House Appropriations Legislation Offers Strong Investment in Small Businesses

“It is very promising to see that appropriators in the U.S. House of Representatives are seeking more than $1.3 billion in total funding for direct small business support programs. At a time when small businesses are struggling with tariffs, inflation, the growing cost of healthcare and broad economic uncertainty, targeted small business resources are a lifeline that cannot realistically be replaced with investment from the private sector. Among the critical programs the House is looking to fund in FY26 include:

• $324 million for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which caters specifically to under-resourced entrepreneurs and low-income communities;

• $50 million for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bipartisan proposal that sets aside the administration’s call to eliminate the agency while ensuring that MBDA can continue to carry out its mission of supporting minority entrepreneurs; and

• $1 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA). This money would be used to fund:

  • Entrepreneurial Development Programs ($330 million, which would be $13 million above FY25) 

  • Small Business Development Centers ($150 million, which would be $10 million above FY25)

  • Microloan Technical Assistance ($41 million, the same as in FY25) 

  • Women’s Business Development Centers ($27 million, the same as in FY25)

  • Veterans Outreach ($21.4 million, which would be $2.9 million above FY25)

  • SCORE ($17 million, the same as FY25) 

It’s particularly encouraging that lawmakers are seeking to fund some of these small business programs at levels above previous budgetary requests from the White House, while keeping level funding for critical programs that faced substantial cuts. Small Business Majority’s research has found that small business owners overwhelmingly oppose cuts to these programs, and that’s no surprise because many of America’s small businesses would not exist without government resources including those at the SBA, Treasury and MBDA. As a result, we urge Congress to follow through on these proposals to ensure continued funding of vital small business support services and programs.”