Territorial Small Business Development Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8343
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-16: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-22T19:17:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to create a dedicated assistance program under the Small Business Act for small businesses owned and controlled by residents of U.S. Pacific territories, modeled on existing support for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses but without a net worth test.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: The Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator must create a program providing the same type of assistance as the 8(a) Business Development Program to qualifying small businesses.
- Eligibility Limits: Assistance is restricted to businesses whose owners have been Pacific territories residents for the 10 years before applying.
- Definitions:
- Pacific territories resident refers to a resident of Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- A small business concern owned and controlled by Pacific territories residents must have its main operations in one of those territories, with at least 51% ownership and daily management control by such residents.
- Conforming Change: Updates a cross-reference in the existing 8(a) section to account for the new paragraph numbering.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill adds a new paragraph (16) to Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), creating a territory-specific category within the 8(a) framework. It explicitly removes the net worth eligibility requirement that applies to other disadvantaged businesses and redesignates subsequent paragraphs.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The SBA would administer a new program, potentially increasing administrative workload for certifying and supporting eligible businesses in the territories.
- Citizens and Businesses: Small business owners in Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands could gain expanded access to federal contracting opportunities and other SBA support.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified, though the program focuses on U.S. Pacific territories.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Small business owners and operators in Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- The Small Business Administration.
- Residents of the affected territories seeking federal business assistance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure introduces tailored eligibility rules based on residency and location, which could raise questions about consistency with broader equal protection standards in federal contracting programs. It represents a targeted expansion of the 8(a) program without altering the core socially and economically disadvantaged framework.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
Cosponsors (2)
Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-16: Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
- 2026-04-16: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Territorial Small Business Development Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-16 — PDF (4 pages)