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S 298 · 119th Congress · Commerce

Returning SBA to Main Street Act

Introduced January 29, 2025 Latest action March 04, 2025 2 cosponsors

Sponsor

Latest action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 21.

Action timeline

Every recorded action on this bill, newest first. Stage badges color-code the legislative path.

Mar 04, 2025
committee Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Mar 04, 2025
other Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 21.
Feb 20, 2025
committee Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Jan 29, 2025
introduced Introduced in Senate
Jan 29, 2025
introduced Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Text versions

Each stage of the bill — official text published by GPO. Click any format to read on congress.gov / govinfo.

Mar 04, 2025 Reported to Senate
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Jan 29, 2025 Introduced in Senate
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Changelog
ⓘ

How a bill moves through Congress. Each stage produces a new official text. The diff between them shows what changed at that step.

  1. ih / is — Introduced in House / Senate. First filed version.
  2. rfh / rfs — Referred to a committee for review.
  3. rh / rs — Reported back by the committee to the floor (often with amendments — this is where most language changes happen).
  4. pcs / pch — Placed on Calendar for floor consideration.
  5. eh / es — Engrossed. Passed by the originating chamber. Text is now what was actually voted on.
  6. rdh / rds — Received by the other chamber.
  7. eah / eas — Engrossed Amendment. The other chamber passed an amended version.
  8. ath / ats — Agreed to. Both chambers settled on the same text.
  9. enr — Enrolled. Final reconciled text, sent to the President.
  10. pl — Public Law. Signed by the President. It's now law.
  11. pp — Public Print. Official printing post-enactment.

Most bills die before eh/es. Going from pcs → enr is the full path through both chambers.

Line-level diff between text versions of this bill — what actually changed at each legislative stage.

