Bill · H.R. 825· House(119-HR-825)
Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act
- Introduced
- 1/28/2025
- Last activity
- 2/25/2025 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Sponsored by
- Roger Williams
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 3
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The "Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act" aims to prohibit individuals who have defrauded the government from receiving Small Business Administration assistance. Under this act, any associate of a small business concern who is finally convicted of crimes involving financial misconduct or false statements regarding specific loans or grants will be ineligible for financial assistance from the Administrator. This prohibition also extends to any small business concern that has such an individual as an associate. The bill specifically excludes financial assistance under section 7(b) from these restrictions.
Yes
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?+3
The bill prevents individuals and businesses associated with financial misconduct from receiving SBA financial assistance.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+2
The bill targets financial misconduct and false statements regarding government loans and grants.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-4
Business owners with associates convicted of financial crimes face the loss of SBA financial assistance.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-3
The bill restricts access to SBA financial assistance for small businesses that have associates convicted of financial crimes.
What Congress actually voted on
One recorded vote has been taken on this bill.
- The House: a fast-track vote, needing two-thirds to passPassed 405–0
The House sets aside its normal procedure to move quickly: no amendments, little debate, and a two-thirds bar instead of a simple majority. It is used for measures expected to be uncontroversial, so a bill that fails here failed despite broad expectations that it would not.
02/24/2025 · Roll call 43 · recorded as “On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Prevention of continued assistance for those convicted of financial misconduct: An associate of a small business who is finally convicted of a crime involving financial misconduct or a false statement related to a covered loan or grant will be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the Administrator (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Restriction of funds for businesses associated with fraudsters: A small business concern that has an associate subject to these convictions will be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the Administrator, excluding section 7(b) assistance (Section 2(a)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Loss of financial assistance for specific business entities: Small business concerns that have an associate—defined as an officer, director, owner of more than 20 percent equity, a key employee, or certain controlled entities—who is finally convicted of certain financial crimes will be ineligible for most financial assistance from the Administrator (Section 2(a)(1) and Section 2(a)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners-4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending+3Improves Small Business Support-3
- 2/25/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- 2/24/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 0 (Roll no. 43). (text: CR H737)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 405 - 0 (Roll no. 43). (text: CR H737)
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H748)
- At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 825.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H737-739)
- Mr. Williams (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/28/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire
Kweisi MfumeDemocrat · Maryland
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California