National Ombudsman

Business and Trade Association Leaders to Participate in Second National Regulatory Fairness Hearing 

 

 

The Office of the National Ombudsman at the U.S. Small Business Administration hosted its second national regulatory fairness hearing in Washington D.C. on March 12. This event, which was held at the Environmental Protection Agency’s East Building, gave leaders from business organizations and trade associations an opportunity to comment on unfair or excessive federal regulatory enforcement that impacts their members and small businesses nationwide.

View the March 12 broadcast of the hearing:

Introduction

Witness Testimony - Part 1

Witness Testimony - Part 2


National Regulatory Fairness Hearing Agenda

Each year a series of public regulatory fairness hearings are held around the country.  These hearings are usually chaired by the National Ombudsman and regional board members and attended by officials from various federal regulatory agencies.  During the hearings, small business owners have an opportunity to testify in person, presenting their concerns about unfair practices or burdensome policies imposed on them by federal agencies, without fear of retaliatory action.  Business owners also have the option of submitting their comments in writing to the National Ombudsman.

The national hearing will follow a similar format. During a typical regional hearing, comments from business owners are forwarded to the appropriate federal agency for their review.  The National Ombudsman asks the federal agency to respond within a specified time period.  In many instances, the federal agency has reduced or waived particular penalties and/or compliance actions.  At a minimum, the agencies direct a high-level review of the enforcement action to ensure fairness.  Comments from the national hearing will also be included in the National Ombudsman’s annual report to Congress, which rates federal agencies on responsiveness to small business concerns.
 
 
For more information on the national hearing, contact Christina Marinos in the Office of the National Ombudsman at christina.marinos@sba.gov, or by phone at (202) 401-8254.  To learn more about the Office of the National Ombudsman, visit the Web site at www.sba.gov/ombudsman.