Advancing Tech Startups Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6940 To require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on tech startups, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 19, 2020 Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi- sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on tech startups, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advancing Tech 4 Startups Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. TECHNOLOGY STARTUP COMPANIES AND SMALL 6 BUSINESSES STUDY. 7 (a) IN GENERAL.— 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Jun 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6940.IH H6940 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6940 IH (1) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 2 years 1 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec- 2 retary of Commerce, in coordination with the head 3 of any other appropriate Federal agency, shall con- 4 duct a study on the impact of technology startup 5 companies and small businesses on the United 6 States economy. 7 (2) REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDY.—In con- 8 ducting the study, the Secretary shall do the fol- 9 lowing: 10 (A) Conduct a survey on technology start- 11 up companies and small businesses in the 12 United States through outreach to participating 13 entities to— 14 (i) establish a list of locations, includ- 15 ing any State, city, or geographic area, 16 dedicated to the creation, development, and 17 growth of technology startup companies 18 and small businesses; 19 (ii) provide a description of the activi- 20 ties of such locations with respect to the 21 creation, development, and growth of tech- 22 nology startup companies and small busi- 23 nesses, including any incubators, accelera- 24 tors, or other activity dedicated to such; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Jun 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6940.IH H6940 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6940 IH (iii) establish a list of public-private 1 partnerships focused on promoting the cre- 2 ation, development, and growth of tech- 3 nology startup companies and small busi- 4 nesses; and 5 (iv) provide a description of the activi- 6 ties of such public-private partnerships to 7 create, develop, and grow technology start- 8 up companies and small businesses. 9 (B) Conduct a survey of Federal activity 10 related to innovation to— 11 (i) establish a comprehensive list of 12 Federal agencies asserting jurisdiction over 13 entities and industry sectors dedicated to 14 the creation, development, and growth of 15 technology startup companies and small 16 businesses; 17 (ii) identify all interagency activities 18 related to such activities; 19 (iii) develop a brief description of the 20 jurisdiction and expertise of the Federal 21 agencies identified under clause (i); and 22 (iv) identify each Federal rule, regula- 23 tion, guideline, policy, and other Federal 24 activity implemented by each Federal agen- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Jun 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6940.IH H6940 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 6940 IH cy as it relates to any State, city, or geo- 1 graphic area dedicated to the creation, de- 2 velopment, and growth of technology start- 3 up companies and small businesses. 4 (C) Conduct an international survey of 5 other countries to establish a compendium at 6 least 10 and not more than 15 countries con- 7 sisting of each country’s approach to innovation 8 to determine where the United States ranks re- 9 garding a regulatory environment that supports 10 the creation, development, and growth of tech- 11 nology startup companies and small businesses. 12 (D) Conduct a survey of relevant market- 13 places and supply chains impacting the cre- 14 ation, growth, and development of technology 15 startup companies and small businesses in the 16 United States to— 17 (i) assess the severity of risks posed 18 to such marketplaces and supply chains; 19 (ii) review the ability of foreign gov- 20 ernments or third parties to exploit such 21 supply chains in a manner that raises risks 22 to the economic and national security of 23 the United States; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Jun 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6940.IH H6940 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 6940 IH (iii) identify emerging risks and long- 1 term trends in such marketplaces and sup- 2 ply chains. 3 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 4 months after the completion of the study required pursu- 5 ant to subsection (a), the Secretary, in coordination with 6 the head of any other appropriate Federal agency, shall 7 submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 8 House of Representatives and the Committee on Com- 9 merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 10 that contains— 11 (1) the results of the study conducted under 12 subsection (a); and 13 (2) recommendations to— 14 (A) address any duplicative Federal rule, 15 regulation, guideline, policy, and other Federal 16 activity acting as a barrier to creation, develop- 17 ment, and growth of technology startup compa- 18 nies and small businesses; 19 (B) develop and implement a comprehen- 20 sive plan to promote the creation, development, 21 and growth of technology startup companies 22 and small businesses; 23 (C) develop policies that States can adopt 24 to encourage the creation, development, and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Jun 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6940.IH H6940 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 6940 IH growth of technology startup companies and 1 small businesses in the United States; 2 (D) develop strategies to mitigate current 3 and emerging risks to relevant marketplaces 4 and supply chains impacting the creation, 5 growth, and development of technology startup 6 companies and small businesses; and 7 (E) develop legislation to accomplish such 8 recommendations. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:18 Jun 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6940.IH H6940 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS