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H.R. 2794House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019

Sponsored by Xochitl Torres SmallRep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM)
Introduced May 16, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:18 AM UTC

The Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019 reauthorizes the Department of Defense’s Mentor‑Protege Program and adds new oversight measures. It makes the program permanent, removes references to it being a pilot, and requires the DoD’s Office of Small Business Programs to set performance goals, conduct regular reviews, and obtain an independent evaluation of the program’s effectiveness.

Key Provisions

  • Eliminates the temporary “pilot” status of the Mentor‑Protege Program, making it a permanent part of the National Defense Authorization Act.
  • Adds a new requirement for the Office of Small Business Programs to establish performance goals and conduct periodic reviews of mentor‑protege agreements.
  • Redesignates existing subsections for clearer organization and removes all remaining “pilot” language from the statute.
  • Mandates that, by March 31 2022, an independent third party selected by the Office of Small Business Programs submit a report to congressional defense committees evaluating the program’s effectiveness and recommending improvements.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 16, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 16, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

May 16, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 16, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2794

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 16, 2019

Ms. Torres Small of New Mexico (for herself, Mr. Smucker, Mr. Cárdenas, and Mr. Waltz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To reauthorize and improve the Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Defense Small Business Advancement Act of 2019.

2.

Reauthorization and improvement of Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program

(a)

Permanent authorization

Section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended by striking subsection (j).

(b)

Office of Small Business Programs oversight

Section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection:

(n)

Establishment of performance goals and periodic reviews

The Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of Defense shall establish performance goals and conduct periodic reviews of approved agreements between mentors and protégés.

.

(c)

Removal of pilot program references

Section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended—

(1)

in the subsection heading for subsection (a), by striking pilot; and

(2)

by striking pilot each place it appears.

(d)

Independent report on program effectiveness

(1)

In general

Not later than March 31, 2022, an independent third party selected by the Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report evaluating the effectiveness of the Mentor-Protégé Program established under section 831 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note), including recommendations for improving the program in terms of performance metrics, forms of assistance, and overall program effectiveness.

(2)

Congressional defense committees defined

In this subsection, the term congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.