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Read. Follow. Verify.Small Business Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 5999)
Last action · October 25, 2023: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.Sponsor: Kweisi Mfume
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill expands the responsibilities of the Small Business Administration's to provide more direct support, training, and compliance assistance to small businesses. It requires federal agencies to designate a specific point of contact to coordinate with the Ombudsman and mandates new outreach initiatives to ensure small business owners are aware of available federal resources.
This bill changes how federal agencies interact with small businesses by mandating dedicated staff to help owners navigate complex regulations, grant applications, and compliance requirements.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Small business owners
They will have access to new compliance training, webinars, and dedicated agency points of contact for regulatory issues.
Federal agencies
They must designate a primary point of contact for the Ombudsman and develop new programs to assist small entities with compliance.
Key Facts
- Requires every federal agency with regulatory authority over small businesses to designate a primary point of contact for the National Ombudsman.
- Mandates that agencies develop programs to assist small entities with regulatory requirements, including training, form completion, and compliance guides.
- Requires the Ombudsman to work with agencies to create webinars for recently finalized rules and high-inquiry topics.
- Directs the Ombudsman to establish formal procedures for agencies to share information about small business inquiries and rule resolutions.
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- Mandates a robust outreach initiative, including internet-based efforts, to increase awareness of the Ombudsman's services.
- Requires the Ombudsman to make education, training, and compliance information easily accessible on its website.
- Authorizes 'such sums as are necessary' to be appropriated to carry out these new requirements.
- Expands the scope of the Ombudsman's coordination to include agencies that issue grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to small entities.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Ombudsman Scope
The bill shifts the Ombudsman's focus from purely regulatory oversight to include active assistance with federal grants and contracts.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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