Legis Daily

Returning SBA to Main Street Act

USA119th CongressS-298| Senate 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (2)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Tim Scott (Republican)

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Returning SBA to Main Street Act" directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to relocate at least 30 percent of its headquarters employees from the Washington metropolitan area to offices in other regions within one year of the Act's enactment. This significant relocation is contingent upon the Administrator determining that such a move will demonstrably reduce costs for the Federal Government, a determination that must be explained in detail to Congress. When determining new duty stations, the Administrator must prioritize geographic diversity , including consideration of rural markets , and ensure adequate staffing to promote in-person customer service throughout the SBA's regions. Employees whose permanent duty stations are changed will have their pay calculated based on the pay locality of their new assignment and will not be authorized to telework on a full-time basis. An exception to relocation and full-time telework restrictions is made for employees with disabilities who require full-time telework as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In conjunction with employee relocation, the bill mandates a reduction of at least 30 percent in the SBA's headquarters office space, to be completed within two years. The Administrator must submit a report to Congress within 180 days, detailing the number of eligible employees, those subject to exceptions, and the comprehensive plan for implementing the relocation and office space reduction. This report will also outline the impact on full-time teleworkers who remain in the Washington metropolitan area but are not relocated, as they will lose full-time telework authorization. The Act specifies that no relocation incentives will be paid to employees whose official worksite changes due to these provisions. Furthermore, future budget justification materials submitted to Congress must include detailed information on employee numbers at headquarters, field offices, and those engaged in full-time telework, including those with disability accommodations. The bill includes standard legal clauses for severability and supersession of other laws or collective bargaining agreements, and explicitly states that it does not establish a private cause of action to challenge any decisions made under its authority.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-5501
Returning SBA to Main Street Act
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 29, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Feb 20, 2025
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 4, 2025
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Mar 4, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 21.
May 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2027
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 80.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-5501
    Returning SBA to Main Street Act


  • January 29, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 29, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.


  • February 20, 2025
    Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • March 4, 2025
    Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • March 4, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 21.


  • May 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2027
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 80.

Commerce

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2027: Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
Administrative remediesCommutingGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementRural conditions and developmentSmall Business AdministrationWages and earnings

Returning SBA to Main Street Act

USA119th CongressS-298| Senate 
| Updated: 3/4/2025
The "Returning SBA to Main Street Act" directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to relocate at least 30 percent of its headquarters employees from the Washington metropolitan area to offices in other regions within one year of the Act's enactment. This significant relocation is contingent upon the Administrator determining that such a move will demonstrably reduce costs for the Federal Government, a determination that must be explained in detail to Congress. When determining new duty stations, the Administrator must prioritize geographic diversity , including consideration of rural markets , and ensure adequate staffing to promote in-person customer service throughout the SBA's regions. Employees whose permanent duty stations are changed will have their pay calculated based on the pay locality of their new assignment and will not be authorized to telework on a full-time basis. An exception to relocation and full-time telework restrictions is made for employees with disabilities who require full-time telework as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In conjunction with employee relocation, the bill mandates a reduction of at least 30 percent in the SBA's headquarters office space, to be completed within two years. The Administrator must submit a report to Congress within 180 days, detailing the number of eligible employees, those subject to exceptions, and the comprehensive plan for implementing the relocation and office space reduction. This report will also outline the impact on full-time teleworkers who remain in the Washington metropolitan area but are not relocated, as they will lose full-time telework authorization. The Act specifies that no relocation incentives will be paid to employees whose official worksite changes due to these provisions. Furthermore, future budget justification materials submitted to Congress must include detailed information on employee numbers at headquarters, field offices, and those engaged in full-time telework, including those with disability accommodations. The bill includes standard legal clauses for severability and supersession of other laws or collective bargaining agreements, and explicitly states that it does not establish a private cause of action to challenge any decisions made under its authority.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-5501
Returning SBA to Main Street Act
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Jan 29, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Feb 20, 2025
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 4, 2025
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Mar 4, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 21.
May 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2027
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 80.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-5501
    Returning SBA to Main Street Act


  • January 29, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 29, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.


  • February 20, 2025
    Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • March 4, 2025
    Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Ernst with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • March 4, 2025
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 21.


  • May 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2027
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 80.
Joni Ernst

Joni Ernst

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (2)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Tim Scott (Republican)

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Commerce

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2027: Returning SBA to Main Street Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative remediesCommutingGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementRural conditions and developmentSmall Business AdministrationWages and earnings