Ranking Member Ernst Urges SBA Nominee to Address Fraud, Cut Red Tape, Support Rural Communities

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, co-led the first committee hearing of the year. This hearing focused on the nomination of Dilawar Syed to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). 

Ernst began the hearing by highlighting the importance of the SBA to Iowans, saying, “Having served on this Committee for several years now, I recognize the importance of this Committee’s work to support and protect the interests of small businesses in Iowa and across the United States. I am truly honored, humbled, and excited to serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.”

Click here or on the image above to watch Ernst’s opening remarks.

Ernst then explained the importance of the SBA nomination, noting, “From addressing fraud to improving the agency’s responsiveness, to actually enforcing the laws that are meant to protect small businesses from drowning in unnecessary red tape, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to improve the SBA’s most basic functions…I believe it is both this Committee’s and the SBA’s responsibility to ensure they are not hamstrung by unnecessary red tape. Right now, that is simply not happening.”

Ernst went on to question Dilawar Syed about the Committee’s trouble receiving timely information from the SBA on a wide range of issues, including Planned Parenthood loans. She also asked about Syed’s plan to address fraud, cut regulations, and support often-forgotten rural communities.

Click here or on the image above to watch Ernst’s full line of questioning.

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