DOE and SBA Research Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/788

Last Updated: September 7, 2026

DOE and SBA Research Act

HR. 788, 119th Congress — read as touching Pipelines & Energy Infrastructure.

The sponsor

Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The alignment

85% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Energy and Related Commissions" section, p. 425-427 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

February 25, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Summary Style:

**HR 788: A Modest Attempt at Interagency Collaboration**

The DOE and SBA Research Act (HR 788) is a bill that seeks to facilitate joint research and development activities between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). While this legislation may seem innocuous, it warrants scrutiny from a strategic perspective.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The primary objective of HR 788 is to promote collaboration between the DOE and SBA in areas such as research and development, with a focus on advancing their respective mission requirements and priorities. The bill aims to foster innovation and efficiency through interagency cooperation.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:**

1. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): The bill requires the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the SBA to enter into an MOU or other agreement to carry out joint research and development activities. 2. Inclusion of Small Business Concerns: The legislation ensures that small business concerns are included in these activities, as defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 3. Reimbursable Agreements: The bill allows for reimbursable agreements between the DOE, SBA, and other entities to maximize the effectiveness of research and development activities. 4. Collaboration with Other Federal Agencies: HR 788 permits collaboration with other federal agencies to carry out joint research and development activities.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:**

1. Department of Energy (DOE) 2. Small Business Administration (SBA) 3. Small business concerns 4. Research institutions and organizations 5. Federal agencies involved in research and development

**Potential Impact & Implications:** From a strategic perspective, HR 788 presents both opportunities and challenges:

* **Opportunities:** By fostering collaboration between the DOE and SBA, this legislation may lead to innovative solutions and increased efficiency in research and development activities. * **Challenges:** The bill's emphasis on interagency cooperation may create bureaucratic hurdles and slow down decision-making processes. Moreover, the inclusion of small business concerns may lead to increased competition for resources and funding.

**Conclusion:** HR 788 is a modest attempt at promoting interagency collaboration between the DOE and SBA. While it may have some benefits, its impact will likely be limited by the inherent inefficiencies of government-led initiatives. As a strategic investor, I would advise caution when evaluating this legislation's potential implications on my portfolio.

**Recommendation:** Monitor HR 788's progress and assess its potential impact on your investments. Consider lobbying efforts to ensure that any future amendments or regulations align with your business interests.

**Projected Impact on My Portfolio:** Minimal (less than $100 million)

**Think Tank Recommendation:** The Center for Strategic Innovation (CSI) recommends a "wait-and-see" approach, as the bill's potential impact is still uncertain.

💰 Campaign Finance Network

No campaign finance data available for Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1]

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]

ID: M001234

Top Contributors

SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY

OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN

$3,300

Aug 5, 2024

SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY

OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN

$3,300

Sep 30, 2024

PRAIRIE ISLAND TRIBAL COUNCIL

OrganizationWELCH, MN

$3,300

Oct 18, 2024

MILLE LACS BAND OF OJIBWE INDIANS

OrganizationONAMIA, MN

$2,500

Aug 30, 2024

LINDSAY, HELEN

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualWAYZATA, MN

$5,000

Sep 13, 2024

MURPHY, CYNTHIA

SELF EMPLOYED • COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

IndividualMINNEAPOLIS, MN

$3,300

Oct 4, 2024

DAYTON, CORNELIA MASSIE

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualWAYZATA, MN

$3,300

Oct 7, 2024

POHLAD, JAMES

POHLAD COMPANIES • BUSINESS

IndividualMINNEAPOLIS, MN

$3,300

Oct 14, 2024

DEIGNAN, JOE

SOLHEIM INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC • PRIVATE INVESTOR

IndividualEDINA, MN

$3,300

Aug 12, 2024

FRANCIS, MICHAEL RAYMOND

FARVIEW ASSOCIATES • CEO

IndividualORONO, MN

$3,300

Sep 25, 2024

Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

ID: T000488

Top Contributors

LEVY, EDWARD C.

EDW C LEVY CO • CHAIRMAN

IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI

$6,600

Jun 30, 2024

LEVY, EDWARD C.

