Rep. Tran Leads Bipartisan Letter to Senate Demanding Action on Critical Legislation That Will Help Millions of Small Businesses

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) led a letter urging the Senate to act on 32 House-passed bills that would help the nation's 36.2 million small businesses, including over 400,000 small businesses in Orange County.

Out of the bills listed in the letter, Rep. Tran personally shepherded the following:

• Introducing H.R. 5788 - the 504 Program Risk Oversight Act, which would increase transparency and efficiency within the Small Business Administration,
• Co-Leading H.R. 787 - the Plain Language in Contracting Act, which would help small businesses compete for government contracts,
• and Co-Leading H.R. 1642 - the Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act, which would connect small businesses with a more robust workforce pipeline.

Alongside Rep. Tran, this bipartisan letter was co-led by Representatives Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-MP-AL), Johnny Olszewski, Jr. (D-MD-02), and Tony Wied (R-WI-08), and signed by additional members of the House Small Business Committee, including Representatives Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA-31), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), and Hillary J. Scholten (D-MI-03).

Currently, over 30 bipartisan small business bills have passed the House of Representatives and are awaiting Senate consideration. This includes legislation that would expand workforce development, address fraud, improve transparency, and enhance technology solutions for small businesses across the nation. In the letter to Chairwoman Ernst and Ranking Member Markey of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Senate SBC), Rep. Tran and his colleagues called on their Senate counterpart committee to prioritize the passage of this legislation before the 119th Congress ends in January.

If the Senate fails to act before the end of the 119th Congress, all 32 bipartisan bills will expire. Each bill would have to be reintroduced in the 120th Congress and restart the legislative process, further delaying relief for American small businesses.

"As Members of the House Small Business Committee, we urge the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Senate SBC) to prioritize consideration of bipartisan small business legislation that has already passed the House of Representatives. Congress must take every opportunity to advance policies that strengthen small businesses' ability to invest, innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. With limited time remaining in the 119th Congress, we respectfully urge that the Senate SBC act on them before the end of this year," the members wrote in the letter.

"As a second-generation small business owner, I know what it takes to operate a family-owned business. Californians need legislation that makes it easier, not harder, to successfully pursue entrepreneurship. As members of the House Small Business Committee, we have proudly passed thirty-two bipartisan, common-sense bills that will help small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout California and the country. The 119th Congress is quickly coming to a close, and the Senate must do its part and consider these bills before time is up," said Representative Tran.

"Members of the House Small Business Committee have been hard at work this Congress passing legislation to support our small businesses and put Main Street first," said Congressman Wied. "Legislation like H.R. 4549 and H.R. 8879, which I was proud to co-lead, are exactly the types of bills small business owners deserve, helping increase transparency and ensuring rural small businesses have access to the tools they need to succeed. It's time for the Senate to take action and get these important bills across the finish line."

"Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and they need access to the resources to grow and succeed. The House has passed more than 30 bipartisan bills, including my Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act, which would make CNMI small businesses eligible for SBA microloans, helping entrepreneurs access the capital they need to start and grow their businesses. Now it's time for the Senate to act and get these bills across the finish line," said Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (MP-AL).

"Small business owners don't have time to wait on Washington: they need a government that works as hard as they do and policies that help them grow, hire, and compete," said Congressman Johnny Olszewski. "The House has done its work, passing more than 30 bipartisan bills that deliver practical solutions for Main Street America. Now it's time for the Senate to step up and get these bills across the finish line before this term expires."

Read the full letter and the full summary of legislation HERE.

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