Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Holds Hearing Examining the Small Business Administration’s Electioneering Efforts in Michigan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations led a hearing titled "Executive Overreach: Examining the SBA's Electioneering Efforts with Associate Administrator of Office of Field Operations, Jennifer Kim." Subcommittee Chairman Van Duyne issued the following statement after today's hearing.

"The Biden-Harris Small Business Administration (SBA) is ignoring its mission, leaving more than 80% of small business owners feeling voiceless, and instead using taxpayer funds for political purposes," said Subcommittee Chairman Van Duyne. "The SBA has no official reason to engage in a voter registration operation deliberately targeting Democrat areas in a swing state during an election year and has failed to provide sincere answers when questioned about this apparent effort to boost Democrat voter turnout. This reeks of unconstitutionality and is a slap in the face to the hardworking individuals seeking to achieve the American Dream amid the difficult economic circumstances created by this administration. I had hoped the SBA's Associate Administrator of Office of Field Operations, Jennifer Kim, would use today as an opportunity to provide meaningful answers to the questions our Committee has raised about this blatant electioneering; disappointingly, she refused. This fits with the Biden-Harris SBA's pattern of stonewalling congressional oversight efforts, flouting the law, and ignoring our job creators who are struggling to stay afloat amid high interest rates and overburdensome regulations. We will not be deterred and will continue to use all available tools to get answers for the American people."

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Watch the full hearing here.

Below are some key excerpts from today's hearing:

Chairman Van Duyne:"So what is the effective date of the MOU?"Ms. Kim:"I'll admit I can't remember the exact date, but I believe we signed it in mid-March." Chairman Van Duyne:"So, to be clear, it's in effect right now?" Ms. Kim:"Yes, the MOU has been completed." Chairman Van Duyne:"Because when the Administrator was here, my friends on the other side of the aisle insisted that this MOU was not in effect, but that isn't true because that was in effect the day that you signed it?" Ms. Kim:"It's in effect that we haven't actually done any of the activities that are included in that MOU yet." Chairman Van Duyne:"So you don't have, wasn't it required that you had a unique URL to actually register voters?" Ms. Kim:"The website does exist. We haven't put it anywhere yet, but the website is up and running."

Rep. McClain: "So I want to pick up on one other thing. Is there anywhere in the SBA's mission that talks about voter registration being part of that mission?" Ms. Kim:"Not specifically." Rep. McClain: "Not specifically. Thank you. Well, my colleague Eli Crane asked you a question, about where the programs were run past.And I think if I can quote, 'we ran programs everywhere.' Was that your answer?" Ms. Kim:"I can't remember exactly what I said, but I think I indicated that we run programs across all of our 68 districts." Rep. McClain: "Okay, can we take a look at Michigan since this is what we're talking about? Okay. Just these are facts. So since you don't know where they're at, I happen to.These are the programs that have been run by the SBA in Michigan, right? I don't know if you can see that, but all of these programs here have been run in Michigan, southeastern, lower. You see, these make sense?" Ms. Kim:"Well, I can't exactly see how, but I was, I believe, shown this map when I briefed the committee staff in May." Rep. McClain:"Okay. any idea what demographic, political party wise, these represent?" Ms. Kim:"I'm not tracking that." Rep. McClain:"I am, let me help you. They're Democrat."

Rep. Alford:"Associate Administrator Kim, this graphic shows where you were working during every presidential election since you joined the workforce. In 2008, you were the organizing director at Fair Share, Inc., a left-wing nonprofit that works to elect Democrats in Ohio.In 2012, you were the Colorado state director at the Community Voters Project, a Democrat voter registration nonprofit in Colorado. In 2016, you were the pod lead deputy training director at the Hillary for America in Florida. In 2020, you were deputy national organizing director at Biden for President. Ms. Kim, you are now associate administrator, associate administrator for the Small Business Administration.It's certainly interesting that this will be the first time in your adult life that you will ostensibly not be working to elect a Democrat nominee in a swing state. Associate Administrator Kim, can you please share with the Committee how 15 years of campaigning to elect Democrats gives you the experience necessary to be an Associate Administrator at the SBA?How did you get this job? Have you ever owned a small business in your life?"Ms. Kim:"Well, I appreciate the opportunity to share my background, Congressman. And if you had asked, I would have sent you a better picture. But I, actually, I spent most of my career working on nonpartisan campaigns."

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