Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD)
Regional Export Promotion Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
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 Regional Export Promotion Act of 2026 amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to officially establish the Regional Export Promotion Program. This program partners the Bank with eligible state, county, and local nonprofit economic development entities to grow export opportunities for regional businesses. The bill also creates a five-year pilot program specifically to increase the Bank's reach in areas with many small businesses. This pilot program prioritizes partnerships with certain agencies, such as those serving HUBZones and community banks. It provides specialized training, export credit insurance, and easier application processes for new users. The President of the Bank must report the pilot program's results to Congress annually.
Yes· 3 of 21
- Scored +9
Would business owners be better off under this?
Directly provides small business owners with credit insurance, training, and streamlined access to export markets.
- Scored +9
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill creates a specific pilot program to provide small businesses with training, credit insurance, and easier access to export resources.
- Scored +8
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The bill is specifically designed to increase U.S. exports by expanding the reach of the Export-Import Bank.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expansion of export opportunities: The Bank will work with state, county, and local nonprofit economic development entities to help regional businesses expand their exports (Section 2).
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Support for small businesses: A pilot program is designed to increase the Bank's presence in regions with high concentrations of small business concerns (Section 3(a)).
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Targeted help for underserved areas and institutions: The pilot program prioritizes agreements with entities like those serving HUBZones, community development financial institutions, minority depository institutions, local chambers of commerce, and local community banks and credit unions (Section 3(a)).
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Direct assistance for new users: Small businesses under the pilot program can receive specialized training, marketing materials, specific short-term export credit insurance, and streamlined application processes if they have not used the Bank's products before (Section 3(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly 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 business owners be better off under this? — Directly provides small business owners with credit insurance, training, and streamlined access to export markets. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Prioritization of minority depository institutions specifically benefits minority-owned businesses. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Prioritization of minority depository institutions specifically benefits minority-owned businesses. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Prioritization of minority depository institutions specifically benefits minority-owned businesses. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Prioritization of minority depository institutions specifically benefits minority-owned businesses. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Regional promotion and support for local credit unions benefit rural business communities. Would farmers be better off under this? — Agricultural producers often rely on exports and can benefit from regional promotion and credit insurance. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Focus on HUBZones and city governments supports urban economic development. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Economic growth in HUBZones and underserved areas can lead to more opportunities for low-income residents. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Small business owners in the middle class benefit from expanded export capabilities. Would white Americans be better off under this? — General small business owners across all demographics benefit from the expanded program.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill creates a specific pilot program to provide small businesses with training, credit insurance, and easier access to export resources. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill promotes economic growth by facilitating international trade for regional and small businesses. Is this likely to create jobs? — Expanding export opportunities for regional and small businesses typically leads to business growth and job creation.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — The act facilitates trade activities that contribute to overall interstate and international commerce. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reports to Congress on the pilot program's results and effectiveness. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill codifies and expands the authority of a federal agency (Export-Import Bank).
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill is specifically designed to increase U.S. exports by expanding the reach of the Export-Import Bank.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes partnerships with minority depository institutions, which can enhance economic opportunity for minority business owners. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By targeting HUBZones and underserved regions for export growth, the bill may contribute to regional poverty reduction.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — By targeting regional and local nonprofit economic development entities, the bill supports development in rural and underserved areas.
- 6/17/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania