A Republican bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 15 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S764)
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
This bill, known as the "EDA Short Form Application Act," aims to simplify the grant process for rural communities. It requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development to create a short form application for any grant program administered by the Economic Development Administration. The goal is to streamline how these communities apply for economic development funds. To do this, the Assistant Secretary must seek input from rural stakeholders regarding application length and documentation requirements. Additionally, the bill mandates transparency by requiring the publication of sample applications, review criteria, and standardized guidance.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill is specifically designed to reduce administrative barriers for rural community grant applications.
- Scored +5
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill directly targets rural communities to streamline access to economic development funds.
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates the publication of sample applications and review criteria to increase transparency.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Simplified Application Process: The Assistant Secretary is required to establish a short form application for any grant program administered by the Economic Development Administration (Section 2(b)). This could help rural communities access funds more easily.
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Stakeholder Voice: The Assistant Secretary must solicit input from a representative group of stakeholders in rural communities regarding application length and documentation (Section 2(c)). This ensures those affected have a say in how the process works.
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Reduced Redundancy: The bill considers reducing repetitive sections that ask for information already provided to the Federal Government, such as through SAM.gov or the Bureau of the Census (Section 2(c)(4)). This could save time and effort for applicants.
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Increased Transparency: The Assistant Secretary must make sample successful applications, criteria decision guides, and standardized guidance publicly available (Section 2(d)). This helps rural communities understand how to apply effectively and how their applications are reviewed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the provided text.
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill is specifically designed to reduce administrative barriers for rural community grant applications. Would business owners be better off under this? — Easier grant access benefits local business environments in rural areas. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The definition of rural community includes Tribal areas, which may benefit from streamlined grant processes. Would farmers be better off under this? — Rural economic development often directly benefits the agricultural sector.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill directly targets rural communities to streamline access to economic development funds.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Reducing administrative burdens helps facilitate economic development programs for rural communities. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Simplified application processes can assist local small-scale economic efforts in rural jurisdictions. Is this likely to create jobs? — Streamlined grant access may indirectly support economic development and job growth in rural areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates the publication of sample applications and review criteria to increase transparency.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Economic development can assist in long-term poverty reduction within rural communities.
- 3/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/4/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/3/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S764)
- 13 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota