Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 30, 1998

Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a pilot loan guarantee program under which the SBA shall guarantee loans made by eligible lenders to small businesses to address Year 2000 computer problems (Y2K problem), including the repair or acquisition of information technology systems and other automated systems. Limits: (1) the loan amount for each participating small business to $50,000; and (2) the amount which is guaranteed by the SBA to 50 percent of the total loan received from a lender. Requires the SBA to notify the small business committees at least 30 days in advance of the initiation of any pilot program under such Act or a pilot program which may affect the subsidy rate estimates for a loan program. Requires an annual report to such committees on each pilot program under which loans are guaranteed by the SBA.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO] · R–MO

Committees

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Jul 30, 1998
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business.
Jul 30, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9431-9432)
Jul 30, 1998
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Jul 30, 1998 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

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

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Objective

Analyze S.2372 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.

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Discuss S.2372, 105th Congress: Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2372

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-07-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2372/BILLS-105s2372is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2372 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2372 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.

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Discuss S.2372, 105th Congress: Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2372

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-07-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2372/BILLS-105s2372is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2372 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2372 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.

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Discuss S.2372, 105th Congress: Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2372

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-07-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2372/BILLS-105s2372is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2372 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2372 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

Discuss S.2372, 105th Congress: Small Business Year 2000 Readiness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/2372

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1998-07-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s2372/BILLS-105s2372is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2372 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.