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.
H.R. 1590, the Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act, requires federal agencies that manage Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to significantly increase their outreach efforts to rural communities. These programs provide federal research and development funding to small businesses, but currently many rural small businesses are underrepresented in them. The bill directs the Small Business Administration to update its policy guidelines within 90 days to require participating federal agencies to actively conduct outreach in rural areas and work to boost participation from rural small businesses. The legislation aims to ensure that rural entrepreneurs have equal access to these federally funded innovation programs, though it does not specify new funding amounts or timelines beyond the initial 90-day regulatory deadline.
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