Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act

Last action on Apr 1, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Order...

Summary

S. 1047 would prohibit individuals convicted of financial crimes related to Small Business Administration COVID-19 relief programs from receiving future SBA financial assistance. Specifically, it targets those convicted of financial misconduct or making false statements regarding COVID-19 loans and grants such as Paycheck Protection Program loans, Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants, and Shuttered Venue Operators grants. The prohibition would also apply to small businesses that employ or are owned by individuals with such convictions, preventing those businesses from accessing SBA assistance (with limited exceptions for disaster loans).

According to the Congressional Budget Office, individuals convicted of fraudulently receiving COVID-19 SBA assistance are already ineligible for future funding under current law. The bill would clarify and codify this existing prohibition. The SBA currently screens applicants using federal databases and pre-approval screening to detect fraud before assistance is awarded. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a Senate floor vote, though it still requires passage by both chambers and presidential signature to become law.

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Mar 27, 2025

HearingSenateMeeting

Mar 27, 2025 · 13:30

Business meeting to consider S.1047, to prohibit individuals convicted of defrauding the Government from receiving any assistance from the Small Business Administration, S.1093, to amend the Small Business Act to enhance the Office of Rural Affairs, and the nominations of William Briggs, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator, and Casey Mulligan, of Illinois, to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, both of the Small Business Administration.

Committee

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

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Summary

The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a business meeting on March 27, 2025, to consider two bills and two nominations for the Small Business Administration. S.1047, the Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act, would clarify that individuals convicted of defrauding the government are ineligible to receive SBA assistance. S.1093, the Coordinated Support for Rural Small Businesses Act, aims to enhance the Office of Rural Affairs within the SBA. The committee also considered nominations of William Briggs of Texas to be Deputy Administrator and Casey Mulligan of Illinois to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, both of the SBA. No witnesses testified at this business meeting, which was held in Room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building. Business meetings are procedural sessions where committees vote on whether to advance bills and confirm nominees. The consideration of these bills at the committee level does not guarantee they will advance further in the legislative process.

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Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst without amendment. Without written report.

Apr 1, 2025

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst without amendment. Without written report.

Apr 1, 2025

Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act

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Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

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Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act

Summary

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee

Summary

Video

Lifecycle of the Bill

Committee

Summary

Video

Bill Information

Sponsors & Co-sponsors (2)

Cosponsors (1)

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Legislative Subjects (5)

Committees (1)

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

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