Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) that would direct the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate federal cybersecurity assistance to small businesses is on a fast track in Congress.
The U.S. House Small Business Committee on May 20 voted 23-0 to approve the Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Evaluation Act of 2026, H.R. 8880, which Rep. Bresnahan cosponsored on May 19 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA) to ensure small businesses are protected from cybersecurity risks. H.R. 8880 now heads to the full House for action.
“In the United States, small businesses are 210 percent more likely to experience cyber incidents compared to larger companies,” Rep. Bresnahan said. “This is a significant challenge for the businesses that make up Main Streets across the country and is something Congress can no longer afford to overlook. This legislation will help ensure that as cyber threats continue to evolve, our support systems for small businesses evolve as well.”
If enacted, H.R. 8880 would require a GAO study to analyze cyber risks, vulnerabilities, and current initiatives, while also identifying shortcomings of current preventative and mitigating measures, according to a bill summary provided by the members.
Specifically, the bill would require the report to include information on the most common cyberattacks affecting small business concerns; an identification and description of the federal cybersecurity initiatives, programs, resources, tools, and services included in the study; and recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness, awareness, and coordination of such cybersecurity initiatives, programs, resources, tools, and services, among several other provisions.