Rep. Meuser Bill to Incentivize Investment in Rural Small Businesses Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 2066, the Investing in All of America Act, introduced by Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09), and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03). This bipartisan legislation incentivizes greater investment from Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) to small businesses located in rural or low-income areas, as well as small businesses in the manufacturing and national security technologies sector.

SBICs are among the federal government’s most effective public-private partnerships. These funds invest private capital, matched by government-backed leverage from the Small Business Administration (SBA), directly into small businesses. Importantly, the SBIC program operates without any subsidy cost to taxpayers. 

Over the last 20 years, SBIC-backed businesses have created 3 million jobs and supported another 10.5 million. In 2024 alone, SBICs invested more than $8 billion in small businesses nationwide, including $412.3 million in Pennsylvania. Yet less than 20% of these investments currently reach low- and middle-income communities.

The bill allows investments in rural and low-income areas, manufacturing, and critical technologies to be exempt from an SBIC’s existing leverage cap, unlocking additional capital for businesses in these sectors.

This legislation is in line with the Trump Administration and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler's Made in America Manufacturing Initiative which is focused on fueling small business growth and reinvigorating domestic manufacturing throughout the United States. This initiative comes as manufacturing continues to anchor America’s economy, with 99% of all manufacturers classified as small businesses. By strengthening the SBIC Program, this bill will help small manufacturers modernize, expand operations, and create high-quality jobs in communities in Pennsylvania's Ninth District and nationwide. 

Congressman Meuser said, “With decades of experience growing a small business into a larger one, I know firsthand the challenges entrepreneurs face. By expanding access to capital and reducing barriers to entry, the Investing in All America Act helps manufacturers scale and create high-quality American jobs, without subsidy cost to the taxpayer. It strengthens small businesses, fuels domestic manufacturing, and supports rural and underserved communities across Northeast Pennsylvania and the country. I’m pleased by the bipartisan support in the House and encourage my colleagues in the Senate to advance it so it can reach President Trump’s desk and be signed into law.”

The Investing in All of America Act passed the House by a unanimous vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration. Text of the bill can be found here.

Congressman Meuser’s remarks in support of the passage of H.R. 2066 can be viewed here.