The Investing in the American Dream Act (H.R. 8563) aims to clarify and expand eligibility for small business loans. It defines 'covered loans' to include various types of federal loans under the Small Business Act, such as general small business loans, microloans, and surety bond guarantees. The bill specifies that small businesses must be located in the U.S. and at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, nationals, or certain eligible individuals, including asylees, refugees, lawful permanent residents, and others authorized to work in the U.S. Importantly, it prohibits denying loan eligibility solely based on ownership by these eligible individuals, provided they meet the ownership and control requirements. The bill also clarifies that the Small Business Administration cannot increase the ownership percentage requirement beyond 51%.
Supporters of the Investing in the American Dream Act argue that it promotes inclusivity and economic growth by enabling a broader range of entrepreneurs, including immigrants and refugees, to access essential funding. They believe this expansion will foster innovation, create jobs, and strengthen the small business sector, which is vital to the U.S. economy.
Critics express concerns that expanding loan eligibility to a wider group of individuals could increase the risk of loan defaults and place additional strain on federal resources. They also worry that the bill might inadvertently disadvantage existing small business owners by intensifying competition for limited loan funds.
The analysis of H.R. 8563, which focuses on clarifying eligibility for small business loans, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the sponsor, Nydia Velázquez, and her top donor industries. The lobbying activity in this policy area includes significant contributions from various organizations, such as BAMCO LLC with $110,000 and the Transportation Communications National Union/IAM with $70,000. However, these contributions do not directly relate to small business loans, indicating a low risk of conflict of interest. Voters should be aware that while there are substantial lobbying efforts, they do not align with the bill's subject matter, suggesting that the sponsor's decisions are not influenced by her donors in this instance.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAMCO LLC | CHECKMATE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | $110,000 |
| TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATIONS NATIONAL UNION/IAM (FKA TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATI | TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATIONS NATIONAL UNION/IAM (FKA TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATI | $70,000 |
| MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED | MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS | HARO SOLUTIONS LLC | $10,000 |
| INTERCOMP COMPANY | BROMELKAMP GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, LLC | $10,000 |
| CONSUMER BANKERS ASSOCIATION | 1607 STRATEGIES, LLC | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN | JENNIFER MADSEN | undisclosed |
| AMERICAN COMMERCIAL BARGE LINE LLC | AMERICAN COMMERCIAL BARGE LINES, LLC | undisclosed |
| GALVANIZE THERAPEUTICS, INC. | JEFFREY J. KIMBELL & ASSOCIATES, INC. | undisclosed |
| NEURALINK CORP. | JEFFREY J. KIMBELL & ASSOCIATES, INC. | undisclosed |
| CAPITOL COUNSEL LLC ON BEHALF OF SKYVAULT AI LLC | MICHAEL J. LAMOUREUX | undisclosed |
| PRECISION IMPACTS, LLC | THORN RUN PARTNERS | undisclosed |
| CITY OF FREDERICK OKLAHOMA | BROMELKAMP GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, LLC | undisclosed |
| TWINLOGIC STRATEGIES ON BEHALF OF PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS | WINN STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| MONUMENT HILLS PARTNERS, LLC | THE BERNHARDT GROUP LLC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Nydia Velázquez, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
