The Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025 amends the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy to expand its role in representing small businesses. Specifically, it adds a new duty requiring the Office to advocate for small business interests before foreign governments and international entities on regulatory and trade issues that affect them. The bill also makes minor technical corrections to existing statutory language, such as updating "serviced-disabled" to "service-disabled" and adjusting phrasing in the Office's primary functions. This change directly affects the Office of Advocacy and small businesses seeking international regulatory and trade support. The bill focuses on clarifying and broadening the Office's existing advocacy responsibilities rather than creating new programs.
The SERV Act requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to annually report on its outreach efforts for veteran entrepreneurs, including programs like Veteran Business Outreach Centers and Boots to Business. It also mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report analyzing credit access barriers for veteran-owned small businesses, covering credit sources, default rates, program gaps, and how military service affects credit history. The bill directly affects veterans, service-disabled veterans, Reservists, and their spouses who own or seek to start businesses. These reporting requirements aim to improve understanding of support needs without creating new funding or programs.
HR 818 (the SPUR Act) updates federal tracking requirements for small business contracts. It requires agencies to report annually on new small business contract awards, specifically tracking new entrants from categories including service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, women-owned, and disadvantaged-owned businesses. This change modifies existing scorecard reporting under the Small Business Act to include these new metrics and compare annual numbers. The bill is procedural, making no new spending authorizations.
HR 754, the Investing in Main Street Act of 2025, amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to increase the minimum investment requirement for Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) from 5% to 15% of their capital. This change directly affects SBICs, which are private investment funds licensed to provide capital to small businesses. The key provision requires SBICs to allocate a larger portion of their capital to small business investments, potentially increasing funding availability. The bill makes a concrete policy change to existing SBIC regulations without creating new programs or specifying small business outcomes.
HR 825 prohibits financial assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA) for small businesses where an associate (officer, director, owner over 20%, or controlling entity) is finally convicted of financial misconduct related to specific covered loans or grants. It directly affects small businesses associated with individuals convicted of fraud involving SBA pandemic loans (like those under Section 7(b) during COVID-19) or pandemic relief grants (from the American Rescue Plan Act or Economic Aid Act). The bill adds new ineligibility rules to the Small Business Act, barring most SBA assistance except for standard Section 7(b) loans, while defining "finally convicted" as a conviction no longer subject to appeal. This targets fraud in federal aid programs by blocking assistance to businesses linked to convicted individuals.
This resolution designates February 16, 2025, as National Elizabeth Peratrovich Day. It also encourages the people of the United States and Members of Congress to commemorate the life and civil rights advocacy of Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich by continuing the important work of ensuring equality for Alaska Natives and Native Americans.
This concurrent resolution establishes the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2025, sets forth budgetary levels for FY2026-FY2034, and provides reconciliation instructions for legislation that increases or decreases the deficit by specified amounts. The resolution recommends levels and amounts for FY2025-FY2034 for federal revenues, new budget authority, budget outlays, deficits, public debt, debt held by the public, and the major functional categories of spending. It also recommends levels and amounts for Social Security and Postal Service discretionary administrative expenses for the purpose of budget enforcement in the Senate. The resolution includes reconciliation instructions that direct several House and Senate committees to report legislation that will increase or decrease the deficit over FY2025-FY2034 by specified amounts. The committees must submit the legislation to the applicable congressional budget committee by March 7, 2025. (Under current law, reconciliation bills are considered by Congress using expedited legislative procedures that prevent a filibuster and restrict amendments in the Senate.) In addition, the resolution establishes reserve funds that allow certain adjustments to committee allocations and other budgetary levels to accommodate (1) reconciliation legislation, and (2) legislation that would not increase the deficit over FY2025-FY2034. The resolution also exempts reconciliation legislation that complies with this resolution from various budget points of order. Finally, the resolution sets forth budget enforcement procedures that address issues such as adjustments to committee allocations and the budgetary treatment of the discretionary administrative expenses for the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Postal Service.
This Senate resolution (SRES 88) designates March 7, 2025, as "National Speech and Debate Education Day" to recognize the value of speech and debate programs in schools. It directly affects educational institutions, teachers, and students by encouraging schools and communities to celebrate this day. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges speech and debate education as vital for developing communication, critical thinking, and civic skills. It urges educational institutions, businesses, and the public to promote awareness of these programs. (Note: As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding policy impact.)
SRES 89 is a symbolic Senate resolution designating February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week." It recognizes the National FFA Organization’s role in developing student leadership through agricultural education and celebrates two milestones: the 90th anniversary of New Farmers of America (a historically Black agricultural youth group) and the 75th anniversary of the Federal charter for Future Farmers of America (signed by President Truman in 1950). The resolution does not create new laws or obligations but formally expresses congressional support for these observances. It affects no specific group or policy, serving solely as a ceremonial acknowledgment.
This resolution designates February 2025 as "American Heart Month" in the United States. It is a symbolic recognition, not a law with new funding or requirements, aimed at raising public awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD). The resolution encourages Americans to learn about CVD risks and supports existing efforts to promote heart health awareness, research, and prevention. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, but aligns with the longstanding tradition of presidential proclamations for this observance.
HCONRES 11 is a procedural resolution scheduling a joint session of Congress. It directs both the House and Senate to meet in the House Chamber on March 4, 2025, at 9 p.m. to receive a message from the President. This measure affects Congress as a whole by setting a specific date and time for the session, with no substantive policy changes or direct impact on the public. It follows standard legislative procedure for presidential communications.
This resolution (SRES 84) is a ceremonial Senate measure congratulating the Philadelphia Eagles football team for winning Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025. It formally recognizes their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs (40-22) and highlights key game details as context for the congratulation. The resolution directs the Senate Secretary to send a copy to Eagles leadership, including owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman, and head coach Nick Sirianni. As a symbolic gesture with no policy impact or funding, it does not affect any individuals or entities beyond expressing official recognition.
