H.R.804 - Rural Small Business Resilience Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 804, the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, aims to improve access to disaster assistance for small businesses located in rural areas. The bill directs the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that individuals in rural areas have full access to disaster assistance provided under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act. This includes targeted outreach and marketing materials.
The bill also includes a technical amendment to redesignate a paragraph within Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act related to the statute of limitations. The intended outcome is to enhance the resilience of rural small businesses in the face of disasters.
Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the disaster assistance process for rural small businesses, ensuring they receive the support needed to recover and rebuild after a disaster.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill will be to mandate the SBA to improve its outreach and accessibility of disaster assistance programs to rural small businesses. This could lead to a more equitable distribution of disaster relief funds.
Additionally, the technical amendment will clarify the statute of limitations related to disaster assistance, potentially reducing confusion and legal challenges. Ultimately, the bill aims to bolster the resilience of rural economies during and after disasters.
If successful, the bill will improve the ability of rural small businesses to recover from disasters, contributing to the overall economic stability of rural communities.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced access to disaster assistance for rural small businesses.
- Targeted outreach and marketing to ensure awareness of available resources.
- Improved resilience of rural economies after disasters.
- Clarification of the statute of limitations related to disaster assistance.
- Potential for quicker recovery times for affected businesses.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on the SBA.
- Possible delays in implementation due to the one-year timeframe for action.
- Risk that the targeted outreach may not be as effective as intended.
- Limited scope, focusing solely on disaster assistance and not addressing other challenges faced by rural businesses.
- No guarantee that increased access will translate to increased utilization of available resources.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the spirit of the Constitution, particularly the General Welfare Clause (Preamble), as it aims to promote the well-being of rural communities by providing disaster assistance to small businesses. Congress has the power to enact laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution its enumerated powers (Article I, Section 8).
The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations. It falls within the purview of Congress to regulate commerce and provide for the general welfare of the United States.
However, the constitutionality of the bill depends on whether the specific actions taken by the SBA under this act are consistent with other constitutional principles, such as equal protection under the law (14th Amendment).
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).