HouseH.R. 8866119th Congress
Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8866 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8866
To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to
reauthorize the regional innovation program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2026
Ms. Stevens (for herself, Mr. Baird, Mr. Bell, Mr. Alford, and Ms.
Bonamici) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to
reauthorize the regional innovation program, 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 ``Build to Scale Reauthorization Act
of 2026''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.
Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``and'';
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(G) increase access to capital to invest in
innovation-based business ventures in the geographic
region.''; and
(B) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) Venture development organization.--The term `venture
development organization' means a State or nonprofit
organization that has a measured, geographically defined,
economic development purpose within its core mission and
contributes to regional or sector-based economic prosperity by
providing the following:
``(A) Direct financing to private innovation-
centered businesses.
``(B) Services to accelerate the commercialization
of research.
``(C) Entrepreneurial support tailored to
innovation-centered founders, start-ups, and businesses
within the geographic areas of service of such
founders, start-ups, and businesses, as the case may
be.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``strategies'' and
inserting ``initiatives'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``and subject to the
availability of appropriations'' after
``pursuant to subsection (b)''; and
(ii) by striking ``may'' and inserting
``shall'';
(B) by striking paragraph (4)(D);
(C) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
``(5) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of any
activity funded under this subsection shall not exceed 50
percent, plus an additional amount that--
``(A) shall not exceed 40 percent; and
``(B) is based on the relative needs of the area in
which the activity at issue will be funded, as
determined in accordance with regulations promulgated
by the Secretary.''; and
(D) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
``(6) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to
encourage participation in regional innovative initiatives
under this subsection by public and private sector entities--
``(A) in--
``(i) rural communities;
``(ii) communities negatively impacted by
trade;
``(iii) areas with persistent economic
distress; or
``(B) that agree to collaborate with local
workforce investment area boards to carry out workforce
or training related activities.'';
(4) in subsection (d)(4)--
(A) by amending the heading to read as follows:
``Data sources''; and
(B) by inserting ``and the Regional Technology and
Innovation Hub Program under section 28'' after
``subsection (c)'';
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or at'' and
inserting ``, the Department of Energy, the National
Science Foundation, and''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``strategies''
and inserting ``initiatives and activities carried out
pursuant to subsection (d)''; and
(6) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Use of unobligated funds.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law relating to the availability of funds to carry
out this section, the Secretary is authorized to obligate and
expend any amounts appropriated or otherwise available to carry
out this section for any previous fiscal year that remains
unobligated as of the date of the enactment of this subsection.
``(2) Future authority.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.
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