SEN DEAN HELLER CARES ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES

Heller Introduces Bill to Measure Small Business Administration’s Effectiveness

Transparency in Small Business Assistance Act Increases Transparency, Responsiveness at the SBA

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) announced introduction of the Transparency in Small Business Assistance Act (S. 936). Heller’s bill will help the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Congress determine whether SBA assistance programs provide effective and consistent help to small businesses.

“My number one priority in Congress is getting Nevadans back to work. Over the last four years, many small businesses - the lifeblood of our economy - have had to rely on SBA assistance programs in order to survive.  It is important to track whether this assistance has been beneficial to small businesses.  If the assistance programs are not working properly, Congress must take necessary actions to improve these programs,” said Senator Dean Heller.

A recent GAO report revealed that the SBA typically does not collect information to track the success of its programs.  Collecting information from businesses who have received SBA assistance will enable the SBA and Congress to measure program outcomes, ensure the federal government is not wasting taxpayers’ dollars, and provide efficient and effective support to small businesses.

Bill Summary:

Heller’s SBA Efficiency Act would require the SBA to collect information related to:

• Whether a small business is still operational six months and one year after receiving assistance through the SBA.
• The reasons for closure if a small business is no longer in operation.
• A business’s average employment six months and one year after it received assistance through the SBA.
• Number of referrals an SBA program makes to other SBA programs or agencies if they are unable to provide the proper small business assistance.

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