U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass five bills to support and expand federal services for small businesses owners and entrepreneurs. 

New Mexico’s small businesses are the foundation of the state’s economy, accounting for 99% of the state’s businesses and employing more than 54% of the state’s workforce. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy in New Mexico. They employ over half of our state and are an integral part of state’s cultural fabric,” Rep. Stansbury said. “Ahead  of National Small Business Week, I voted to cut red tape, support entrepreneurs, increase resources for women entrepreneurs, and increase small business representation in international negotiations. I am proud to support these important pieces of legislation to empower small business owners and entrepreneurs and to continue creating good-paying jobs for New Mexico.”

The legislation Rep. Stansbury voted to pass includes:

• The Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act (H.R. 6445), led Rep. Jared Golden, reauthorizes and expands the Small Business Development Center program to help entrepreneurs establish and develop businesses.  
• The Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act (H.R. 6441), led by Rep. Sharice Davids, increases access to resources and opportunities for female entrepreneurs. 
• The SCORE for Small Businesses Act (H.R. 6450), led by Rep. Kim Young, reauthorizes the Small Business Administration’s program to provide education and mentorship services for entrepreneurs. 
• The One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act (H.R. 4877), led by Rep. Antonio Delgado, creates a centralized website for small business owners to access resources and learn more about certain regulations.  
• The Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act (H.R. 6454), led by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, allows the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy to represent small businesses internationally in regulatory and trade initiatives. 

Last month, Rep. Stansbury voted to pass the Relief for Restaurants and Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act of 2022, legislation she cosponsors, that would replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund with $42 million and establish $13 billion in the Hard Hit Industries Award Program to assist New Mexico small businesses that continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, which has moved to the Senate, would be fully paid for with the funds reclaimed from bad actors attempting to defraud taxpayers by taking advantage of previous pandemic relief programs.