H.R. 8866

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8866 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8866

To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to 
reauthorize the regional innovation program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2026

Ms. Stevens (for herself, Mr. Baird, Mr. Bell, Mr. Alford, and Ms. 
Bonamici) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to 
reauthorize the regional innovation program, and for other purposes.

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 ``Build to Scale Reauthorization Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.

Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
``and'';
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the 
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph:
``(G) increase access to capital to invest in 
innovation-based business ventures in the geographic 
region.''; and
(B) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) Venture development organization.--The term `venture 
development organization' means a State or nonprofit 
organization that has a measured, geographically defined, 
economic development purpose within its core mission and 
contributes to regional or sector-based economic prosperity by 
providing the following:
``(A) Direct financing to private innovation-
centered businesses.
``(B) Services to accelerate the commercialization 
of research.
``(C) Entrepreneurial support tailored to 
innovation-centered founders, start-ups, and businesses 
within the geographic areas of service of such 
founders, start-ups, and businesses, as the case may 
be.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``strategies'' and 
inserting ``initiatives'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``and subject to the 
availability of appropriations'' after 
``pursuant to subsection (b)''; and
(ii) by striking ``may'' and inserting 
``shall'';
(B) by striking paragraph (4)(D);
(C) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
``(5) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
activity funded under this subsection shall not exceed 50 
percent, plus an additional amount that--
``(A) shall not exceed 40 percent; and
``(B) is based on the relative needs of the area in 
which the activity at issue will be funded, as 
determined in accordance with regulations promulgated 
by the Secretary.''; and
(D) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
``(6) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach to 
encourage participation in regional innovative initiatives 
under this subsection by public and private sector entities--
``(A) in--
``(i) rural communities;
``(ii) communities negatively impacted by 
trade;
``(iii) areas with persistent economic 
distress; or
``(B) that agree to collaborate with local 
workforce investment area boards to carry out workforce 
or training related activities.'';
(4) in subsection (d)(4)--
(A) by amending the heading to read as follows: 
``Data sources''; and
(B) by inserting ``and the Regional Technology and 
Innovation Hub Program under section 28'' after 
``subsection (c)'';
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or at'' and 
inserting ``, the Department of Energy, the National 
Science Foundation, and''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``strategies'' 
and inserting ``initiatives and activities carried out 
pursuant to subsection (d)''; and
(6) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
``(h) Funding.--
``(1) Use of unobligated funds.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law relating to the availability of funds to carry 
out this section, the Secretary is authorized to obligate and 
expend any amounts appropriated or otherwise available to carry 
out this section for any previous fiscal year that remains 
unobligated as of the date of the enactment of this subsection.
``(2) Future authority.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.''.
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