An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 71
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-11: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text: CR S863)
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-20T17:36:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution (S. Res. 71) authorizes the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to spend funds, hire staff, and use certain services from other government entities for a two-year period from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2027. Its main goal is to provide the committee with the resources needed to carry out its oversight and investigative duties related to small businesses, as outlined in Senate rules.
Key Provisions
- General Authority (Section 1): The committee is permitted to:
- Spend money from the Senate's contingent fund (a general pool for unexpected or authorized expenses).
- Hire personnel as needed.
- Use services from other government departments or agencies, either for free or with reimbursement, but only with prior approval from those entities and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
- Expense Limits (Section 2): Total spending is capped for three periods, with sub-limits on specific uses:
- March 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025: Up to $2,769,908 total, including no more than $50,000 for consultants (experts hired for advice, as allowed under the 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act) and $10,000 for staff training.
- October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026: Up to $4,748,413 total, with the same $50,000 consultant cap and $10,000 training cap.
- October 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027: Up to $1,978,505 total, with the same consultant and training caps.
- Payment and Contributions (Section 3):
- Most expenses are paid from the Senate's contingent fund, approved by the committee chair via vouchers (official receipts or claims).
- No vouchers needed for routine items like employee salaries, telecommunications, stationery, postage, copying, photography, or mailing costs provided by Senate offices.
- Additional funds from the Senate's "Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations" account can cover employer contributions (e.g., for benefits like pensions or health insurance) for committee employees across all three periods.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution does not introduce major new laws but renews and updates routine authorizations for the committee's operations, aligning with Senate Standing Rules (which govern how committees function). It sets new spending caps for the 119th Congress (2025–2026), likely adjusting for inflation or prior budgets, and references the 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act for consultant and training allowances. No substantive alterations to broader U.S. law are made; it is procedural and specific to this committee.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enables the committee to conduct hearings, investigations, and reports on small business issues without funding delays, potentially increasing coordination with agencies like the Small Business Administration. It may lead to reimbursable use of other agencies' staff, affecting their workloads minimally.
- On Citizens: Indirect benefits for small business owners and entrepreneurs through continued committee oversight of policies affecting them, such as loans, regulations, or economic support programs. No direct impact on individual citizens or taxpayers beyond standard Senate budgeting.
- On International Relations: None apparent; the resolution focuses on domestic Senate operations and small business matters within the U.S.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary: The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (including its chair, members like Sen. Joni Ernst, and staff), who gain operational funding and flexibility.
- Secondary: Senate support offices (e.g., Sergeant at Arms, Rules and Administration Committee) involved in approvals and payments; federal agencies providing services; and indirectly, small businesses and entrepreneurs who rely on the committee's advocacy and investigations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures compliance with Senate rules (e.g., Rules XXV and XXVI on jurisdiction and investigations) and the Legislative Reorganization Act, preventing unauthorized spending. The voucher exceptions streamline administrative processes without risking misuse.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's Article I powers to organize its internal operations and conduct oversight, posing no challenges to separation of powers.
- Political: As a bipartisan committee resolution introduced by a Republican senator, it supports routine continuity in the new Congress but could face scrutiny in budget debates if spending is seen as excessive. It has no partisan policy shifts, focusing on enabling neutral fact-finding on small business issues.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-11: Referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. (text: CR S863)
- 2025-02-11: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Ernst. Without written report.
- 2025-02-11: Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Ernst. Without written report.
- 2025-02-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. — issued 2025-02-11 — PDF (5 pages)