EDW C LEVY CO • CHAIRMAN

IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI

$6,600

Jul 1, 2024

LEVY, EDWARD C.

EDW C LEVY CO • CHAIRMAN

IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI

$6,600

Jun 30, 2024

SARVER, ROBERT

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualPARADISE VALLEY, AZ

$6,600

Aug 5, 2024

PATEL, DILIP

JAMSAN HOTEL MANAGEMENT • MANAGER

IndividualLEXINGTON, MA

$3,300

Oct 27, 2024

SILVERSTON, CHARLES

GIBSON SIR • REAL ESTATE

IndividualCHESTNUT HILL, MA

$3,300

Oct 27, 2024

SINGH, GURPREET

SELF EMPLOYED • SELF EMPLOYED

IndividualHUNTS POINT, WA

$3,300

Oct 27, 2024

AGARWAL, AVADHESH K

N/A • RETIRED

IndividualROLLING HILLS, CA

$3,300

Aug 10, 2023

JADEJA, ASHA

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualPALO ALTO, CA

$3,300

Jul 13, 2023

RATHI, VASANT

SPECIALTY ENZYMES • OWNER

IndividualYORBA LINDA, CA

$3,300

Aug 10, 2023

Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

ID: G000604

Top Contributors

MCLAUGHLIN, JANE

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualLYME, NH

$4,500

Aug 24, 2024

FLORY, ROBERT H. JR

FLORY INVESTMENTS, INC. • PRESIDENT

IndividualDAMARISCOTTA, ME

$4,100

Sep 30, 2024

FLORY, ROBERT H. JR

FLORY INVESTMENTS, INC. • PRESIDENT

IndividualDAMARISCOTTA, ME

$4,100

Sep 30, 2024

KRAUSZ, STEVEN

US VENTURE PARTNERS • VENTURE CAPITAL

IndividualPORTOLA VALLEY, CA

$3,300

Oct 23, 2024

HIRSHBERG, GARY

STONYFIELD FARM INC. • SENIOR ADVISOR

IndividualCONCORD, NH

$3,300

Oct 22, 2024

DRAKE, LAWRENCE C JR

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualPORTSMOUTH, NH

$3,300

Oct 19, 2024

CUTLER, DOULGAS

CUTLER MANAGEMENT CORP • MANAGEMENT

IndividualDANIA, FL

$3,300

Oct 17, 2024

JAMES, AMABEL

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualNEW YORK, NY

$3,300

Oct 24, 2024

NUNNELLY, MARK

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualDOVER, MA

$3,300

Oct 21, 2024

ROBY, DAVID M.

NOT EMPLOYED • NOT EMPLOYED

IndividualLYME, NH

$3,300

Oct 28, 2024

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.

+Pipelines & Energy Infrastructureconfidence 0.80
Section 2(a)-(f) directs DOE and SBA to collaborate on joint R&D activities, which could benefit energy infrastructure firms through research partnerships, reimbursable agreements, and expanded technical capabilities.
+Renewable Energyconfidence 0.70
Section 2 focuses on joint R&D activities aligned with DOE mission priorities, which include renewable energy advancement; small business inclusion may support clean energy innovators.
+Nuclear Powerconfidence 0.60
DOE mission includes nuclear energy R&D; Section 2's collaborative activities could involve nuclear power research, benefiting industry via shared innovation.

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Energy and Related Commissions

Strong

Vector: 67%

Pages: 425-427AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"HR 788 aligns strongly with Project 2025's DOE objectives by promoting joint R&D between DOE and SBA, emphasizing technology transfer to the private sector, and ensuring benefits flow to American interests—particularly through small business inclusion and accountability in innovation outcomes."

