S. 2190Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 7:13 AM UTC

The Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Act amends the federal Small Business Act to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) among the territories that can receive Small Business Administration (SBA) programs and assistance. By adding the CNMI to eligibility language, the bill allows small businesses located there to apply for SBA loans, contracts, and other support that were previously limited to the 50 states, D.C., and certain territories. The changes affect SBA administrators and small‑business owners in the CNMI.

Key Provisions

Adds the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the list of territories eligible for SBA programs in section 7(m)(7)(B) of the Small Business Act.
Updates a reference date in clause (i)(I)(bb) from "1/55" to "1/56" (technical amendment).
Inserts a new sentence stating that a particular SBA requirement does not apply to applicants whose principal office is in the CNMI, creating an exemption for those businesses.
Amends sections 21(a) and 34(a)(9) to include the CNMI alongside American Samoa in eligibility language for various SBA programs.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

July 18, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 18, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

July 18, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 18, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2190

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 18, 2019

Ms. Hirono introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

A BILL

To amend the Small Business Act to ensure that the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is eligible for certain Small Business Administration programs, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Act.

Eligibility of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for certain Small Business Administration programs

The Small Business Act is amended—

(1)

in section 7(m)(7)(B) (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(7)(B))—

(A)

by striking and American Samoa each place such term appears and inserting American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and

(B)

in clause (i)(I)(bb), by striking 1/55 and inserting 1/56;

(2)

in section 21(a) (15 U.S.C. 648(a))—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by inserting before The Administration shall require the following new sentence: The previous sentence shall not apply to an applicant that has its principal office located in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.; and

(B)

in paragraph (4)(C)(ix), by striking and American Samoa and inserting American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and

(3)

in section 34(a)(9) (15 U.S.C. 657d(a)(9)), by striking and American Samoa and inserting American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.