded letter addressed to the White House, expressed profound concern over the prolonged delay in taking action despite numerous requests spanning over a year.
At the heart of the matter lies the role of chief counsel for advocacy at the Small Business Administration (SBA), a position tasked with serving as an "independent voice for small businesses within the federal government" and ensuring compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Williams highlighted the staggering weight of regulations accumulating on small businesses during the Biden administration, citing nearly 280 million hours of additional paperwork and a staggering $447 billion in regulatory costs.
Chairman @RepRWilliams is calling on @POTUS a THIRD TIME to fill a vacant position in the @SBAgov to prevent his administration from continuing to steamroll small businesses.
Read more in the @DCExaminer:https://t.co/Nc7ny6ZwXT
— House Committee on Small Business (@HouseSmallBiz) February 16, 2024
Established by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy within the SBA was designed to protect the interests of small businesses, with the chief counsel appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. However, the seat has remained conspicuously vacant since January 2017 when Darryl DePriest departed from the role. In the absence of a permanent chief counsel, Major Clark, the deputy chief counsel for advocacy, has assumed additional responsibilities to mitigate the gap.
Amid escalating frustration, Williams condemned the Biden administration's lack of action, underscoring the pivotal role of the Office of Advocacy in combating stifling regulations and bolstering small businesses. Despite the committee's repeated appeals to the White House, their calls have gone unanswered, with no indication of response or progress despite reaching out a year ago and again last April.
The absence of a qualified individual in this crucial position has persisted for six long years, compounded by the failure of President Donald Trump's 2018 nominee, David Tryon, to advance to a Senate vote. The Republican leader rebuked the White House's unacceptable negligence, insisting on the immediate nomination of a deserving candidate to revitalize this essential role.
When approached for comment, the White House remained silent, mirroring the administration's disregard for the challenges faced by American small businesses, as observed by The Washington Examiner.
