The Senate voted 81-17 on Tuesday to confirm Isabel Guzman, President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the Small Business Administration, Roll Call reported. As SBA administrator, Guzman will oversee the remaining disbursements from the Paycheck Protection Program, a forgivable loan program that was a lifeline to small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Guzman won support from both Democrats and Republicans throughout the confirmation process, as well as the endorsement of small business groups. The confirmation marks a return to the SBA for Guzman, who was deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet during the Obama administration. Guzman most recently worked as director of California's Office of the Small Business Advocate, where she oversaw the state's $500 million grant program during the pandemic. Guzman will take over supervision of the Paycheck Protection Program, which has kept small businesses afloat, but has faced criticism about accessibility, especially for smaller and minority-owned businesses.
