The top Republican and Democrat on the House Small Business Committee sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday calling on him to nominate a replacement for a long-vacant position that advocates on behalf of small business owners.

In the letter, shared first with the Washington Examiner, Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX) and ranking member Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) urge the president to nominate a chief counsel for advocacy at the Small Business Administration, who serves as an "independent voice for small businesses within the federal government" and a watchdog for compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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“While Advocacy has done commendable work in the past, the position of Chief Counsel is too important to leave vacant,” the lawmakers write in their letter. "In many cases, the Office of Advocacy is the only government entity considering the impacts regulations may have on small business owners.”

The SBA's Office of Advocacy, created by Congress in 1976, is led by the chief counsel, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, Major L. Clark, the deputy chief counsel for advocacy, is performing the chief counsel's duties.

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“It is essential that this role is filled so the SBA’s Office of Advocacy can effectively look out for Main Street when it comes to burdensome regulations,” Williams said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. “I hope the president sees the necessity of such a position when it comes to advocating on behalf of our nation’s small businesses.”

It appears the agency has been operating without this position for the last six years, with staff stepping in to take over the role in an acting capacity since 2017 when the last chief council left. President Donald Trump nominated David C. Tryon in 2018, but the nomination never went before the full Senate for a vote.