(Washington, DC)—Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today issued the following statement after the majority postponed a scheduled markup of legislation to reauthorize the Small Business Act instead of removing poison pill provisions that would undermine federal agencies’ ability to protect workers and the environment:

“Since the beginning of this Congress, Chairman Rubio and I have worked together to conduct bipartisan hearings to examine which SBA programs are working and to identify areas for improvement. As a product of those hearings, Members of the Committee produced bipartisan solutions to the problems facing SBA and entrepreneurs, including measures to improve cybersecurity for small businesses, help small businesses engage in international trade, and support veteran small business owners,” Ranking Member Cardin said. “So I was very disappointed when Chairman Rubio unveiled his draft SBA reauthorization legislation, which includes poison pill measures that hamstring federal agencies’ ability to protect workers and the environment. Rather than being narrowly designed to help small businesses, the regulatory section of the Chairman’s Mark implements a wish list from corporate interests who seek to stifle government regulations that protect our health and safety.

“This morning I asked Chairman Rubio to vote on the regulatory measures as a stand-alone bill to avoid delaying this long overdue reauthorization of SBA programs, but unfortunately he could not accommodate my offer. Given that much of the content in the regulatory section falls outside the jurisdiction of the Committee, it is a shame that it is preventing us from advancing necessary reforms to help the 30 million small businesses around the country.”