AAHOA Pushes Congress to Double SBA Loans to $10M

AAHOA leaders met with lawmakers during their National Leadership & Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress to double Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 loan caps from $5 million to $10 million [1]. The push came alongside calls for legal reform, franchise protections, and credit card fee competition [1].

What bills would double SBA loan limits to $10 million?

Two separate measures before Congress would raise maximum SBA loan limits to $10 million: the Supporting Trade and Rebuilding Opportunity for National Growth (STRONG) Act and the Loans In Our Neighborhoods (LION) Act of 2025 [1]. As reported by Asian Hospitality, AAHOA formally endorsed both bills during its legislative meetings on Capitol Hill [1]. Both legislative vehicles seek to raise the statutory caps on individual SBA 7(a) and 504 loans from the current threshold of $5 million to $10 million [1].

Representative Mark Alford of Missouri, who introduced the STRONG Act, addressed attendees on Sept. 15 [1]. Alford urged hoteliers to share their operating experiences directly with congressional representatives and pressed for clear SBA administrative guidance regarding quality-of-earnings requirements [1].

Why is the SBA rule allowing $10 million in combined loans insufficient?

The SBA implemented a rule on July 4 that permits borrowers to combine 7(a) and 504 loans up to a cumulative ceiling of $10 million, up from the prior $5 million cumulative limit, but it left the cap on single 7(a) loans at $5 million [1]. Asian Hospitality noted that AAHOA views this administrative adjustment as incomplete [1]. The trade group stated that combining programs falls short of the broader, permanent single-loan increases required by hotel operators acquiring, developing, or renovating properties [1].

What other legislative issues did hoteliers press in Washington?

Beyond lending caps, AAHOA members lobbied for legal liability safeguards, franchise rules, and transaction processing reforms [1]. The association backed the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2025 to institute mandatory sanctions against frivolous legal claims [1]. Hoteliers also advocated for the American Franchise Act to establish a defined joint-employer standard for franchisees, as well as the Credit Card Competition Act of 2026 to introduce competition into credit card network routing [1].

According to coverage from Asian Hospitality, the conference extended beyond federal meetings to include advocacy education and executive panels [1]. A Leadership Exchange panel featured Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, who founded his company with $3,000 in 1997 and expanded it to 44 hotels across eight states [1]. Teague Hunter, president and CEO of Hunter Advisors, moderated the discussion [1].

The event also featured Chiling Tong, president and CEO of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, and Tina Wei Smith, former executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders [1]. Both serve on the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture [1].

Which lawmakers engaged with hotel owners on Capitol Hill?

Lawmakers from both chambers met with delegates during the conference, including a congressional reception featuring discussions with multiple representatives [1]. Delegates met with Representatives Ami Bera of California, Judy Chu of California, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, and Derek Tran of California [1].

AAHOA holds advocacy events twice per year, convening delegates each spring and fall [1]. The prior fall conference, held on Sept. 16-17, focused on SBA loan access, Brand USA funding, and the Visa Integrity Fee [1].