Bill Details
HR.1590 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-26 - Referred to the Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced Date
2025-02-26
Policy Area
Commerce
Committees
View committees (2)
Sponsors
5
0
0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would require federal agencies that run small business research and technology programs to do more outreach in rural areas. Its main goal is to help small businesses in rural communities learn about and take part in these programs, which can provide funding and support for innovation. The bill tells the Small Business Administration to update program rules within 90 days so agencies must actively reach out to rural communities and encourage more rural businesses to apply and participate.
- It applies to both the SBIR program and the STTR program, two federal programs that help small businesses work on research and technology projects.
- Federal agencies in these programs would have to strengthen outreach efforts in rural communities, not just offer the programs in general.
- The outreach would need to be aimed at increasing the number of small businesses from rural areas that participate in these programs.
- The Small Business Administration would have 90 days after enactment to update the policy guidance that agencies follow for both programs.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1590 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1590
To require Federal agencies with an SBIR or STTR program to enhance
their outreach to rural communities with respect to such programs, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 26, 2025
Mr. Alford introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Small Business, and in addition to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require Federal agencies with an SBIR or STTR program to enhance
their outreach to rural communities with respect to such programs, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Innovation and Small Business
Support Act''.
SEC. 2. SBIR AND STTR PROGRAM RURAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is amended--
(1) in subsection (j), by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(5) Modification relating to rural outreach.--Not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph,
the Administrator shall modify the policy directives issued
pursuant to this subsection to require each Federal agency
participating in the SBIR program to enhance the outreach
efforts of such Federal agency to rural communities to increase
the participation of small business concerns located in rural
communities in the SBIR program, including by ensuring that
such Federal agency conducts outreach efforts with respect to
the SBIR program in rural communities.''; and
(2) in subsection (p), by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(4) Modification relating to rural outreach.--Not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph,
the Administrator shall modify the policy directives issued
pursuant to this subsection to require each Federal agency
participating in the STTR program to enhance the outreach
efforts of such Federal agency to rural communities to increase
the participation of small business concerns located in rural
communities in the STTR program, including by ensuring that
such Federal agency conducts outreach efforts with respect to
the STTR program in rural communities.''.
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