118 HR 9797 IH: Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-09-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 9797IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 25, 2024Mr. 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 concernedA BILLTo 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..