H.R. 4238: DLARA

Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act or the DLARA

This bill modifies the Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan program to require additional oversight and reports regarding the program.

First, the bill requires the SBA to report monthly on the operation of the disaster loan program. (Currently, the SBA must report only during the applicable period for a major disaster.) The report must estimate the date on which available funding for such loans will reach 10% of the most recent appropriation and the date on which the funds will be depleted. If a report is not submitted by the required date, no funds may be obligated for official travel by the SBA Administrator until the report is submitted. 

Second, the President's annual budget must include separate statements regarding the appropriations request for SBA disaster loans and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), including explanations for any difference between the amount requested and the 10-year average cost for such loans.

Third, the SBA must notify Congress when the unobligated balance of amounts available for disaster loans is less than 10% of the 10-year average annual cost provided in the most recent presidential budget.

Finally, the bill requires additional oversight of the disaster loan program, including

• Government Accountability Office reports on the disbursement of disaster loans and the cost of specified SBA rules that modified the loan program; and
• an SBA report on its actions to improve forecasting, data quality, and budget assumptions for the cost of disaster loans.