GREATER Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2728
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:10:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Growing Regional Entrepreneurship and Access To Economic Resilience Act (GREATER Act) aims to boost rural business growth by requiring federal agencies to collaborate on supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Appalachian and Delta regions of the United States. These regions include parts of states like West Virginia, Kentucky, and Mississippi, which face economic challenges due to their rural nature.
Key Provisions
- Agreement Requirement: Within 120 days of the bill's enactment, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the head of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the head of the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) must enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or similar agreement to coordinate activities that expand rural entrepreneurship and provide support to small businesses in the Appalachian and Delta regions.
- Activities and Inclusion: The agencies must focus on including "covered small business concerns" (small businesses, as defined by federal small business law, located in these regions) in their programs, such as training, funding access, or technical assistance.
- Flexibility in Implementation: The agencies can use reimbursable agreements (where one entity pays another for services) with each other or other organizations to make efforts more effective and collaborate with additional federal agencies as needed.
- Reporting to Congress: Within two years of enactment, the agencies must submit a joint report to Congress detailing:
- How they coordinated their efforts.
- Opportunities to improve assistance for rural entrepreneurs and small businesses.
- The number of individuals or businesses helped.
- Ideas for future joint work.
- Plans to keep coordinating.
- Definitions: The bill clarifies terms like "covered small business concern" (a small business in the target regions), ARC (a federal-state partnership for Appalachian development), and DRA (a similar entity for the Delta region, covering parts of eight southern states).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandatory coordination among the SBA, ARC, and DRA, which did not previously exist in this form. It builds on existing laws like the Small Business Act (which defines small businesses) and statutes creating the ARC and DRA but adds specific requirements for joint agreements and reporting, without directly amending prior laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The SBA, ARC, and DRA will need to allocate resources for joint planning and activities, potentially streamlining federal support but increasing administrative workload initially. Other federal agencies may get involved, leading to broader efficiency in rural economic programs.
- Citizens: Rural entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Appalachian and Delta regions could gain better access to federal resources, such as loans, training, or networking, helping to create jobs and stimulate local economies. This may reduce economic disparities in underserved areas.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic rural development within the U.S.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: SBA (provides small business support nationwide), ARC (focuses on Appalachian economic development), and DRA (targets Delta region growth).
- Rural Businesses and Entrepreneurs: Small businesses and individuals in the Appalachian (e.g., parts of 13 states from New York to Mississippi) and Delta (e.g., parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) regions, who stand to benefit from expanded assistance.
- Congress: Receives the required report, allowing oversight of federal spending and program effectiveness.
- Local Communities: Governments and organizations in the target regions may partner in implementation, gaining indirect economic boosts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill promotes inter-agency cooperation under existing federal authorities, with no new funding authorized (relying on current budgets), which could raise questions about resource allocation if not adequately supported. It ensures compliance through the MOU and report but lacks enforcement penalties.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate commerce and promote general welfare by directing federal economic development; no apparent conflicts with states' rights, as ARC and DRA already involve state participation.
- Political: Supports bipartisan goals of rural revitalization, potentially appealing to representatives from affected regions by addressing economic inequality without major new spending. It could set a model for similar multi-agency efforts in other underserved areas, influencing future rural policy debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Financial Services, 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.
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Financial Services, 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.
- 2025-04-08: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Financial Services, 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.
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Growing Regional Entrepreneurship and Access To Economic Resilience Act — issued 2025-04-08 — PDF (5 pages)