→
+279 −6 40 unchanged
--- Introduced (Senate)
+++ Reported (Senate)
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
-[S. 298 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
+[S. 298 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
+Calendar No. 21
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 298
@@ -22,6 +23,12 @@
Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
+March 4, 2025
+
+Reported by Ms. Ernst, with an amendment
+[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
+in italic]
+
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
@@ -33,6 +40,247 @@
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
+
+<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Returning SBA to Main
+Street Act''.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) Administration; administrator.--The terms
+``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean the Small
+Business Administration and the Administrator thereof,
+respectively.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) Budget justification materials.--The term
+``budget justification materials'' has the meaning given that
+term in section 3(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Funding
+Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101
+note).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (3) Employee.--The term ``employee'' has the
+meaning given that term in section 2105 of title 5, United
+States Code.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (4) Headquarters employee of the administration.--
+The term ``headquarters employee of the Administration''
+means--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) an employee of the Administration
+whose permanent duty station is at the headquarters of
+the Administration; or</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) an employee of the Administration--
+</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (i) who teleworks on a full-time
+basis; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (ii) whose rate of pay is
+calculated based on the Washington metropolitan
+area rate of pay.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (5) Headquarters of the administration.--The term
+``headquarters of the Administration'' means the building
+serving as the principal managerial and administrative center
+of the Administration, in accordance with section 4(a) of the
+Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633(a)).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (6) Pay locality.--The term ``pay locality'' has
+the meaning given that term in section 5302 of title 5, United
+States Code.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (7) Rural.--The term ``rural'' means any area that
+is not designated as an urban area, based on the most recent
+data available from the Bureau of the Census.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (8) Telework.--The term ``telework'' has the
+meaning given that term in section 6501 of title 5, United
+States Code.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (9) Telework on a full-time basis.--The term
+``telework on a full-time basis'' means that an employee is
+authorized to telework for 100 percent of the work days of the
+employee per pay period.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (10) Washington metropolitan area.--The term
+``Washington metropolitan area'' means the geographic area to
+which the Washington metropolitan area rate of pay
+applies.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (11) Washington metropolitan area rate of pay.--
+The term ``Washington metropolitan area rate of pay'' means the
+rate of pay in effect for the pay locality designated as
+``Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA''.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 3. RELOCATION OF EMPLOYEES.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provisions of
+law, and not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,
+the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) change the permanent duty station of not less
+than 30 percent of the headquarters employees of the
+Administration, as of the date of enactment of this Act, to be
+at an office of the Administration at a location outside the
+Washington metropolitan area, which shall be at locations
+throughout the regions of the Administration; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) for each employee of the Administration whose
+permanent duty station is changed under paragraph (1), ensure
+that--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) the rate of pay of the employee is
+calculated based on the pay locality for the permanent
+duty station of the employee; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) the employee is not authorized to
+telework on a full-time basis.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (b) Determination of New Duty Stations.--In determining
+the permanent duty stations of headquarters employees of the
+Administration under subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
+</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) promote geographic diversity, including
+consideration of rural markets; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) ensure adequate staffing throughout the
+regions of the Administration, to promote in-person customer
+service.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (c) Determination of Employees Eligible for a Change in
+Duty Station.--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph
+(2), the Administrator shall include each headquarters employee
+of the Administration as eligible for a change in permanent
+duty station under subsection (a).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) Exception.--A headquarters employee of the
+Administration who is a qualified individual who receives an
+accommodation to telework on a full-time basis as a reasonable
+accommodation under title I of the Americans with Disabilities
+Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq.)--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) shall not be determined to be eligible
+for a change in permanent duty station under subsection
+(a); and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) shall be counted as a headquarters
+employee of the Administration for purposes of
+complying with subsection (a)(1).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (3) Notice of determination of eligibility.--Not
+later than the day before the date on which the Administrator
+submits the report required under subsection (d), the
+Administrator shall notify each headquarters employee of the
+Administration who the Administrator determines is eligible for
+a change in permanent duty station under subsection (a) of that
+determination.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
+enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee
+on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee
+on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report that
+provides--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) the number of headquarters employees of the
+Administration, as of the date of enactment of this
+Act;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) the number of headquarters employees of the
+Administration identified as eligible for a change in permanent
+duty station, in accordance with subsection (c);</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (3) the number of headquarters employees of the
+Administration whose permanent duty station will be changed to
+be at an office of the Administration at a location outside the
+Washington metropolitan area under subsection (a);</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (4) the number of headquarters employees of the
+Administration subject to an exception under subsection (c)(2);
+and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (5) the plan of the Administrator to implement
+subsection (a).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (e) Implementation.--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) In general.--Not earlier than 60 days, and not
