Shaheen Statement on Confirmation of Isabel Guzman to Lead Small Business Administration

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee (SBC), released the following statement after voting in favor of Isabel Guzman to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Guzman’s confirmation cleared the Senate by a vote of 81 to 17.

“For the millions of small businesses in New Hampshire and across the country that are the heart of our economy, the Small Business Administration is an invaluable resource, providing Main Street and local entrepreneurs with the assistance and support they need to prosper and thrive. The only federal agency fully dedicated to America’s small businesses, the SBA has played a consequential role over the past year, directing urgently needed relief through programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans to those hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Shaheen. “Given her considerable knowledge and experience in both the public and private sectors addressing the needs of small businesses, Isabel Guzman is the right person to lead the SBA. I look forward to working with Ms. Guzman to address priorities crucial to New Hampshire’s small businesses, including swiftly implementing relief passed as part of the American Rescue Plan, expanding access to the SBA’s export assistance program and improving SBA outreach to underserved and underbanked communities in our state. Under her leadership, I know the SBA will be a dedicated and powerful voice for America’s small businesses.”

Shaheen has worked to provide small businesses with the resources they need to weather and recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She helped lead discussions on provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law last March to assist small businesses and established the Paycheck Protection Program and expanded the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program in the CARES Act. Both of these programs have been lifelines for businesses throughout New Hampshire and the country.  To date, nearly 25,000 New Hampshire small businesses and non-profits have received over $2.5 billion in PPP assistance.