Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/4549
Last Updated: February 4, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

ID: G000604

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 282.

December 2, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, brought to you by the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Office of Rural Affairs Enhancement Act (HR 4549) claims to "clarify" the responsibilities of the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Rural Affairs. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to create more bureaucratic busywork and justify additional funding for this office.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends Section 26 of the Small Business Act by:

1. Requiring the Assistant Administrator to have experience with rural affairs and small business concerns (because, apparently, that wasn't a given). 2. Expanding the Office's responsibilities to include hosting webinars and outreach events for rural small businesses. 3. Mandating annual reports on the Office's activities, which will undoubtedly be filled with meaningless statistics and self-congratulatory language.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:

1. Rural small business owners, who will supposedly benefit from this "enhanced" support (but probably won't). 2. The SBA, which gets to justify more funding for its Office of Rural Affairs. 3. Lobbyists and special interest groups, who will use this bill as a Trojan horse to push their own agendas.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic example of "legislative placebo effect." It creates the illusion of action while doing nothing meaningful to address the real challenges faced by rural small businesses. The actual impact will be:

1. More bureaucratic red tape and paperwork for rural small business owners. 2. Increased funding for the SBA's Office of Rural Affairs, which may or may not trickle down to actual support for rural businesses. 3. A nice PR boost for the bill's sponsors, who can now claim they're "supporting" rural America.

In conclusion, HR 4549 is a masterclass in legislative flimflam. It's a solution in search of a problem, designed to create more bureaucratic busywork and justify additional funding for the SBA's Office of Rural Affairs. Bravo, Congress!

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations State & Local Government Affairs Congressional Rules & Procedures Civil Rights & Liberties Transportation & Infrastructure Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement National Security & Intelligence
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$68,800
19 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$68,800

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
FLORY, ROBERT H. JR
2 transactions
$8,200
2
MCLAUGHLIN, JANE
1 transaction
$4,500
3
KRAUSZ, STEVEN
1 transaction
$3,300
4
HIRSHBERG, GARY
1 transaction
$3,300
5
DRAKE, LAWRENCE C JR
1 transaction
$3,300
6
CUTLER, DOULGAS
1 transaction
$3,300
7
JAMES, AMABEL
1 transaction
$3,300
8
NUNNELLY, MARK
1 transaction
$3,300
9
ROBY, DAVID M.
1 transaction
$3,300
10
FRIEDMAN, RACHEL
1 transaction
$3,300
11
FRIEZE, KENNETH
1 transaction
$3,300
12
GROSS, MARK
1 transaction
$3,300
13
FRANCIS, PETER
1 transaction
$3,300
14
CUTLER, LIZ
1 transaction
$3,300
15
HARRIS, WILLIAM SR
1 transaction
$3,300
16
LIVINGSTON, JESSICA
1 transaction
$3,300
17
TEMPEL, JEAN
1 transaction
$3,300
18
BEEUWKES, NANCY
1 transaction
$3,300
19
KATZ, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

ID: W000829

Top Contributors

10

1
WMC CONDUIT
COM MADISON, WI
$2,500
Sep 11, 2024
2
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY
Organization CRANDON, WI
$3,300
Sep 23, 2024
3
UIHLEIN, RICHARD
ULINE VP
Individual HUDSON, WI
$6,870
May 14, 2024
4
SEIDENSTICKER, LAURA
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual LAKE FOREST, IL
$6,870
May 16, 2024
5
FISCHER, LAURIE
SELF-EMPLOYED CONSULTANT
Individual ONEIDA, WI
$6,600
Jul 16, 2024
6
NINIVAGGI, ANGELO
PLEXUS ATTORNEY
Individual APPLETON, WI
$6,600
Apr 8, 2024
7
NINIVAGGI, JENNIFER
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual APPLETON, WI
$6,600
Apr 9, 2024
8
CHARLES, DAVID R
CASH DEPOT PRESIDENT
Individual NEW FRANKEN, WI
$6,600
May 16, 2024
9
GREENE, JAMES
WG&R FURNITURE CO CHAIRMAN
Individual DE PERE, WI
$6,600
May 1, 2024
10
GREENE, MEGHAN
HOMEMAKER HOMEMAKER
Individual DE PERE, WI
$6,600
May 1, 2024

Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]

ID: G000592

Top Contributors

10

1
PENOBSCOT INDIAN NATION
Organization INDIAN ISLAND, ME
$3,300
Oct 19, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Organization CHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Feb 8, 2024
3
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
Organization ROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
Mar 13, 2024
4
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Sep 28, 2023
5
NOTTAWASEPPI HURON BAND OF THE POTAWATOMI
Organization FULTON, MI
$2,000
Oct 15, 2024
6
PASSAMAQUODDY TRIBE AT INDIAN TOWNSHIP
Organization PERRY, ME
$1,000
Oct 28, 2024
7
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,000
Oct 31, 2024
8
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,000
Jun 27, 2024
9
ONEIDA NATION
Organization ONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Sep 26, 2024
10
KIRK, GARRETT JR
SELF EMPLOYED INVESTOR
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Nov 2, 2024

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

ID: F000466

Top Contributors

10

1
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,500
Dec 31, 2024
2
STATA FAMILY OFFICE
Organization
$500
Apr 26, 2024
3
ASHER, ROBERT B.
Individual GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA
$10,000
Oct 9, 2024
4
ASHER, ROBERT B.
ASHER CHOCOLATES CHAIRMAN
Individual GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA
$10,000
Sep 30, 2024
5
LEVY, EDWARD JR
EDW C LEVY CO CHAIRMAN
Individual BIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Feb 26, 2024
6
CROTTY, THOMAS
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual SCOTTSDALE, AZ
$6,600
Feb 27, 2024
7
EVANS, ROGER
GREYLOCK PARTNERS PARTNER EMERITUS
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Feb 27, 2024
8
LEACH, RONALD
NPX ONE CHAIRMAN & CEO
Individual GENEVA, IL
$6,600
Feb 28, 2024
9
MCCLAIN, MARK
SAILPOINT CEO
Individual AUSTIN, TX
$6,600
Mar 2, 2024
10
CROTTY, THOMAS
Individual SCOTTSDALE, AZ
$6,600
Mar 8, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 32 nodes and 29 connections

Total contributions: $103,370

Top Donors - Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount

19 Individuals