Key themes:R&D collaborationtechnology transfer to private sectorsmall business engagementnational security and economic benefitsinteragency coordination

— 393 — Department of Energy and Related Commissions l Ensure that R&D funds are used for projects that protect and advance that edge. l Ensure that successful advances, with a focus on new natural resource development technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space, are transferred swiftly to American interests in the private sector. New Policies l Focus on benefits to Americans. OTT’s operations should be based on the recognition that the new technologies generated by American taxpayers’ investment in DOE are a significant national security asset rather than some neutral scientific gift to humanity. l Increase oversight and coordination. OTT needs to be vigilant in overseeing and coordinating OTT offices associated with each National Lab. For security and economic espionage reasons, the work funded by the American people needs to be protected, and when commercialized, it needs to go to American businesses. OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC) Mission/Overview The Office of Science (SC) supports and oversees research facilities and pro- grams that cover basic science through its application to the demonstration and deployment of energy technologies. SC oversees 10 of the 17 DOE National Labs and 28 major federal research user facilities. Its mission is to preserve U.S. leader- ship in science, fund and perform basic research, and provide the scientific facilities that the private sector is unable or unwilling to provide. New initiatives include quantum information sciences and artificial intelligence. SC is led by a Senate-con- firmed Director at the Assistant Secretary level and has eight program offices.82 Needed Reforms The next conservative President should commit the United States to scientific dominance to support national and economic security, especially in light of similar efforts by China. To aid in this effort, the Office of Science should: l Return to its primary mission: nonpartisan and basic science. SC’s mission should be international leadership in basic and early applied science and provision of world-leading facilities for this work. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act mark the major — 394 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise reorientation of DOE primarily from defense applications in the NNSA and basic and early applied science across SC and the applied offices to a massive federal research, development, demonstration, and commercialization body.83 Distraction from SC’s basic science mission should be prevented. l Increase the level of accountability. The National Laboratories need to be more directly accountable to the Secretary of Energy and Congress for their work and management. New Policies l Commit to U.S. science dominance. The United States is losing its dominance in scientific discoveries and technological development. China and other adversaries have been stealing American science and technology for years and are now on the verge of dominating science—a development that is fraught with negative strategic and economic implications for the United States. The next Administration must commit itself to ensuring that the U.S. continues to dominate scientific discovery and technological advancement. l Refocus on mission and eliminate duplication and waste. The Administration should work with Congress to rationalize the National Lab network to meet specific national objectives (such as the NNSA laboratories’ role in national defense) and conduct basic research that the private sector would not otherwise conduct. Activities that duplicate those of other government agencies or the private sector should be eliminated. l Properly manage the National Labs’ contributions to the private sector. SC should improve private-sector access to the National Labs, through programs like the GAIN voucher program and consistent with national security considerations, while ensuring that the economic benefits of taxpayer-funded technologies flow back to taxpayers through patent- review sharing or a revolving fund. Budget The Office of Science was appropriated slightly more than $7 billion in FY 2021, and DOE requested slightly less than $7.8 billion for FY 2023.84 OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (EM) Mission/Overview The Office of Environmental Management’s mission is to “complete the safe cleanup of [the] environmental legacy resulting from decades of nuclear

Department of Energy and Related Commissions

Moderate

Vector: 67%

Pages: 398-400AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"HR 788 promotes joint DOE-SBA R&D efforts that could support advanced science and technology transfer, aligning with Project 2025’s goal of refocusing DOE on advanced science and energy security. However, the bill does not explicitly reject renewable energy subsidies or prioritize fossil fuels, limiting direct alignment with core Project 2025 energy objectives."

Key themes:advanced sciencetechnology transferenergy securityfederal R&D collaborationsmall business innovation

