# 119-hr-7968: Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act

119-hr-7968, Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-02).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7968
- As of: 2026-07-02
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-7968
- Congress: 119
- Title: Small AI Innovators Empowerment Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-17
- Sponsor: Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: Commerce
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-02

## Summary

**Studies barriers facing United States small artificial intelligence businesses.** This bill would direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the National Institute of Standards and Technology and in consultation with the Small Business Administration, to seek an agreement with an appropriate expert entity, which may include a federally funded research and development center, to analyze funding sources and timelines, use of research and development tax credits, incubators and accelerators, technology stacks including computing and data access, effects of regulatory uncertainty and partnerships on exits and growth, talent recruitment and retention, any other challenges the Secretary finds relevant, and to propose recommendations for addressing those challenges. The study would be subject to the availability of appropriations.

## Cosponsors (7)

- Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA), 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large] (R-ND), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large] (D-PR), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2026-04-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2026-06-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Study for small U.S. AI businesses: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Commerce Secretary, through NIST and with SBA consultation, to seek an agreement with an expert to study challenges facing small U.S. AI businesses. The study would be done only if Congress provides money. It would examine funding sources (including early and…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-1993: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-7968 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7968)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-1993: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1993)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7968 (as of 2026-07-02).