Science, Space, and Technology Committee

The CLEAR Feedback Act requires federal agencies to provide small businesses with more detailed explanations when they are denied awards under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. If a company is rejected for reasons not already covered by existing rules, it can request an enhanced debriefing within 14 business days of the denial. This process includes a review of significant proposal deficiencies, the company's overall ranking among all applicants, and a summary of why the award was denied. The small business also has the chance to ask follow-up questions, which the agency must answer within 14 business days of receiving them.

The Chip EQUIP Act restricts federal funding for semiconductor manufacturing equipment made by foreign entities designated as security concerns (or their subsidiaries). It prohibits the use of such "ineligible" equipment - defined as completed, fully assembled tools like etching, lithography, or inspection machines - in projects receiving federal financial assistance for 10 years. The bill requires federal agreements to include this ban, with limited waivers allowed only if the equipment is unavailable from U.S. or allied sources, was refurbished by a foreign entity of concern but originally made by a non-concern entity, or meets export rules and national security criteria. This directly affects companies receiving federal funds for semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

The Automotive National and Economic Security Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study on commercial partnerships between U.S. automotive manufacturers and entities controlled by foreign adversaries. The bill defines these covered activities to include ownership interests, joint ventures, technology sharing agreements, and investments involving critical hardware or software for vehicles and automated driving systems. The study must assess potential impacts on national security, economic competitiveness, and intellectual property protection, including any involvement of state-directed investment vehicles from adversary nations. Within two years of enactment, the Secretary is required to submit a report to Congress and publish an unclassified summary online while protecting confidential business information and trade secrets.

The Self-Improving AI Monitoring Act amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to require NIST to assess trends in AI capabilities, specifically focusing on systems that can autonomously conduct research or develop other AI. The bill mandates that before entering into pre-deployment evaluation agreements with developers of frontier AI systems, NIST must ensure these agreements include specific disclosure requirements. Developers would be required to provide information on the extent to which AI was used to build the new system, including metrics and estimates of how much development occurred without human review. Additionally, any such evaluations must explicitly test the system's ability to autonomously facilitate or conduct AI research and development.

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.