Guam Delegate James Moylan has introduced legislation that would create a dedicated federal assistance program for small businesses owned by residents of Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
H.R. 8343, the Territorial Small Business Development Act of 2026, directs the Small Business Administration to establish a program modeled after its existing 8(a) Business Development Program, giving qualifying territorial businesses access to federal contracts, technical assistance and business development resources.
The bill removes personal net-worth eligibility restrictions found in the traditional 8(a) program, which Moylan said often prevent otherwise qualified territorial business owners from participating due to the higher cost structures and smaller market conditions unique to the Pacific.
To qualify, businesses must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by residents of Guam, American Samoa or the CNMI, maintain their principal place of business in one of those territories and demonstrate at least 10 years of regional residency prior to receiving assistance.
"Small businesses in Guam and across the Pacific territories operate at a structural disadvantage compared to their mainland counterparts," Moylan said. "This legislation creates a fair pathway for our local companies to compete for federal contracts, grow their capacity, and keep more of that investment circulating in our island economies."
The bill was introduced with original cosponsors Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds of the CNMI and Congressman Aumua Amata Radewagen of American Samoa and has been referred to the House Committee on Small Business.