Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

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 in rural areas. It requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to enhance outreach and marketing to individuals in rural areas following a disaster declaration. The bill also includes a technical amendment to the Small Business Act, re-designating a paragraph related to the statute of limitations.

Expected Effects

The bill will likely lead to increased awareness and utilization of SBA disaster assistance programs by rural small businesses. This could result in quicker recovery and greater resilience in the face of natural disasters. The technical amendment corrects a numbering error in the existing law.

Potential Benefits

  • Increased access to disaster assistance for rural small businesses.
  • Targeted outreach and marketing efforts by the SBA.
  • Improved resilience of rural communities after disasters.
  • Streamlined application processes for disaster relief.
  • Correction of a technical error in the Small Business Act.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Potential for increased administrative burden on the SBA.
  • Possible delays in assistance delivery due to increased demand.
  • Limited impact if rural businesses are unaware of the program despite outreach.
  • The definition of 'rural area' may be too restrictive, excluding some deserving businesses.
  • No guarantee of funding increases to support the increased demand for assistance.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill appears to align with the Constitution, particularly the General Welfare Clause (Preamble). Congress has the power to enact legislation that promotes the general welfare of the United States, which includes providing disaster relief to small businesses. The bill does not appear to infringe upon 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).