Sponsors
The resolution strengthens the Senate Committee on Small Business by funding staff, expertise, and simplifying operations to sustain oversight and reduce paperwork, at the cost of increasing federal spending and reducing some financial oversight, which may shift burdens to taxpayers and agency staff.
Small-business owners and committee staff: the committee can hire staff and fund investigations through Feb 28, 2027, with predictable multi-period funding, sustaining oversight and small-business policy work.
Committee staff and small-business stakeholders: allows use of executive-branch personnel (with consent), giving the committee access to agency expertise without hiring additional permanent staff.
Committee staff: establishes predictable funding for consultants (up to $50,000 per period) and staff training ($10,000 per period), supporting outside expertise and staff development.
Taxpayers: open-ended and contingent funding authorities (including "such sums as may be necessary" and use of the contingent fund) increase federal spending risk and could raise taxpayer costs without a clear cap.
Taxpayers, auditors, and committee oversight: eliminating voucher requirements for many routine expenditures and shifting payment authority can weaken financial oversight and complicate budget tracking, raising the risk of billing errors or improper charges.
Federal employees and agencies: detailing executive-branch personnel to the committee can divert agency staff time away from regular duties, reducing agency capacity.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes the Senate Small Business Committee to operate, hire staff, use certain executive personnel, and sets spending ceilings and expense rules for Mar 1, 2025–Feb 28, 2027.
Authorizes the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to exercise its Rule XXV jurisdiction and investigatory powers from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2027, and allows the committee to make expenditures, hire personnel, and use executive branch personnel with appropriate consents. Sets specific spending ceilings for three consecutive budget periods within that timeframe, permits limited use of consultants and training funds, and specifies how committee expenses are to be paid from the Senate contingent fund and related appropriations accounts.
Introduced February 11, 2025 by Joni Ernst · Last progress February 11, 2025