House · HR 788 · 119th Congress
DOE and SBA Research Act
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Summary
This bill requires the Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration to form a joint research agreement. The two agencies must work together on shared research goals and include small businesses where possible. They must report back to Congress within two years on their progress.
In Favor
Small businesses rarely get access to DOE national labs, advanced equipment, or energy experts on their own. This bill requires DOE and the SBA to form a formal agreement that opens that technical infrastructure to small firms. That direct access lets small energy companies develop and test ideas they could not afford to pursue alone.
Against
This bill creates no new funding, so agencies must absorb any costs from existing budgets. That could pull resources away from work each agency already has planned. The agreement also has broad and flexible terms, which may produce little real action beyond paperwork.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
The bill requires the Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration to form a formal agreement and work together on shared research and development goals, targeting gaps in cooperation between the two agencies.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The provisions stay on topic, focusing on the joint research agreement, small business inclusion, reporting to Congress, and research security rules.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Small businesses may gain access to joint research activities run by the two agencies. The Department of Energy and the Small Business Administration take on new duties to coordinate, report, and follow research security rules.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill states that no additional federal funds are authorized to carry out its requirements. The two agencies must absorb the costs of coordination, agreement writing, and reporting within their existing budgets.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires two agencies with different missions to agree on shared priorities, which depends on both sides reaching a workable deal. The two-year reporting deadline also requires active tracking of activities that have not yet begun.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 6/5/2026