Release No. 21-01 ADV
Washington D.C.- The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on American small business have
made the Office of Advocacy’s efforts to reduce regulatory burdens on small entities even more
important than usual. As the voice of small business in the federal government, Advocacy has
continued its efforts to focus on regulatory solutions that can aid small businesses and educating
regulators who craft regulations that could disproportionately impact small businesses.
Advocacy’s efforts at ensuring federal regulatory compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(RFA) resulted in eight rules that reduced the regulatory burden reductions for small business,
changes that led to $2.259 billion in quantifiable small business regulatory compliance cost
savings in FY 2020. Other regulatory changes sought by Advocacy resulted in burden reductions
which are not easily quantified.
Advocacy’s efforts to bring federal regulators and small business together led to 11 issue
roundtables over the course of FY 2020. Advocacy staff also provided RFA training to 224
federal officials in 8 sessions. As the pandemic disrupted normal operations, Advocacy moved
these conversations online. In addition, Advocacy voiced small businesses’ regulatory concerns
in 19 formal comment letters.
Acting Chief Counsel Major L. Clark said, “Despite the challenges small businesses faced in FY
2020, Advocacy is pleased with the regulatory changes made by federal agencies. These changes
made through the RFA have helped achieve savings for small businesses during a critical time
for their survival.”
The Office of Advocacy’s new publication, “Report on the Regulatory Flexibility Act, FY
2020,” is available online here.
Contact Information:
Emily Williams
emily.williams@sba.gov