A House Small Business Committee report accuses the Small Business Administration (SBA) of engaging in partisan voter registration activities in Michigan under the guise of President Biden's 2021 executive order promoting voter access. The committee, chaired by Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), alleges the SBA's actions went beyond simply assisting voters and ventured into partisan outreach in a crucial swing state.
The report criticizes Biden's executive order as an "inappropriate use of executive power," claiming the SBA's subsequent actions posed risks to election integrity. It points to an MOU between the SBA and Michigan's Department of State, along with travel records of senior SBA officials, as evidence of intertwining official duties with partisan political activities. The committee asserts the SBA has not adequately addressed these concerns.
Furthermore, the report contends the SBA deviated from its primary mission by engaging in voter registration efforts and actively obstructed the committee's investigation into the MOU. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) commended the report, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability within the SBA. He expressed anticipation for collaborating with the incoming Trump administration to put an end to such practices.
The report also alleges the SBA violated state and federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, the Anti-Deficiency Act, and the Hatch Act. It details the committee's efforts to obtain information from the SBA, including travel schedules and official calendars, and mentions a separate FOIA lawsuit filed by the Oversight Project seeking similar documents.
Rep. Williams initially accused the SBA and Administrator Isabel Casillas-Guzman of prioritizing voter registration in heavily Democratic areas of Michigan over their core responsibility of supporting small businesses. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), chair of the House Administration Committee, emphasized that election administration should be non-partisan, criticizing the use of taxpayer funds for partisan purposes.
The report delves into the executive order underlying the SBA's actions, noting it altered the enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act and mandated collaboration with the White House to support federal employees volunteering as election workers or observers. The selection of Michigan, a frequent swing state with officials perceived as sympathetic to the Biden-Harris campaign, drew the committee's attention.
Included in the report are email exchanges between the White House, the SBA, and outside advocacy groups, highlighting connections between senior SBA employees and left-leaning organizations. The report notes the Biden-Harris administration's acceptance of these relationships.
Rep. Williams reiterated the SBA's mission to support small businesses. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), the ranking Democrat on the committee, criticized the investigation as partisan, contrasting it with the committee's history of bipartisan cooperation. The SBA has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining they cooperated fully with the committee's inquiry and provided extensive documentation.
