A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
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
S. 5633, known as the STEP Improvement Act of 2026, amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize the Small Business Administration's State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) through fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The bill establishes new application deadlines, streamlined paperwork requirements, and a formal funding formula based on export sales and participation metrics when funding reaches certain thresholds. It also limits grant reductions, introduces annual surveys for participating states, and sets clear rules for reporting performance metrics like new jobs and export sales. Additionally, the legislation defines economically distressed small business concerns and mandates various congressional reports regarding program administration and oversight.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The legislation directly aids small business owners by streamlining application processes and supporting export activities.
- Scored +6
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The legislation streamlines grant applications, reduces burdens, and provides targeted support for small businesses engaging in exports.
- Scored +6
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The bill reauthorizes and refines the State Trade Expansion Program to boost exports by small businesses.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Streamlined Applications: Section 2(a) requires the Associate Administrator to establish a concise grant application that uses common federal forms and reduces unnecessary or duplicative materials, which makes applying for program funds easier for participants.
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Clear Guidance and Feedback: Section 2(a) requires officials to provide recommendations to unsuccessful applicants on how to improve future applications and explain significant funding differences for successful applicants, providing transparency and accountability for the people's tax dollars.
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Support for Distressed and Underrepresented Businesses: Section 2(d) and Section 2(f) create specific allocations and definitions for small businesses located in low-income, rural, or HUBZone areas, as well as businesses owned by women, helping target resources where they are needed most.
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Timely Reimbursements: Section 2(e) requires officials to process state reimbursement requests in a timely manner and provide an estimated completion timeline and notice if processing takes longer than 21 days, ensuring better government responsiveness.
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Protection Against Steep Funding Cuts: Section 2(b) ensures that states generally will not have their program grants reduced below 80 percent of the amount received in the prior fiscal year, providing financial stability for local trade expansion efforts.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Administrative Burdens and Reporting: Section 2(e) mandates extensive new reporting requirements, performance metrics collection, and monthly obligation reports, which could increase bureaucratic red tape for program administrators and participating entities.
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Restrictions on Trade Missions: Section 2(f) limits the use of funds for participation in foreign trade missions strictly to small business concerns that have been in operation for not less than 1 year, which could burden or exclude very new businesses from accessing these specific events.
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? — The legislation directly aids small business owners by streamlining application processes and supporting export activities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural small businesses receive targeted focus and allocations under the updated STEP program definitions. Would women be better off under this? — The bill explicitly disaggregates data and targets assistance for small businesses owned and controlled by women. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Targeting resources to economically distressed and low-income area businesses helps foster local economic opportunity.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The legislation streamlines grant applications, reduces burdens, and provides targeted support for small businesses engaging in exports. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By reauthorizing and improving the State Trade Expansion Program, the bill helps small businesses grow through international trade. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill tracks and encourages export growth and small business expansion which supports job creation.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill reauthorizes and refines the State Trade Expansion Program to boost exports by small businesses.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates clear guidance, feedback for unsuccessful applicants, annual surveys, and detailed congressional reporting.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes specific provisions and definitions targeting rural small business concerns for trade expansion support.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill creates specific allocations and definitions to target resources to economically distressed and low-income small business concerns.
- 9/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
- Introduced in Senate