Chairwoman Velázquez Seeks Update from SBA on HBCU Outreach

Statement

Today, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led four Members of Congress in a bipartisan letter to the Associate Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Allen Gutierrez regarding the agency's progress in implementing its outreach goals to better provide entrepreneurial services to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

In April of 2019, the Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations held a hearing during which Mr. Gutierrez testified on steps that SBA can take to strengthen HBCU outreach. In December of 2019, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report commissioned by Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, which details recommendations for SBA to improve engagement with HBCUs. In today's letter, lawmakers probe the agency on the progress SBA has made in implementing GAO's recommendations and seek additional information to be reported to Congress.

In addition to Chairwoman Velázquez, the letter was signed by: Rep. Ross Spano (R-FL) Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations; Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations; Rep. Alma S. Adams (D-NC); and Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) Vice-Chair, Small Business Committee.