Dear Chairman Cardin and Ranking Member Ernst:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports the nomination of Dilawar Syed to be Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). We believe that it is essential for SBA’s senior leadership team to be in place to deliver on the agency’s responsibilities and we believe Mr. Syed is well qualified for this position.
Dilawar Syed has an impressive background as an entrepreneur and understands the operational challenges of scaling a start-up to meet increased market demand. Those skills and management acumen are needed at a time when SBA services continue to be in high demand after the agency gained prominence from its role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Special Representative for Commercial & Business Affairs at the State Department, Dilawar Syed has been a champion for American business in markets overseas. Throughout his tenure, he partnered effectively with the private sector to advance trade and investment priorities with foreign governments and ensure a level playing field for U.S business. We know that he will bring that same passion and commitment to SBA to help spur small business engagement and growth through international trade.
We request that the Committee consider Mr. Syed’s nomination expeditiously, and we hope that the President and this Committee will move forward shortly with a nomination to head SBA’s Office of Advocacy, a critically important department serving America’s small business community that has been without a Senate-confirmed Chief Counsel for over six years.
The Chamber looks forward to working with Dilawar Syed as SBA Deputy Administrator. We support his nomination and appreciate the Committee scheduling the March 8th hearing.
Sincerely,
Neil L. Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer,
and Head of Strategic Advocacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
cc: Members of the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