— 365 — Department of Energy and Related Commissions l Support repeal of massive spending bills like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)3 and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA),4 which established new programs and are providing hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies to renewable energy developers, their investors, and special interests, and support the rescinding of all funds not already spent by these programs. l Unleash private-sector energy innovation by ending government interference in energy decisions. l Stop the war on oil and natural gas. l Allow individuals, families, and business to use the energy resources they want to use and that will best serve their needs. l Secure and protect energy infrastructure from cyber and physical attacks. l Refocus the Department of Energy on energy security, accelerated remediation, and advanced science. l Promote U.S. energy resources as a means to assist our allies and diminish our strategic adversaries. l Refocus FERC on ensuring that customers have affordable and reliable electricity, natural gas, and oil and no longer allow it to favor special interests and progressive causes. l Ensure that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission facilitates rather than hampers private-sector nuclear energy innovation and deployment. American Science Dominance. Ever since the age of Benjamin Franklin, the United States has been at the forefront of scientific discovery and technological advancement. Beginning with the groundbreaking science of the Manhattan Proj- ect, the U.S. has developed 17 National Laboratories that conduct fundamental and advanced scientific research. The National Labs have been critical in supporting national defense and ensuring that the United States leads on scientific discoveries with transformative applications that benefit America and the world. In recent years, however, U.S. science has been under threat. Externally, adversaries like the Chinese military have been engaged in scientific espionage, infiltrating taxpayer-funded scientific research projects, and funding their own science research. In addition, the National Labs have been too focused on climate change and renewable technologies. — 366 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise American science dominance is critical to U.S. national security and economic strength. The next conservative President therefore needs to recommit the United States to ensuring this dominance. MISSION STATEMENT FOR A REFORMED DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY The Department of Energy should be renamed and refocused as the Department of Energy Security and Advanced Science (DESAS). DESAS would refocus on DOE’s five existing core missions: l Providing leadership and coordination on energy security and related national security issues, l Promoting U.S. energy economic interests abroad, l Leading the nation and the world in cutting-edge fundamental advanced science, l Remediating former Manhattan Project and Cold War nuclear material sites, and l Developing new nuclear weapons and naval nuclear reactors. These missions work together by using advanced science to promote national security while getting the government out of the business of picking winners and losers in energy resources. Reform is needed because DOE, instead of focusing on core energy and security issues, has been spending billions of taxpayer dollars to subsidize renewable energy developers and investors, thereby making Americans less energy secure and distorting energy markets. OVERVIEW DOE was created by the Department of Energy Organization Act of 19775 in response to the 1970s oil crisis, consolidating various energy programs that pre- viously had operated without coordination throughout the federal government in a single department. In addition to addressing energy issues, DOE is tasked with: l Engaging in basic and fundamental science and research through the 17 National Laboratories; l Cleaning up the Manhattan Project and Cold War nuclear material and weapons sites;

Small Business Administration

Moderate

Vector: 66%

Pages: 783-785AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"HR 788 promotes collaboration between DOE and SBA to include small businesses in R&D, which aligns with Project 2025’s goal of strengthening SBA’s role in supporting small businesses through modernized programs and interagency coordination. However, the bill does not specifically address accountability measures, Office of Advocacy enhancements, or regulatory reform emphasized in the Project 2025 SBA section."

Key themes:small business engagementinteragency collaborationmodernized SBA operationsresearch and development initiatives

