H.R. 9050

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9050 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9050

To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to 
establish an Innovation Voucher Grant Program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 29, 2026

Mr. Crow (for himself and Mr. Burchett) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Small Business

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to 
establish an Innovation Voucher Grant Program.

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 Innovation Voucher 
Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) an institution of higher education, as defined 
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001); or
(B) a nonprofit research lab, institution, or other 
similar organization in the United States associated 
with educational or research activities, including a 
federally funded research and development center.
(3) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Innovation 
Voucher Grant Program established under section 3.
(4) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

SEC. 3. INNOVATION VOUCHER GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a program to 
be known as the ``Innovation Voucher Grant Program'' under which the 
Administrator shall, on a competitive basis and in accordance with 
subsection (f), award grants to small business concerns for the Federal 
share of the cost of purchasing from eligible entities technical 
assistance and services necessary to carry out projects to advance 
research, development, or commercialization of new or innovative 
products and services.
(b) Purposes of Program.--The purposes of the Program are--
(1) to foster collaboration between small business concerns 
and research institutions or other similar organizations;
(2) to facilitate access by small business concerns to 
capital-intensive infrastructure and advanced research 
capabilities;
(3) to enable small business concerns to access technical 
expertise and capabilities that will lead to the development of 
innovative products;
(4) to promote business dynamism and competition;
(5) to stimulate United States leadership in advanced 
research, innovation, and technology;
(6) to accelerate the development of an advanced workforce; 
and
(7) to preserve and create new jobs.
(c) Application.--
(1) In general.--A small business concern desiring a grant 
under the Program shall submit to the Administrator an 
application with the eligible entity from which the small 
business concern will purchase technical assistance and 
services using funds awarded under the grant.
(2) Selection.--Not later than 180 days after the deadline 
established by the Administrator to submit applications under 
paragraph (1), the Administrator shall select the recipients of 
the grants under the Program.
(d) Evaluation.--In evaluating an application for a grant under the 
Program, the Administrator shall take into consideration--
(1) the likelihood that funds awarded under the grant will 
be used to create or advance a novel product or service;
(2) the feasibility of creating or advancing a novel 
product or service proposed to be created or advanced using 
funds awarded under the grant; and
(3) whether creating or advancing a product or service 
proposed to be created or advanced using funds awarded under 
the grant could be accomplished without a grant awarded under 
the Program.
(e) Amount.--A grant made under the Program shall be made in an 
amount of not less than $15,000 and not more than $75,000, which shall 
remain available to the grantee until expended.
(f) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of purchasing 
technical assistance and services described in subsection (a) using 
funds awarded under a grant made under the Program shall be--
(1) not more than 75 percent, if the amount of the grant is 
less than $50,000; and
(2) not more than 50 percent, if the amount of the grant is 
not less than $50,000.
(g) Reports.--
(1) Reports from grant recipients.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which a project carried out under a grant 
awarded under the Program is completed, the recipient of the 
grant shall submit to the Administrator a report on the 
project, including--
(A) whether and how the project met the original 
expectations for the project;
(B) how the results of the project were 
incorporated in the business of the grant recipient; 
and
(C) whether and how the project improved innovation 
practices of the grant recipient.
(2) Report of the administrator.--Not later than 2 years 
after the date on which the Administrator establishes the 
Program, and every 2 years thereafter until the date on which 
the amounts appropriated for the Program are expended, the 
Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business 
and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
Business of the House of Representatives a report on grants 
awarded under the Program, including--
(A) a description of the grants awarded;
(B) the estimated number of products or services 
created or advanced under grants awarded under the 
Program that could have been created or advanced 
without grants awarded under the Program; and
(C) a description of the impact of the Program on 
knowledge transfer and commercialization.
(3) Final report of the administrator.--Not later than 180 
days after the date on which amounts appropriated for the 
Program are expended, the Administrator shall submit to the 
committees described in paragraph (2) a final report containing 
the information described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of 
that paragraph.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Administrator to carry out the Program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030, to remain available until expended.
(b) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 5 percent of amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a) may be used for administrative costs.
<all>