Bill Summary
The Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Development Act is a law that amends the Small Business Act to make the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands eligible for certain Small Business Administration programs. This means that small businesses located in the Northern Mariana Islands will now have access to resources and support from the Small Business Administration. The Act also updates the language of the Small Business Act to include the Northern Mariana Islands alongside other US territories such as American Samoa. This Act was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives in September 2020.
Possible Impacts
1. The Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Development Act would make the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands eligible for certain Small Business Administration programs, which could potentially provide more opportunities and resources for small business owners in the region.
2. The amendment to the Small Business Act would exempt applicants with their principal office in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from certain requirements, potentially making it easier for them to access funding and support for their businesses.
3. The inclusion of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Small Business Act could also lead to increased economic growth and development in the region, creating more job opportunities and improving the overall standard of living for people living there.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6021 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6021
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 15, 2020
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business
and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Small Business Act to ensure that the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands is eligible for certain Small Business
Administration programs, and for other purposes.
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 ``Northern Mariana Islands Small
Business Development Act''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
FOR CERTAIN SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS.
The Small Business Act is amended--
(1) in section 21(a) (15 U.S.C. 648(a))--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting before ``The
Administration shall require'' the following new
sentence: ``The previous sentence shall not apply to an
applicant that has its principal office located in the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)(C)(ix), by striking ``and
American Samoa'' and inserting ``American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''; and
(2) in section 34(a)(9) (15 U.S.C. 657d(a)(9)), by striking
``and American Samoa'' and inserting ``American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''.
Passed the House of Representatives September 14, 2020.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.