Nomination of Gilberto de Jesus to Serve as Chief Counsel for Advocacy at SBA Good News for America's Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the White House announced that President Barack Obama intends to nominate Gilberto de Jesús to serve as Chief Counsel for Advocacy, an independent office at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet immediately announced her support for his nomination and called for his swift confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The Office of Advocacy advances the views and concerns of small business before Congress, the White House, the federal agencies, the federal courts and state policy makers as it pertains to regulatory challenges.

"Gilberto de Jesús has extensive experience in serving overall business concerns and his prior accomplishments will serve him well as Chief Counsel for Advocacy at SBA," Administrator Contreras-Sweet said. "As an independent office at the SBA, his work will be vital to achieving the overall mission of this agency, which is to grow the economic engine of our nation, small businesses. I look forward to working alongside Mr. de Jesús for America's entrepreneurs."

Gilberto de Jesús is currently a Senior Attorney in the Office of Communications Business Opportunities at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a position he has held since 2009.  From 2007 to 2008, Mr. de Jesús was a Senior Legislative Fellow in the Office of U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin.  Previously, Mr. de Jesús served as an Attorney Advisor with the FCC's Investigations & Hearings Division from 2000 to 2007.  From 1999 to 2000, Mr. de Jesús served as a Consultant for the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  Prior to that, he was Secretary of the Juvenile Justice Department of Maryland.  From 1989 to 1997, he served at the Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Legal Advisor to Federal and state prosecutors on issues of international law enforcement.  He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Baltimore Development Corporation as well as the University of Maryland Medical Systems.  Mr. de Jesús received a B.A. from Columbia University and a J.D. from The George Washington University School of Law.

Administrator Contreras-Sweet also stated her thanks and commends the dedicated work of former Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Winslow Sargeant for advocating on behalf of America's small businesses. "Over the past four years Dr. Sargeant has saved small businesses $17 billion in first-year regulatory costs and published more than 75 timely and actionable economic research reports," she stated.

The Chief Counsel for Advocacy holds an integral role at the SBA.  An independent office, the Chief Counsel directs the Office of Advocacy's operations, which include conducting research on the U.S. small business sector, advocating for small businesses within the federal government's agencies and rulemaking processes, reaching out to regional and state small business advocates and policymakers, and fostering public awareness of small business contributions and concerns.

Advisory Number: 14-45

Contact: Miguel Ayala (202) 205-6420
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news 
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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration