Bill · H.R. 8534· House(119-HR-8534)
Small Business Territories Support Act
- Introduced
- 4/27/2026
- Last activity
- 4/27/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- Sponsored by
- Nydia Velázquez
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Small Business Territories Support Act aims to amend the Small Business Act to create a new Office of Territorial Affairs. This new office would work with small business owners in U.S. territories regarding entrepreneurial development, contracting, disaster assistance, and capital access. The office would be led by an Assistant Administrator with specific knowledge of the territories and experience in small business development. This official would serve as a liaison and review existing programs to ensure they meet the specific needs of these areas. Additionally, the office is required to host outreach events and webinars. Finally, the Assistant Administrator must submit annual reports to Congressional committees regarding the office's activities and impact.
Yes· 3 of 13
Would business owners be better off under this?+8
The bill provides direct support, outreach, and specialized liaison services for small business owners in the territories.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+8
The bill establishes a dedicated office to provide tailored assistance, outreach, and liaison services specifically for small businesses in U.S. territories.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+5
The bill directs the new office to ensure that SBA disaster assistance programs are adequate for the needs of businesses in the territories.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Targeted Support for Territories: The establishment of the Office of Territorial Affairs aims to create a working relationship with small business concerns in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by targeting programs for entrepreneurial development, contracting, disaster assistance, and capital access (Section 2, subsection a and d).
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Improved Program Adequacy: The Assistant Administrator is tasked with reviewing and assessing Administration services to ensure that lending, entrepreneurial development, and disaster assistance programs are adequate to address the specific challenges faced by small businesses in the territories (Section s 2, subsection b, clause 3, subclause C, i).
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Better Access to Contracts: The role includes ensuring that small business concerns in the territories have adequate access to contracting opportunities with the Federal Government and procurement programs (Section 2, subsection b, clause 3, subclause C, ii).
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Increased Outreach and Liaison Services: The Assistant Administrator will serve as a liaison between small business concerns and various agencies/partners, and will host webinars and outreach events in the territories to provide assistance (Section 2, subsection b, clause 3, subclause B and D).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+8Good For Hispanic Americans+4Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Rural Residents+2Good For Urban Residents+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+8Improves Economic Growth+4Increases Job Creation+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4Increases Federal Power+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+3Improves Racial Equity+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+5
- 4/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Kimberlyn King-HindsRepublican · Northern Mariana Islands