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 individuals and small businesses located in rural areas. It mandates the Small Business Administration (SBA) to enhance outreach and marketing efforts to ensure these individuals have full access to disaster relief programs under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act. The bill also includes a technical amendment, redesignating a paragraph related to the statute of limitations within the same section of the Small Business Act.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely result in increased awareness and utilization of SBA disaster assistance programs by rural small businesses and individuals. This could lead to quicker recovery times and greater resilience in the face of natural disasters. The technical amendment corrects a numbering error, ensuring clarity in the legal text.
Potential Benefits
- Increased Access to Resources: Rural small businesses gain better access to disaster assistance.
- Targeted Outreach: The SBA is required to provide specific outreach to rural areas.
- Improved Resilience: Businesses can recover more quickly from disasters.
- Clarity in Regulations: The technical amendment clarifies the statute of limitations.
- Economic Stability: Supporting rural businesses helps maintain economic stability in these areas.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for Increased Bureaucracy: Implementing the outreach program may create additional administrative overhead.
- Limited Scope: The Act focuses solely on disaster assistance and doesn't address other challenges faced by rural businesses.
- Funding Requirements: The Act may require additional funding for outreach programs, which could strain the SBA's budget.
- Implementation Challenges: Reaching all eligible individuals in remote rural areas could be difficult.
- Potential for Uneven Distribution: Assistance may not be distributed equitably across all rural areas.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate commerce and provide for the general welfare, which includes assisting businesses during times of disaster. The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
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).