Congressman Gonzalez Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Give South Texas Small Businesses a Seat at the Table

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced his introduction of H.R. 4449, the Advocating for Small Business Act, alongside Republican Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02). This bipartisan bill seeks to give small businesses in South Texas, New York, and across the country greater representation during the rule-making process at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The bill recently was reported favorably out of U.S. House Financial Services Committee (watch a video of Congressman Gonzalez’s remarks in committee HERE).

Among other objectives, the SEC is primarily responsible for enacting rules that both protect investors and help businesses raise the capital they need to grow and create jobs.

However, there is currently no dedicated office within the SEC that represents small business interests during the rulemaking process. This bill would correct that by establishing Offices of Small Business within each of the SEC’s rulemaking divisions—making the SEC more responsive and accessible to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses are the backbone of every community across the country and it’s time federal regulators, like the Securities and Exchange Commission, take their concerns and ideas seriously,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Day after day, year after year, I hear from small business owners in South Texas about the challenges they face in complying with rules and regulations that are designed with only the biggest businesses in mind.  Businesses of all sizes are confronting rising prices due to tariffs and a national worker shortage, and our small businesses are especially feeling the pinch. I am proud to work with my colleague, Congressman Garbarino, on a bipartisan bill that will give our small businesses a greater voice in Washington.”

“If we want more small businesses to grow, succeed, and access capital here at home, we need rules that support innovation and open doors for investment. I was proud to partner with Congressman Gonzalez on this commonsense bill to make sure small businesses have a real voice in SEC policymaking, and I am glad to see it moving forward,” said Congressman Garbarino.

Congressman Gonzalez has previously announced actions on behalf of South Texas small businesses to alleviate the worker shortage, boost our local economy, and find commonsense solutions in response to the Administration’s mass deportation policies. Read more about this HERE.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

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