Meng Announces Congressional Hearing to Take Place in Queens

March 6, 2014
Press Release

Congresswoman’s committee to hold rare field hearing in the borough to probe SBA’s lack of outreach to local small businesses

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that one her Congressional committees will hold a field hearing in Queens to probe the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) lack of outreach to local small businesses.
The hearing, to be conducted by the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce, will be held at Queens College on Tuesday, March 11 at 11 a.m. Meng serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee. These types of Congressional hearings are rarely held in Queens.
The panel will examine why emerging businesses, startups and minority small business owners struggle to use federal programs that they are entitled to utilize. Michele Chang, the SBA’s Acting Chief of Staff – and the number two person at the agency – is among the witnesses scheduled to testify.
The hearing was scheduled at Meng’s request, and she will participate in it.
“Small businesses are what drive the economy in Queens and New York City and their success is critical to the prosperity of our region,” said Meng. “The SBA and federal government have numerous resources to help small businesses grow, but unfortunately the agency has not done an effective job of making new entrepreneurs and small business owners aware of them, especially in communities I represent. In fact, many have no clue that they even exist. I expect this hearing to provide us with answers about why this problem has been occurring, and what plans exist to fix it.”
Members of Congress set to take part in the committee’s field hearing are its Chairman Richard Hanna (R-Utica), Meng, and other members of the panel.
Other witnesses scheduled to testify include:
  • Bill Imada, Chairman and CEO of the California-based IW Group
  • Joyce Moy, Executive Director of the Asian American/Asian Research Institute at Queens College
  • A possible fourth witness to be announced (TBA)
The hearing, entitled "Underserved Small Businesses: Providing Access to Federal Programs," will be held inside Queens College’s Rosenthal Library. It will be open to the public, small business owners and members of the media. Those planning to attend must RSVP to mengrsvp@mail.house.gov. The college is located 65-30 Kissena Boulevard in Flushing.
The SBA was created by Congress in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses. The agency offers many programs for individuals to start and run a small business such as providing loans and grants, business plan development, business counseling and assistance with tax exemptions and obtaining government contracts, among many other things.
The Small Business Committee oversees the many crucial issues affecting small business owners including the SBA, as well as financial aid, regulatory matters and other concerns.