H.R. 1590 — Introduced in House

I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1590 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 26, 2025Mr. 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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act. 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. .