SMALL BUSINESS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADVANCEMENT ACT

On 2026-02-23, Representative Brian Babin (R-TX-36) delivered a floor speech titled "SMALL BUSINESS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADVANCEMENT ACT" in the House. The speech addressed the economy and also covered foreign policy, China. It referenced legislation: HR3679.

SMALL BUSINESS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADVANCEMENT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2244-H2245] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SMALL BUSINESS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADVANCEMENT ACT Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3679) to require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop resources for small businesses in utilizing artificial intelligence, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3679 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 ``Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act''. SEC. 2. RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO UTILIZE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Section 22A of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278h-1) is amended-- (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection: ``(h) Development of Resources for Small Businesses in Utilizing Artificial Intelligence.-- ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director shall, in carrying out subsection (a), develop or identify, and disseminate (in accordance with paragraph (4)), resources for small business concerns (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) relating to artificial intelligence. Such resources may include technical standards, best practices, benchmarks, methodologies, procedures, or processes for the understanding, adoption, or integration of artificial intelligence. ``(2) Requirements.--The Director shall ensure that the resources described in paragraph (1) satisfy the following: ``(A) Are generally applicable and usable by a wide range of small business concerns. ``(B) Include elements that promote basic understanding, identification, and adoption of proper use cases of artificial intelligence. ``(C) Include case studies of practical application across a range of business sizes and types. ``(D) Are technology-neutral and relevant to technologies that are accessible and suitable for small businesses. ``(E) Are based on international voluntary standards as applicable, and are consistent with the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.). ``(F) Include recommendations and references to existing Federal educational resources, including the risk management framework under subsection (c), privacy and cybersecurity risk management frameworks established by the Institute, and activities relating to the national cybersecurity awareness and education program under section 303 of the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 (15 U.S.C. 7443). ``(3) Review and update of resources.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this subsection and not less frequently than once every two years thereafter, the Director shall carry out the following: ``(A) Review the resources described in paragraph (1). ``(B) Update such resources as the Director considers appropriate. ``(4) Dissemination and use of training resources.--The Director shall coordinate with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration regarding the distribution and use through the resource partners of the Small Business Administration of the resources described in paragraph (1). ``(5) Voluntary resources.--The use of the resources described in paragraph (1) shall be considered voluntary. ``(6) Report.-- ``(A) In general.--Not later than four years after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the development, identification, dissemination, and use of the resources described in paragraph (1), including updates made pursuant to paragraph (3). ``(B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A) shall include the following: ``(i) A list of the resources described in paragraph (1), including updates made pursuant to paragraph (3). ``(ii) Relevant feedback from recipients of such resources, and disseminators of such resources pursuant to paragraph (4). ``(iii) Recommendations to Congress for further actions to help with the utilization of artificial intelligence by small business concerns.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. General Leave Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3679, the bill that is now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas? There was no objection. Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here to support H.R. 3679, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representatives Mike Collins and Haley Stevens. American small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and it is essential that they leverage cutting-edge innovations to keep the United States at the forefront of the global economy. As chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I have closely followed the accelerating growth of artificial intelligence, or AI, technologies and their wide-ranging applications across industries nationwide. Major U.S. companies are rapidly developing their own AI technologies and investing in the resources needed to integrate AI into their operations. AI holds tremendous promise. Incorporating it into a business model is complex and requires significant expertise and capital. As a result, many small businesses have not yet been able to fully unlock AI's potential. It is time to ensure small businesses can harness these capabilities as well, strengthening American entrepreneurship and competing with the Chinese Communist Party across every dimension of the AI race, including business innovation. {time} 1620 This legislation directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, to develop and share practical resources to help small businesses better understand and adopt artificial intelligence technologies. This bill is a bipartisan effort to ensure American businesses remain competitive in the AI race and to reinforce our economic leadership globally. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Collins and Stevens for their work on this very important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3679, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act. We are already seeing companies around the world use AI for customer service, cybersecurity, talent recruitment, and even content production. While AI can bring significant benefits to companies of all sizes, small companies can't afford to take advantage of these benefits. They don't have the millions of dollars and the teams of consultants. They get left behind despite their immense potential. For the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy, navigating rapidly challenging and changing tools like AI can be overwhelming. This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish and distribute resources on how small businesses can adopt AI tools and risk management practices. It would build on NIST's Small Business Cybersecurity Corner program to help small businesses by providing voluntary guidance on adopting AI and avoiding potential issues with the technology. This bill will help level the playing field for small companies rolling out AI. AI should be an opportunity for every American business, not just those with the biggest budgets. As AI rapidly evolves from simple automation to agents that could interact with customers, handle sensitive data, and even make decisions, the stakes for getting it right on privacy and cybersecurity are growing. This bill will ensure that our small businesses have access to the practical resources they need to harness this technology. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. [[Page H2245]] Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins). Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to speak for consideration of H.R. 3679, the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act. America has seen great innovation in its 250 years, from the lightbulb to the internet and now artificial intelligence. The benefits of AI must be made available for more than big corporations. They must reach every facet of our economy. Small businesses are the backbone of the United States economy, representing nearly 43 percent of the U.S. GDP and employing 46 percent of the workforce. These are our neighbors, our friends, and our families. They are the heart of Main Street USA. As AI and industries advance, we must ensure that they are not left behind. Too often, small businesses lack the technical know-how or financial resources to adopt AI, which is putting them at a growing disadvantage. That is why I introduced H.R. 3679. This bipartisan legislation directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop resources to voluntarily educate small businesses on best practices when integrating AI into their businesses. Through this legislation, we will level the playing field. We will ensure small businesses have the ability to modern

Referenced legislation: HR3679, HR3679