SBA Number: 23-05 ADV
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Office of Advocacy’s (Advocacy) efforts at monitoring federal regulatory compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) resulted in 37 formal comment letters to agencies and 10 regulatory changes over fiscal year (FY) 2022. The 37 letters represent a new high for the office, demonstrating both Advocacy’s commitment to regulatory compliance and the advantage of new communicative practices.
As American small businesses emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Advocacy has focused on recommending regulatory relief to aid small businesses while educating regulators on crafting rules that lower burdens on American small businesses. New procedures adapted during the pandemic led to 30 issue roundtables held online, increasing the quality and quantity of voices heard by the office. In addition, Advocacy staff provided RFA training to 257 federal officials in 10 agencies across the country.
Deputy Chief Counsel Major L. Clark said, “Advocacy has taken the adaptations we have made during the COVID-19 pandemic and used those new tools to reach even more small businesses than ever before. Our efforts to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses have paid dividends over the course of FY 2022, and we are confident they will continue to do so in the future.”
Advocacy’s new publications, “Report on the Regulatory Flexibility Act, FY 2022,” and its corresponding Research Summary, are now available.
Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsel’s efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit https://advocacy.sba.gov/, or call (202) 205-6533.
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Contact Information:
David Tokarz
david.tokarz@sba.gov