Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Investing in All of America Act of 2025

Investing in All of America Act of 2025 This bill modifies the limit on the amount of financing available to a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) from the Small Business Administration (SBA). It also expands the definition of private capital with respect to SBICs. Specifically, the bill reduces the maximum outstanding financing available to an SBIC from 300% to 200% of the SBIC's private capital. The bill increases from $350 million to $450 million the maximum financing available to two or more commonly controlled SBICs that make quarterly or semiannual interest payments. The bill also expands the amounts that may be excluded from the calculation of the financing limit to include the amounts an SBIC invests in (1) rural areas, (2) certain technology categories, or (3) small manufacturers. The bill revises the cap on such excluded amounts to the lesser of $125 million or the aggregate of 50% of the private capital of the SBIC. Additionally, the bill expands what is considered the private capital of an SBIC to include funds obtained from the business revenue of additional government-sponsored corporations and funds invested by the trust or endowment of a college or university.

Microbusiness Support Act

The Small Business Administration would create a new direct lending program to provide loans directly to very small businesses and startups that might struggle to get financing from traditional banks. This would help entrepreneurs and microbusiness owners access the capital they need to start or grow their operations without having to go through conventional lenders. The program would expand access to funding for small business owners who currently have limited borrowing options.

Small Business Wildfire Smoke Recovery Act

Smoke from wildfires and other sources would be officially recognized as a disaster under federal small business law, allowing affected business owners to access emergency loans and other disaster relief programs more easily. Currently, smoke damage alone may not qualify businesses for these federal assistance programs, even though it can cause significant economic harm by forcing closures or reducing customer traffic. This change would help small business owners in areas affected by smoke recover financially without having to wait for other types of disaster declarations.

Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act

Made in America Manufacturing Finance Act This bill increases the maximum loan amounts available to small manufacturers under the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 loan programs. In particular, the bill generally doubles the maximum loan amount for small manufacturers under the 7(a) program and the bill increases the maximum loan amount for small manufacturers under the 504 program from $5.5 million to $10 million. Generally, 7(a) loans provide short- and long-term working capital which can be used for expenses such as operational needs. 504 loans provide financing for major fixed assets such as new facilities.

Expanding the Surety Bond Program Act of 2025

The legislation expands the federal surety bond program, which helps small businesses and contractors get the financial guarantees they need to bid on government contracts and construction projects. By making these bonds more accessible and affordable, the law aims to help smaller companies compete for federal work that they might otherwise be unable to pursue due to bonding costs. The change benefits small business owners and contractors while potentially increasing competition for government contracts.

Investing in the American Dream Act

The legislation would clarify which businesses qualify for federal small business loans by establishing clearer rules about what counts as a "small business." This would help entrepreneurs and business owners better understand whether they're eligible for government lending programs designed to help them start or expand their operations. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate's Small Business Committee.

Boosting Housing Supply through Small Businesses Act of 2026

This bill would help small businesses and entrepreneurs build more housing by making it easier for them to access loans, permits, and other resources needed for residential construction projects. It aims to increase the overall supply of homes available for people to buy or rent by removing barriers that currently prevent smaller construction companies from competing with large developers. The changes would affect small construction firms, real estate developers, lenders, and ultimately renters and homebuyers looking for more affordable housing options.

COST Act

The COST Act would require federal agencies to analyze the costs and benefits of their regulations before implementing them, with a focus on how those rules affect small businesses. The bill aims to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on entrepreneurs and small business owners by making sure agencies carefully consider the economic impact of new rules. Small business owners and federal agencies would be the primary groups affected by this requirement.

End-of-Year Fiscal Responsibility Act

Based on the vague title and referral to the Small Business Committee, this bill likely addresses government spending, budget management, or fiscal accountability measures that could affect federal agencies and small businesses. The specific details of what spending cuts, budget reforms, or oversight changes it would make are unclear from the title alone, but the focus on "fiscal responsibility" suggests it aims to reduce government waste or improve how federal money is spent. Hearings before the Small Business Committee indicate the proposal may have particular implications for how regulations or spending decisions impact small business owners and entrepreneurs.

