SBE Council Supports the POST IT Act

By SBE Council at 18 July, 2023, 7:31 am

(UPDATE: The Small Business Committee advanced the POST IT Act on July 18, by a vote of 26-0.)

The Honorable Roger Williams

Chairman

Committee on Small Business

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C.  20515

The Honorable Nydia Velazquez

Ranking Member

Committee on Small Business

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C.  20515

Dear Chairman Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez:

Regulatory complexity and confusion remain a top challenge for our nation’s small businesses. Despite protections and legislative efforts aimed at helping small businesses and their employees better comply and navigate federal rules, the volume of regulation and now the onslaught of new regulatory initiatives add costs and risks that intensify the pain points of entrepreneurs during an uncertain economic period. That is why SBE Council strongly supports the Providing Opportunities to Show Transparency via Information Technology Act (POST IT Act).

The mission of the Office of the National Ombudsman is to work “for small businesses to assist them with excessive federal regulatory issues.” One way the Office currently offers compliance assistance is by linking to the point of contacts at each agency and their respective compliance guides, which in many cases require a small business to wade through volumes of documents that may not be relevant. These compliance guides are inconsistent across federal agencies in terms of content and “help.” Small businesses need more relevant and consistent help.

The POST IT Act will provide valuable, specific guidance and support by requiring federal agencies to post follow-up guidance on major rules on the SBA’s National Ombudsman’s website. Providing this tool to both small business owners and the National Ombudsman’s office will help both better do their daily work. It will help small business owners save time and money, and support the goal of compliance.

If Congress and federal agencies want small business owners to comply with federal rules and regulations, providing streamlined support and direct links to the guidance documents of specific major rules is a means to that end. Therefore, the POST IT Act should be supported by every member of Congress.

Sincerely,

Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO

cc:  The Honorable Marc Molinaro