Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Act," aims to amend the Small Business Act in order to extend eligibility for certain Small Business Administration programs to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This includes adding the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the list of areas eligible for assistance under the Small Business Act, as well as exempting businesses with their principal office located in the Commonwealth from certain requirements. This bill is meant to provide equal access to small business resources and support for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could potentially provide more resources and support for small businesses in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as they would now be eligible for certain Small Business Administration programs. This could have a positive impact on the economy and job market in the area.
2. The eligibility changes outlined in this legislation could also affect the demographics of small business owners in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as it may open up opportunities for individuals who were previously unable to access SBA programs.
3. The language used in the bill, specifically the inclusion of the Northern Mariana Islands in the title and throughout the text, could potentially foster a sense of inclusion and representation for residents of the Commonwealth. This could have a positive effect on their sense of identity and belonging within the larger United States.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2190 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2190
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 18, 2019
Ms. Hirono introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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 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 7(m)(7)(B) (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(7)(B))--
(A) by striking ``and American Samoa'' each place
such term appears and inserting ``American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands''; and
(B) in clause (i)(I)(bb), by striking ``\1/55\''
and inserting ``\1/56\'';
(2) 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
(3) 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''.
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