PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.3738 / 111th Congress

Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act of 2009

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Official summary

Version 36 · Passed House amended · Nov 18, 2009

Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish and carry out a program to provide equity investment financing to support early-stage small businesses in the following targeted industries: (1) agricultural technology; (2) energy technology; (3) environmental technology; (4) life science; (5) information technology; (6) digital media; (7) clean technology; (8) defense technology; and (9) photonics technology. Directs the Administrator to make grants to participating investment companies under the program and limits to $100 million the aggregate amount of all grants made to a participating investment company under the program. Requires, as a condition of receiving a grant under the program, all of the investments of participating investment companies to be in small businesses, and at least 50% to be in early-stage small businesses in the targeted industries. Directs the Administrator to monitory participant compliance with such requirements. Establishes a separate Treasury fund for such grants.

Authorizes appropriations.

Prohibits funds appropriated for such purpose from being used for a congressional earmark.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Nye, Glenn C. [D-VA-2] · D–VA

Committees

  • Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
  • Small Business Committee
0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

    Actions

    A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

    1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

    2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    3. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H13081-13082)

    4. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H13081-13082)

    5. DEBATE - The House resumed debate on H.R. 3738.

    6. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3738.

    7. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H13081-13084)

    8. Ms. Velazquez moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    9. Provisions of Measure Incorporated into H.R. 3854.

    10. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

    11. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    12. Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Tax.

    13. Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

    14. Introduced in House

    15. Introduced in House

    Bill text & related measures

    Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

    Related bills identified by Congress.gov

    Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

    Explore the bill from different angles

    Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

    Neutral evidence review

    Objective

    Analyze H.R.3738 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

    View full prompt & sources
    Fairness and public impact

    Progressive lens

    Examine H.R.3738 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

    View full prompt & sources
    Institutions and government scope

    Conservative lens

    Examine H.R.3738 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

    View full prompt & sources
    Individual rights and government power

    Liberty lens

    Examine H.R.3738 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

    View full prompt & sources