Bill · S. 3965· Senate(119-S-3965)
EDA Short Form Application Act
- Introduced
- 3/3/2026
- Last activity
- 3/3/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S764)
- Sponsored by
- John Barrasso
- Cosponsors
- - 6 - 9
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "EDA Short Form Application Act," aims to simplify the grant process for rural communities. It requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development to create a short form application for any grant program administered by the Economic Development Administration. The goal is to streamline how these communities apply for economic development funds. To do this, the Assistant Secretary must seek input from rural stakeholders regarding application length and documentation requirements. Additionally, the bill mandates transparency by requiring the publication of sample applications, review criteria, and standardized guidance.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill is specifically designed to reduce administrative barriers for rural community grant applications.
Does this invest in rural communities?+5
The bill directly targets rural communities to streamline access to economic development funds.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+4
The bill mandates the publication of sample applications and review criteria to increase transparency.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Simplified Application Process: The Assistant Secretary is required to establish a short form application for any grant program administered by the Economic Development Administration (Section 2(b)). This could help rural communities access funds more easily.
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Stakeholder Voice: The Assistant Secretary must solicit input from a representative group of stakeholders in rural communities regarding application length and documentation (Section 2(c)). This ensures those affected have a say in how the process works.
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Reduced Redundancy: The bill considers reducing repetitive sections that ask for information already provided to the Federal Government, such as through SAM.gov or the Bureau of the Census (Section 2(c)(4)). This could save time and effort for applicants.
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Increased Transparency: The Assistant Secretary must make sample successful applications, criteria decision guides, and standardized guidance publicly available (Section 2(d)). This helps rural communities understand how to apply effectively and how their applications are reviewed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are 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 Rural Residents+6Good For Business Owners+2Good For Native Americans+2Good For Farmers+1
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+2Improves Small Business Support+1Increases Job Creation+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 3/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/3/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S764)
- 13 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota