This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop and give out educational materials about conduct by foreign adversaries that can materially harm small businesses. The SBA must consult with several federal agencies, including Homeland Security, State, FBI, Treasury, Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Patent and Trademark Office, and the Copyright Office. The materials must be available through SBA district offices and other SBA programs.
The materials must, at minimum, explain what harmful foreign-adversary conduct looks like; how it harms small businesses; best practices to protect intellectual property, sensitive business information, and supply chains; guidance on cybersecurity and data protection; risks from foreign investment, joint ventures, licensing, and other commercial relationships with entities owned or controlled by a foreign adversary or related listed entities; resources from the federal government to help identify and address these risks; and guidance on protecting business interests abroad without needlessly restricting lawful commerce.
The bill requires the SBA to review and, if needed, update the materials each year starting October 1, 2027, to reflect new tactics, changes in law or policy, and current best practices. If the SBA determines that a particular activity poses a significant risk to U.S. economic or national security, the Administrator must notify the House and Senate small business committees of that determination, the specific activity, and the justification for it.
The bill also defines terms used in the section, including "foreign adversary" by reference to an existing federal regulation, "additional covered entity" by reference to a list in the Small Business Act, and "foreign adversary conduct that poses material harm" to include examples such as intellectual property theft, cyber intrusions, forced labor, counterfeit goods and illicit trade, predatory or non-market investment practices, and other activities the Administrator determines pose significant risk.
If you run or work for a small business, the SBA would provide free educational materials through local SBA district offices and SBA programs. These materials would explain risks from foreign-adversary activity, give cybersecurity and data-protection guidance, suggest ways to protect intellectual property and supply chains, and point to federal resources that can help. The materials are to be reviewed each year so they stay current.
No publicly available information.
The bill, introduced by Representatives Roger Williams and Derek Tran, directs the SBA to create and share information aimed at helping small businesses identify, avoid, prevent, and address harmful conduct by foreign adversaries. This stated purpose is in the bill text.
No publicly available information.