U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBC), released the following statement upon today’s Committee vote to move forward with the nomination of Mr. Darryl DePriest to be Chief Counsel for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). DePriest’s nomination will now go to the Senate Floor for a vote, which is expected in the coming weeks.

“The next SBA Chief Counsel for Advocacy must be willing to put the needs of America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs first – above politics and above bureaucracy,” said Vitter. “Moving forward with Mr. DePriest’s nomination demonstrates a cautious optimism as we work to fill one of the SBA’s most important watchdog roles, which has remained unfilled for too long.”

A Presidentially-nominated position, the SBA’s Chief Counsel for Advocacy serves as an independent voice for small businesses in the federal government.