DLARA

This legislation seeks to significantly improve the transparency and financial management of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) disaster loan program. It introduces several measures designed to enhance accountability , particularly in how the SBA forecasts, requests, and manages funds for disaster relief. The bill aims to prevent future funding shortfalls and ensure more accurate reporting to Congress and the public regarding the program's financial health and operational efficiency. To achieve greater transparency, the bill amends existing law to require the SBA Administrator to submit more detailed monthly reports on disaster loan activity, including projections for when available funding will be depleted. Furthermore, it mandates that the President's annual budget request include separate, detailed statements for both the cost and administrative expenses of SBA disaster loans and COVID-EIDL loans. These statements must compare requested amounts to 10-year averages and provide explanations for any significant differences, thereby offering a clearer financial picture. The bill also establishes new protocols for situations where disaster loan funding is critically low, specifically when the unobligated balance falls below 10 percent of the 10-year average annual cost. In such cases, the Administrator must promptly notify Congress and may temporarily limit loan obligations to amounts backed by collateral. To ensure robust oversight, the legislation directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to produce reports on the program's financial metrics and the impact of recent changes to disaster loan terms. Additionally, the SBA Inspector General is tasked with reviewing past funding shortfalls, identifying any reporting failures, and recommending improvements to forecasting and internal controls.