Distinguishing between rural and urban communities in marketing and outreach

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Administration The term Administration means the Small Business Administration. (2) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Administration. (3) Associate Administrator The term Associate Administrator means the Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience of the Administration. (4) Covered program The term covered program means the disaster loan program authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)). (b) Requirement Beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, consistent with the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office in the report entitled Small Business Administration: Targeted Outreach about Disaster Assistance Could Benefit Rural Communities (GAO–24–106755) (February 22, 2024), the Administrator shall ensure that the Associate Administrator— (1) distinguishes between rural and urban communities in the outreach and marketing plan of the Administration with respect to the covered program; and (2) incorporates actions to mitigate challenges encountered by rural communities in accessing loans under the covered program.