Our Main Street BRIDGE Act would strengthen coordination between agencies so local businesses can more easily connect with the tools, guidance, and support they need to succeed.
I will strengthen federal collaboration to help disadvantaged small businesses access technical assistance and other growth resources.
Occurrences
The Roadway Resiliency Act , which would establish an interagency working group to improve roadway management during severe weather events.
The legislation would direct the SBA to implement its recent findings on how to best improve its AI uses for contracting and research programs.
supporting our small business community
Evidence
Sponsor: Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3] (Introduced 10/17/2025). Actions Overview shows the bill was reported by the House Small Business Committee on 12/12/2025, passed/agreed to in the House on 01/20/2026, and was received in the Senate on 01/26/2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
The bill text states it would amend the Small Business Act so that the SBA Administrator shall establish and maintain educational resources and modules for small business concerns with information on artificial intelligence tools.
Scholten said small businesses need "quality education and support" and that the legislation would "make sure small businesses aren’t being left behind as AI reshapes our economy." The release says the bill would require SBA to develop AI-literacy resources on its existing e-learning platform.
The SBA says Empower to Grow, formerly the 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program, provides eligible U.S. small businesses with free business courses, tailored training, and one-on-one consulting to support growth, operations, hiring, regulatory compliance, and government contracting competitiveness; it specifically says it offers individualized coaching and training to help disadvantaged small businesses and others grow with government contracts.
SBA announced improvements to the 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program, renamed Empower to Grow, to enhance small disadvantaged business contract readiness and deliver on the agency’s commitment to advance equity in federal procurement.
SBA says its Office of Entrepreneurial Development is the agency's technical assistance arm and that its mission is to help small businesses start, grow, and compete by providing training, counseling, and access to resources; the page also describes SBDCs as delivering individualized advising and technical assistance.
SBA states that the 8(a) Business Development program helps socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses grow by limiting competition for certain contracts and providing management and technical assistance, including business training, counseling, marketing assistance, and executive development.
SBA says the 8(a) program is a federal contracting and training program for experienced small business owners who are socially and economically disadvantaged, and that participants receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively.
Assessments
Scholten made a serious same-term legislative effort by sponsoring H.R. 5784, the AI-WISE Act, which would require SBA educational resources for small businesses and advanced through committee and passed the House. However, the evidence does not show enactment or implemented strengthening of federal collaboration attributable to her, and the existing SBA disadvantaged-business assistance programs appear to be baseline or agency actions not caused by Scholten. Because the promised outcome was not delivered despite meaningful effort, this is best scored as never with an effort badge.
The evidence shows Rep. Scholten materially pursued this promise by sponsoring the AI-WISE Act, which would require SBA to create and maintain educational resources for small businesses and advanced through committee and passed the House in her current term. That is a concrete attempt to expand federal technical-assistance resources for small businesses, aligning with the pledge to strengthen collaboration and access to growth support. However, the record provided does not show that her legislation became law or that she directly caused the broader SBA programs for disadvantaged businesses that already exist or were improved by the agency. Because there was meaningful action but no clear completed Scholten-attributable delivery of the promised outcome, partial credit is most appropriate.