Congresswoman Tenney Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Small Business Bills

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today applauded the passage of two bipartisan small business bills she supported in Congress. The first, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program Transparency Act, Tenney co-led with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). The second, the COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act, Tenney spoke in support of on the House Floor.

“As a small business owner, I’ve faced the challenges that all small businesses encounter on a daily basis, including those unique to women-owned small businesses,” said Tenney. “The WOSB Program Transparency Act will strengthen the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program by enhancing transparency and accountability to ensure the program works for taxpayers as well as our nation’s small businesses.”

“The COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act will also play a critical role in ensuring those who abused pandemic relief programs, such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, face consequences for their actions,” Tenney continued. “Pandemic relief programs played an important role in keeping small businesses up and running, especially during the draconian lockdowns in states like New York. There is no excuse for fraud or abuse in these programs, which is why I was honored to co-sponsor this bill."

“Both of these bills passed the House with strong bipartisan support and in quick fashion,” Tenney concluded. “America’s small businesses and taxpayers are demanding accountability and transparency now more than ever – these bills deliver just that, and I call on the Senate to act on both measures as quickly as possible.”

The WOSB Program Transparency Act establishes reporting requirements that the Government Accountability Office recommended in 2014 and 2019 for the WOSB Program. These metrics will enhance transparency and ensure that Congress receives the necessary data to closely monitor the effectiveness of women owned small businesses in receiving federal contracts and any barriers these business may face in the federal contracting process. It also requires the SBA to provide information as to the amount of contracting dollars awarded through the WOSB program, the number of certifications being issued, the amount of program examinations being conducted, the number of companies being decertified, and the number of contracts incorrectly awarded as well as actions taken by SBA to train agency personnel.

The COVID-19 EIDL Fraud Statute of Limitations Act establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for all COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EDIL) fraud, including for EIDL Advances and Targeted EIDL Advances, to be consistent with that for bank fraud. According to the SBA's Office of Inspector General, there could be as much as $85 billion in fraud within the EIDL program.

A video of Tenney’s full remarks from the Floor is available here.

Last year, Tenney introduced the Transparency in COVID-19 Expenditures Act, which would direct the Comptroller General of the United States to audit all funding provided by the five COVID-19 relief bills Congress has passed since the onset of the pandemic. Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going and that it was spent as promised.

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