+later than 90 days, after the date on which the Administrator
+submits the report required under subsection (d), the
+Administrator shall notify each headquarters employee of the
+Administration whose permanent duty station will be changed to
+be at an office of the Administration located outside the
+Washington metropolitan area under subsection (a)--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) that, effective 90 days after the date
+of the notification--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (i) the permanent duty station of
+the employee shall be changed;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (ii) the rate of pay of the
+employee shall be calculated based on the pay
+locality for such permanent duty station;
+and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (iii) the employee shall not be
+authorized to telework on a full-time basis;
+and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) of the location of such permanent duty
+station.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) Full-time teleworkers remaining in the
+washington metropolitan area.--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) In general.--For any employee
+described in subparagraph (B), effective on the date
+that is 180 days after the date on which the
+Administrator submits the report required under
+subsection (d), the employee shall not be authorized to
+telework on a full-time basis.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) Employees covered.--An employee
+described in this subparagraph is a headquarters
+employee of the Administration--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (i) who teleworks on a full-time
+basis, as of the date of enactment of this
+Act;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (ii) who is not subject to an
+exception under subsection (c)(2);
+and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (iii) whose permanent duty station
+is not changed to be an office of the
+Administration at a location outside the
+Washington metropolitan area under subsection
+(a).</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (3) No relocation incentives.--If, pursuant to
+this Act, the official worksite (as defined in section 531.605
+of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
+regulation) of an employee changes from the residence of the
+employee to the headquarters of the Administration,
+notwithstanding any other provision of law, the employee shall
+not be paid any relocation incentive.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 4. REDUCTION IN HEADQUARTERS OFFICE SPACE.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Administrator shall reduce the amount
+of office space for the headquarters of the Administration by not less
+than 30 percent.</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (b) Implementation.--The Administrator shall--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) begin reducing office space under subsection
+(a) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
+Act; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) complete the reduction of office space
+required under subsection (a) not later than 2 years after the
+date of enactment of this Act.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 5. INFORMATION INCLUDED IN BUDGET JUSTIFICATION MATERIALS
+PROVIDED TO CONGRESS.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> The Administrator shall include in the first budget
+justification materials of the Administration submitted after the date
+of enactment of this Act, and the budget justification materials of the
+Administration for each fiscal year thereafter--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (1) the number of headquarters employees of the
+Administration;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (2) the number of employees of the Administration
+assigned to a permanent duty station in--</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (A) a field office of the
+Administration;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (B) a district office of the
+Administration; or</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (C) a regional office of the
+Administration;</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (3) the number of employees of the Administration
+who telework on a full-time basis; and</DELETED>
+<DELETED> (4) the number of employees of the Administration
+who are a qualified individual who receives an accommodation to
+telework on a full-time basis as a reasonable accommodation
+under title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
+(42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq.).</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 6. SEVERABILITY.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> If any provision of this Act or the application of such
+provision to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional,
+the remainder of this Act and the application of the provision to any
+other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 7. SUPERSESSION.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> This Act shall supersede any other provision of law and
+any provision of a collective bargaining agreement or master labor
+agreement.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED>SEC. 8. NO PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION.</DELETED>
+
+<DELETED> Nothing in this Act shall be construed to establish a
+private cause of action, equitable or otherwise, to challenge any
+selection, change, or decision made, or action taken, under this
+Act.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
@@ -89,8 +337,12 @@
SEC. 3. RELOCATION OF EMPLOYEES.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, and
-not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
-Administrator shall--
+not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, if the
+Administrator determines that implementing the requirements under
+paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection will reduce the cost to the
+Federal Government (which determination the Administrator shall explain
+in detail in the report required under subsection (d) of this section),
+the Administrator shall--
(1) change the permanent duty station of not less than 30
percent of the headquarters employees of the Administration, as
of the date of enactment of this Act, to be at an office of the
@@ -106,7 +358,7 @@
full-time basis.
(b) Determination of New Duty Stations.--In determining the
permanent duty stations of headquarters employees of the Administration
-under subsection (a), the Administrator shall--
+under subsection (a)(1), the Administrator shall--
(1) promote geographic diversity, including consideration
of rural markets; and
(2) ensure adequate staffing throughout the regions of the
@@ -190,7 +442,7 @@
at a location outside the Washington
metropolitan area under subsection (a).
(3) No relocation incentives.--If, pursuant to this Act,
-the official worksite (as defined in section 531.605 of title
+the official worksite (as defined in section 531.602 of title
5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation) of
an employee changes from the residence of the employee to the
headquarters of the Administration, notwithstanding any other
@@ -250,4 +502,25 @@
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to establish a private cause
of action, equitable or otherwise, to challenge any selection, change,
or decision made, or action taken, under this Act.
-<all>
+Calendar No. 21
+
+119th CONGRESS
+
+1st Session
+
+S. 298
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+A BILL
+
+To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to
+relocate 30 percent of the employees assigned to headquarters to duty
+stations outside the Washington metropolitan area, and for other
+purposes.
+
+_______________________________________________________________________
+
+March 4, 2025
+
+Reported with an amendment

Cosponsors (2)

Members who signed on to support this bill.

Blackburn R
Scott R