introduced by Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds to give entrepreneurs in the Marianas access to the Small Business Administration’s microloan program for the first time
Expand access to the SBA microloan program for small businesses in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Latest action: 'Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.' Bill history also shows the House passed H.R. 3496 on Jan. 20, 2026 after suspension of the rules.
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The committee report states H.R. 3496 'allows for the inclusion of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan program' and says the committee ordered the bill reported favorably by roll call vote of 27 ayes to 0 nos.
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On the House floor, Ms. King-Hinds said H.R. 3496 'would include my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, in the Small Business Administration’s microloan program' and that it would 'simply add the CNMI to be eligible for the program alongside every other territory.'
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The bill text states: 'Inclusion of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the microloan program.' It amends the Small Business Act to insert CNMI after Guam in the microloan eligibility provisions.
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The member page lists H.R. 3496 among her legislative activity and identifies her as Delegate for the Northern Mariana Islands in the 119th Congress.
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The current Congress.gov member page for Kimberlyn King-Hinds lists H.R. 3496, the Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act, with latest action: 'Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship' on 2026-01-26, and the tracker still shows the bill status as Passed House.
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Latest Action: Senate - 01/26/2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
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including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa
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H.R. 3496.-- To amend the Small Business Act for microloan eligibility for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes. Referred to Small Business May 19, 2025. Reported amended Dec. 12, 2025; Rept. 119-402. Union Calendar. Rules suspended. Passed House amended Jan. 20, 2026. Received in Senate and referred to Small Business and Entrepreneurship Jan. 26 (Legislative day of Jan. 15), 2026.
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Text contains those laws in effect on September 24, 2026
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H.R. 3496.-- To amend the Small Business Act for microloan eligibility for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes. Referred to Small Business May 19, 2025. Reported amended Dec. 12, 2025; Rept. 119-402. Union Calendar. Rules suspended. Passed House amended Jan. 20, 2026. Received in Senate and referred to Small Business and Entrepreneurship Jan. 26 (Legislative day of Jan. 15), 2026.
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Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act. H.R. 3496; Ms. King-Hinds et al.
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Received in Senate and referred to Small Business and Entrepreneurship Jan. 26 (Legislative day of Jan. 15), 2026.
Assessments
King-Hinds directly pursued the promised policy by sponsoring H.R. 3496 to add the Northern Mariana Islands to the SBA microloan program, advancing it through committee and securing House passage in the 119th Congress. But the bill had only been received in the Senate and referred to committee as of January 26, 2026, and had not become law, so the promised expansion was not actually delivered. Because she made a serious legislative effort and materially advanced the measure without completing the outcome, this is best scored as never with effort credit.
King-Hinds directly pursued the promise by sponsoring H.R. 3496, a bill specifically amending the Small Business Act to include the Northern Mariana Islands in the SBA microloan program. She advanced it through committee and won House passage, demonstrating substantial and serious effort. However, the evidence shows the bill was only received in the Senate and had not become law, so the promised expansion of access had not yet been fully delivered. Because there was meaningful legislative progress but no completed policy change, the best judgment is partial rather than delivered.