— 751 — Small Business Administration implement relevant initiatives to reach small businesses. Programs would be nonduplicative and implemented on a first-come, first-served basis. l A modern, revamped, and streamlined SBA that better utilizes current technology and platforms for operations, for reporting, and in its programs to reach, service, and engage small businesses. l An Office of Advocacy that is strengthened by a renewed mandate and additional resources to protect against overregulation along with a research agenda that includes measuring the total cost that federal regulation imposes on small businesses. Accountability and Managerial Practice. The SBA lacks accountability and managerial practices to measure the effectiveness, success, and integrity of its various programs. As a future Administration evaluates agency structure and the particulars of how the SBA is spending appropriated funds, it should immediately require actions and procedures to compel a culture of accountability and perfor- mance. Specifically: l Require performance metrics and internal procedures to safeguard taxpayer dollars and program integrity. As noted in an October 2022 IG report, failure to adopt procedures that would reliably capture data and information for various programs, coupled with significant challenges and weaknesses regarding IT investments, systems development, and security controls, presents significant risks to program integrity and increased risk of waste, fraud, and abuse.34 Addressing these shortcomings and risks should be a priority challenge and action item for the next Administration. As underscored by the Inspector General in his introduction to the report, “Pandemic response has, in many instances, magnified the challenging systemic issues in SBA’s mission-related work.”35 l Review all internal government watchdog recommendations and require that SBA management implement or address outstanding and ongoing OIG and GAO recommendations within a specified time frame (ideally within 90 days of a recommendation) and on an ongoing basis. Strengthening the Office of Advocacy. The SBA Office of Advocacy (Advo- cacy) is “an independent office” within the SBA.36 It accounts for about one one-thousandth of SBA spending and 0.75 percent of SBA personnel. Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, both under its current authority and with suggested — 752 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise reforms, the Office of Advocacy could be a powerful weapon against the adminis- trative state’s regulatory extremism. l Amend the RFA so that all agencies are required to provide a copy of any proposed rule (other than bona fide emergency rules) along with initial regulatory flexibility analysis to the Office of Advocacy at least 60 days before a notice of proposed rulemaking is submitted for publication in the Federal Register. The Office of Advocacy would submit comments to agencies within 30 days, and each agency would have to consider these comments, make changes in the proposed rule based on those comments, or explain in a revised regulatory flexibility analysis why it chose not to change the proposed rule. The Office of Advocacy’s pre-proposing comments would be published on the agencies’ and its own websites. RFA economic analysis should be expanded to include indirect costs along with direct costs. In addition, the next Administration should require other agencies to seek Advocacy’s input. Currently, other agencies deny Advocacy the ability to enforce their duty to consider the effect of regulations on small entities by construing their regulations as not having significant economic impact, which would otherwise serve as a trigger for Advocacy’s input. Congress should presumptively exempt small businesses from new agency rules to force agencies to seek Advocacy’s input and permit new rules to apply to small businesses only with Advocacy signoff under specified criteria. l Increase the Office of Advocacy’s budget by at least 50 percent ($4.6 million). This would allow Advocacy to hire approximately 25 attorneys, economists, and scientists and enhance its role in the regulatory process. l Explicitly direct federal agencies to comply with the RFA. This would be similar to the approach adopted by President Trump in his January and February 2017 executive orders directing agencies to relieve the cost and burden of regulation on business.37 Advocacy should organize regional roundtables, onsite small-business visits, and an online platform to hear directly from small businesses and entities as it did from June 2017 through September 2018.38 This activity produced 26 letters to federal agencies and highlighted specific regulations that need reform and how Congress had addressed the most burdensome rules through the Congressional Review Act.39

Department of Energy and Related Commissions

Moderate

Vector: 65%

Pages: 416-418AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"HR 788 promotes joint R&D between DOE and SBA to support small business innovation, which aligns with Project 2025’s emphasis on advancing energy technology and innovation through agencies like ARPA–E, though it does not directly address loan program reforms or personnel reductions outlined in the policy."

Key themes:energy innovationtechnology developmentsmall business engagementfederal R&D collaboration

