During the business meeting, Markey also commended bipartisan legislation that delivers for disaster survivors

Washington (February 12) – Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement in response to the committee’s markup in which Republicans rejected an amendment that would prohibit Musk’s minions from accessing the sensitive, private data of small business owners, including individuals who rely on the Small Business Administration (SBA) for disaster relief.

“DOGE operatives are working under the cover of darkness with access to small business owners’ private financial information. Congress has not received a clear indication of what DOGE’s authorization is or what exactly they are doing at the Small Business Administration. Coupled with reports that DOGE unjustifiably and suddenly fired several hundred SBA probationary employees, it is concerning that even the head of the Senate DOGE Caucus is not privy to their covert dealings. Congress must protect against breaking and entering into the private financial data of millions of hardworking individuals who rely on SBA. I look forward to the promised forthcoming briefing on DOGE’s activities at SBA,” said Ranking Member Markey.

The committee also reported out the SBA Disaster Transparency Act, led by Senators Scott (R-SC) and Schiff (D-CA), which directs SBA to publish its reporting on the disaster loan program on SBA’s website.

“Although we were unable to receive sufficient answers today on DOGE’s unlawful excursion, I am pleased to see the committee working in a bipartisan manner to advance Senator Scott and Senator Schiff’s SBA Disaster Transparency Act, which directs SBA to publish its disaster reports on their website. We were also able to come to a bipartisan agreement on Senator Budd’s Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act, which would retain benefits for disaster survivors and help ensure that we do not face another funding shortfall. Together, these two bills deliver for disaster survivors. They demonstrate what this committee should be doing – passing commonsense, bipartisan legislation that positively impacts all small businesses regardless of being in a blue state or red state,” continued Ranking Member Markey.

Watch the committee markup, including Ranking Member Markey’s opening statement, here. 

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