Haley Stevens (D-MI)
Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Build to Scale Reauthorization Act of 2026 seeks to amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980. This legislation aims to reauthorize the regional innovation program. It expands the scope of the program to include increasing access to capital for innovation-based business ventures within specific geographic regions. The bill also updates the definition of a venture development organization and modifies how funding and outreach are handled. Additionally, it authorizes specific funding amounts for the Secretary to carry out these duties through the year 2030.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +7
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill expands the definition of venture development organizations to provide direct financing and entrepreneurial support to new businesses.
- Scored +7
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides new avenues for financing and entrepreneurial support for businesses.
- Scored +6
Is this likely to grow the economy?
By increasing access to capital for innovation-based ventures, the bill seeks to drive regional economic prosperity.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Access to Capital: The bill adds a requirement to increase access to capital to invest in innovation-based business ventures in geographic regions (Section 2, subsection (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (G)). This could help local businesses grow.
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Economic Prosperity through Venture Development: The updated definition of a venture development organization includes providing direct financing to private innovation-centered businesses, services to accelerate research commercialization, and tailored entrepreneurial support (Section 2, subsection (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (4)). This is intended to contribute to regional or sector-based economic prosperity.
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Targeted Outreach: The Secretary is directed to conduct outreach to encourage participation from public and private sector entities in specific areas, including rural communities, communities negatively impacted by trade, and areas with persistent economic distress (Section 2, subsection (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (5), paragraph (6)).
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Workforce Collaboration: Outreach includes entities that agree to collaborate with local workforce investment area boards to carry out workforce or training related activities (Section 2, subsection (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (5), paragraph (6)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Funding Limits and Restrictions: While the bill changes the language regarding how the Secretary carries out activities, the Federal share of the cost for any activity is capped at 50 percent, plus an additional amount that cannot exceed 40 percent based on regional needs (Section 2, subsection (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (5)).
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Dependence on Appropriations: The implementation of these initiatives is explicitly subject to the availability of appropriations (Section 2, subsection (a), paragraph (2), subparagraph (3)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill expands the definition of venture development organizations to provide direct financing and entrepreneurial support to new businesses. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By increasing access to capital for innovation-based ventures, the bill seeks to drive regional economic prosperity. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill supports economic prosperity and workforce collaboration through regional innovation initiatives.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides new avenues for financing and entrepreneurial support for businesses. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill mandates outreach specifically to rural communities for innovation initiatives.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides funding to accelerate the commercialization of research.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill specifically mandates outreach to rural communities to encourage participation in innovation initiatives.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill promotes the commercialization of research through venture development organizations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Outreach includes targeting areas with persistent economic distress to foster growth.
- 8/31/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mark AlfordRepublican · Missouri
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
James BairdRepublican · Indiana
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania