H.R. 5178: Puerto Rico Small Business Contracting Assistance Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2018-03-06 · Commerce · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 481.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-03-06 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 481. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Puerto Rico Small Business Contracting Assistance Act of 2018

Plain summary

Puerto Rico Small Business Contracting Assistance Act of 2018 This bill amends the Small Business Act to double for four years after its enactment the value of a prime contract awarded by a federal agency to a small business with its principle office in Puerto Rico in order to comply with the Act's governmentwide goal for small businesses' participation to be at least 23% of the total value of all prime contract awards for each fiscal year during such period. Beginning on enactment of this bill and until the termination of the Financial Oversight and Management Board, the Small Business Administration (SBA): may transfer technology or surplus property to a Puerto Rico business if it meets SBA requirements for such transfer, without regard to whether the business is a small business and capital ownership development program participant; and shall identify potential incentives to a covered mentor that awards a subcontract to its covered protege (i.e., positive consideration in any past performance evaluation of such mentor, the application of costs incurred for providing training to the protege to the mentor's subcontracting plan, and such other SBA incentives). The bill requires the SBA to allow up to two additional mentor-protege relationships for protege firms that are Puerto Rico businesses. (Currently, the limit on SBA mentor-protege relationships is three.)

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Puerto Rico Small Business Contracting Assistance Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5178, Puerto Rico Small Business Contracting Assistance Act of 2018 (2018-06-26)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] reported raising $180,257 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr5178.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr5178 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115