— 383 — Department of Energy and Related Commissions Personnel By drawing resources from across the DOE, the OCED has already grown to 70 personnel in six months. If OCED is eliminated, those positions can be eliminated. If OCED is reduced, its personnel can be reduced to fit its scope. LOAN PROGRAM OFFICE (LPO) Mission/Overview “LPO’s mission is to finance next-generation U.S. energy infrastructure,” serve “as a bridge to bankability for breakthrough projects and technologies,” and “de-risk[] them at early stages of investment so they can be developed at commercial scale and achieve market acceptance.”55 The Biden Administration directed the program to subsidize the Administration’s “net zero” energy tran- sition away from conventional fuels by 2050 and to promote union jobs and domestic supply chains.56 The LPO coordinates with the U.S. Treasury Federal Financing Bank and is organized into seven divisions: Outreach and Business Development, Origination, Portfolio Management, Risk Management, Technical and Project Management, Legal, and Management and Operation. Its loan programs were originally designed as temporary programs but have since been amended and expanded. Specifically: The IRA expanded the authority in [LPO’s] existing programs, 1703, ATVM, and Tribal Energy Finance, by $100B. IRA also created the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) Financing Program (1706) which can support up to $250B in loan authority. The CO2 Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (CIFIA)—authorized by the [bipartisan infrastructure law], appropriates $2.1B to support approximately $25B in flexible, low-interest loans. This new legislation will create jobs and wealth, address environmental justice and equity priorities and strengthen our energy security and supply chains.57 Needed Reforms Taxpayers should not be backing risky business ventures or politically pre- ferred commercial enterprises. To save tax dollars and reduce current risk, the new Administration: l Should not back any new loans or loan guarantees. l Should seek to sunset DOE’s loan authority through Congress and eventually eliminate the Loan Program Office. — 384 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise DOE-backed loans and loan guarantees put taxpayers at undue risk, distort private-sector investment decisions, shift private money toward projects with political support, and create additional barriers to entry for companies that are outside of the government’s definition of “innovative” or for companies that choose not to participate. New Policies To the extent that DOE loan programs cannot be repealed, the new Adminis- tration should: l Strengthen due diligence and increase transparency in DOE loan programs. l Limit the use of new loan or loan guarantee authority to projects that will promote the reliability and resilience of the electric grid and other energy infrastructure and support national security objectives. l Establish clear mandatory qualifications requiring applicants to comply with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act58 and to certify that they are not financed with any other local, state, or federal taxpayer-backed loan, loan guarantee, or bond (such as a state “green bank”). ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY–ENERGY (ARPA–E) Mission/Overview ARPA–E was created in 2007 as part of the America Competes (Creating Oppor- tunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology Education) Act.59 Its statutory goals are “to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies” that reduce “imports of energy from foreign sources;” reduce “energy-related emissions, including green- house gases;” improve “the energy efficiency of all economic sectors;” and “ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies.”60 Some in Congress see ARPA–E as beneficial because the COMPETES Act pro- vides it with more bureaucratic flexibility than other federal programs are allowed. Its goals are essentially the same as those of DOE’s applied energy offices, but its structure is different, and it is focused around individual programs instead of around offices with longer-term agendas.

Small Business Administration

Weak

Vector: 65%

Pages: 792-794AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"HR 788 promotes collaboration between DOE and SBA to expand small business participation in R&D, while Project 2025 criticizes SBA for expanding programs without effectiveness reviews and calls for consolidation or budget reduction. The bill's focus on new initiatives contrasts with Project 2025's emphasis on curbing overextension and improving accountability."