21st Century Entrepreneurship Act

This bill aims to support small business owners and entrepreneurs by modernizing federal programs and policies to help them start, grow, and compete in today's economy. The specific changes likely include updates to small business loans, tax incentives, regulatory relief, or access to government contracts, though the exact provisions would be determined as the bill moves through the Small Business Committee. The legislation would primarily affect small business owners, startup founders, and the agencies that oversee entrepreneurship programs.

SPARK Act

The SPARK Act aims to support small businesses and entrepreneurs by streamlining regulations and potentially providing resources or incentives to help startups grow and compete. The bill focuses on commerce-related policies that would affect small business owners, their employees, and the broader economy. Since the bill has just been referred to the Small Business Committee, the specific details of what assistance or regulatory changes it would provide are still being reviewed.

AI for Main Street Act

AI for Main Street Act This bill requires Small Business Development Centers to assist small businesses in evaluating artificial intelligence, including by providing best practices for using artificial intelligence and guidance about using artificial intelligence to plan for unexpected circumstances.

EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act

This bill would likely change how the federal government buys food, potentially requiring agencies to purchase more from small farms and local producers instead of large suppliers. The changes could affect both the farmers and food companies that sell to the government, as well as the federal agencies responsible for feeding programs like school lunches and military meals. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Small Business committee to determine whether these new purchasing rules would help small agricultural businesses compete.

AI for Mainstreet Act

This bill would help small businesses and entrepreneurs use artificial intelligence tools by providing funding, training, and technical support to make AI more accessible and affordable for Main Street companies. It aims to ensure that smaller businesses aren't left behind as AI technology becomes more common in commerce, giving them resources to compete with larger corporations that have more money to invest in these tools.

Prove It Act of 2025

Prove It Act of 2025 This bill expands the requirements for federal agency rulemaking with respect to small businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions. Specifically, when conducting an initial regulatory flexibility analysis, agencies must include, where feasible, any reasonably foreseeable potential indirect costs the proposed rule may impose on such small entities. Further, if an agency certifies that an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required because the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, the agency must provide such certification within 10 days to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. A small entity or group of small entities may petition the Office of Advocacy to review such certification. The petition must include specified information, such as the issues the petitioner believes should be addressed and a proposed solution to the issues raised. If the Office of Advocacy ultimately determines, upon a full review of the petition, that the proposed rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, the agency promulgating the rule must perform an initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis for the rule. Additionally, if the agency does not participate or assist in the full review process, the finalized rule shall not apply to small entities. The bill also requires agencies to publish, and allow for comments on, all guidance documents with respect to any rule an agency determines is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

COACH Act

The bill would establish new support programs and resources to help small business owners and entrepreneurs access coaching, mentoring, and training services to improve their operations and growth prospects. It aims to connect business owners with experienced advisors who can provide guidance on management, finances, marketing, and other key areas of running a successful company. The measure would affect small business owners and the organizations that provide coaching and mentoring services to them.

Rural Small Business Resilience Act

This bill would provide financial support and resources to help small businesses in rural areas survive economic challenges and grow their operations. It likely includes measures such as easier access to loans, grants, or technical assistance programs designed specifically for rural entrepreneurs who often face higher costs and fewer resources than businesses in cities. The goal is to strengthen rural economies by helping small business owners stay competitive and create jobs in their communities.

CCP IP Act

This bill likely aims to protect American intellectual property (like patents, trademarks, and trade secrets) from theft or unfair practices by Chinese companies and the Chinese government. It would probably give U.S. businesses, inventors, and entrepreneurs stronger tools to defend their innovations and prevent them from being copied or stolen abroad. The measure has been referred to the Small Business Committee, suggesting it focuses on protecting smaller American companies from intellectual property violations.

Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act

This bill would help small businesses access federal loans and support programs by making it harder for fraudsters to steal these resources through false applications. The measure likely tightens verification requirements and penalties for people who commit fraud when applying for small business assistance, protecting legitimate entrepreneurs and taxpayers from losing funding to scams.

Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act

Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act This bill includes within the responsibilities of Small Business Development Centers and Women's Business Centers the provision of assistance to small businesses in hiring graduates from career and technical education programs and to graduates of such programs in starting small businesses.