Bringing Marianas business needs to SBA Administrator Loeffler
This week, during a Small Business Committee hearing on the budget of the Small Business Administration, I spoke to Administrator Kelly Loeffler about the challenges facing the Marianas. Many of our aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses are still struggling to recover from Typhoon Yutu, COVID, and federal policies that contributed to the collapse of our tourism industry. As a tourism-dependent economy, our people need support while we work to get back on our feet, so I requested temporary relief that is justified, needed, and critical to getting our way out of this hole we are in. In addition, I urged the SBA to consider revising its 8(a) regulations to recognize our indigenous residents, ensuring they have opportunities to compete for federal opportunities. As interest for investments to the Marianas increases, I want to ensure our people aren’t watching from the sideline but are out front, building, growing, and succeeding.