Key themes:Small Business Administrationprogram effectivenessresource allocation

— 759 — Small Business Administration ineffective programs, consolidate duplicative functions, and reallocate resources to more effective programs (such as the Office of Advocacy) or consider reducing the SBA budget. Personnel Challenges The SBA continues to expand programs and initiatives without first document- ing the effectiveness of existing programs or whether they involve areas in which the agency lacks staff expertise. For example, the SBA wants to expand the number of licensed Small Business Lending Companies (SBLCs), implement a new “Mis- sion-Based SBLC,” and remove a requirement for loan authorization within the 7(a) and 504 Loan programs and rely solely on a lender’s documents. Various IG reports have noted that the lack of skilled employees within the SBA has fueled fraud and mismanagement in COVID-19 lending programs, and congressional leaders have expressed alarm about these “changes that haphazardly overextend the SBA’s responsibilities at a time when they are devastated by fraud and underperforming on their core mission of serving the nation’s 33 million small businesses.”74 A conservative Administration should rein in these idealistic and impractical efforts, get current programs under control and properly staffed with people who can manage and perform competently, and outsource efforts where private-sector expertise is appropriate and more efficient. AUTHOR’S NOTE: The preparation of this chapter was a collective enterprise of individuals involved in the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. All contributors to this chapter are listed at the front of this volume, but David Burton and Caleb Orr deserve special mention. The author alone assumes responsibility for the content of this chapter, and no views expressed herein should be attributed to any other individual. — 760 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise ENDNOTES 1. H.R. 7953, Small Business Act, Public Law 85-536, 85th Congress, July 18, 1958, § 2, https://uscode.ecfr.io/ statutes/pl/85/536.pdf (accessed February 17, 2023), amended by H.R. 4877, One Stop Shop for Small Business Compliance Act of 2021, Public Law 117-188, 117th Congress, October 20, 2022, https://www.congress. gov/117/plaws/publ188/PLAW-117publ188.pdf (accessed February 17, 2023). 2. U.S. Small Business Administration, “About SBA: Organization: Mission,” https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/ organization (accessed February 19, 2023). 3. Michael Faulkender, Robert Jackman, and Stephen I. Miran, “The Job-Preservation Effects of Paycheck Protection Program Loans,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Economic Policy, Working Paper No. 2020-01, December 2020, p. 9, https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/226/Job-Preservation-Effects- Paycheck-Protection-Program-Loans.pdf (accessed February 16, 2023). 4. Kate Rogers, Scott Zamost, Karina Hernandez, and Jennifer Schlesinger, “As Pandemic Aid Was Rushed to Main Street, Criminals Seized on Covid Relief Programs,” CNBC, April 15, 2021, https://www.cnbc. com/2021/04/15/as-pandemic-aid-was-rushed-to-main-street-criminals-seized-on-ppp-eidl-.html (accessed February 16, 2023). 5. Kevin Brewer, “Bills Extend Statute of Limitation for Prosecuting PPP, EIDL Fraud,” Journal of Accountancy, August 10, 2022, https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/aug/bills-extend-statute-limitation- prosecuting-ppp-eidl-fraud.html (accessed February 16, 2023). 6. Sacha Pfeiffer, “Virtually All PPP Loans Have Been Forgiven with Limited Scrutiny,” NPR, October 12, 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/10/12/1128207464/ppp-loans-loan-forgiveness-small-business#:~:text=As%20 COVID-19%20shutdowns%20threatened,early%20days%20of%20the%20pandemic (accessed February 16, 2023). 7. U.S. Small Business Administration, “About SBA: Organization: SBA History,” https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/ organization (accessed February 19, 2023). 8. President Richard Nixon, Executive Order 11518, “Providing for the Increased Representation of the Interests of Small Business Concerns Before Departments and Agencies of the United States Government,” March 20, 1970, in Federal Register, Vol. 35, No. 56 (March 21, 1970), pp. 4939–4940, https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/ service/ll/fedreg/fr035/fr035056/fr035056.pdf (accessed February 18, 2023). 9. S. 3331, Small Business Amendments of 1974, Public Law 93-386, 93rd Congress, August 23, 1974, https://www. congress.gov/93/statute/STATUTE-88/STATUTE-88-Pg742.pdf (accessed February 19, 2023). 10. S. 299, Regulatory Flexibility Act, Public Law No. 96-354, 96th Congress, September 19, 1980, https://www. congress.gov/96/statute/STATUTE-94/STATUTE-94-Pg1164.pdf (accessed February 19, 2023). 11. Maeve P. Carey, “The Regulatory Flex Act: An Overview,” Congressional Research Service In Focus No. IF11900, August 16, 2021, https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11900 (accessed February 18, 2023). 12. U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy, “The Regulatory Flexibility Act,” https://advocacy.sba. gov/resources/the-regulatory-flexibility-act/ (accessed February 18, 2023). 13. H.R. 644, Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, Public Law No. 114-125, 114th Congress, February 24, 2026, https://www.congress.gov/114/statute/STATUTE-130/STATUTE-130-Pg122.pdf (accessed March 21, 2023). 14. U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy, “Advocacy Releases Trade Report,” December 21, 2018, https://advocacy.sba.gov/2018/12/21/advocacy-releases-trade-report/ (accessed March 21, 2023). 15. Associated Press, “Reagan Offers $994-Billion ‘Hard-Choices’ 1987 Budget,” Los Angeles Times, February 5, 1986, http://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-05-mn-4369-story.html (accessed February 18, 2023). 16. Testimony of Hon. Hector V. Barreto, Administrator, Small Business Administration, in hearing, The President’s FY 2006 Budget Request for the Small Business Administration, Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 1st Session, February 17, 2005, p. 8, https://books.google.com/ books?id=UwD-2ICa8k8C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false (accessed February 18, 2023). See also Report No. 109-49, Summary of Legislative and Oversight Activities During the 108th Congress, Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Senate, 109th Congress, 1st Session, March 30, 2005, p. 21, https://www.congress.gov/109/crpt/srpt49/CRPT-109srpt49.pdf (accessed February 18, 2023).

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Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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