Defending Main Street: Combating CCP Threats to America’s Small Businesses

The House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on March 26, 2026, titled "Defending Main Street: Combating CCP Threats to America’s Small Businesses." The hearing focused on the economic and national security threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to American small businesses, particularly through intellectual property theft, CCP-linked investments, and supply chain dependencies. Witnesses, including former defense officials, entrepreneurs, and policy experts, testified about the challenges small businesses face in identifying and avoiding foreign adversary investments, the need for improved due diligence, and the importance of federal support programs. Several witnesses highlighted the necessity of expanding and reauthorizing Small Business Administration (SBA) programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to provide trusted capital and technical assistance. The hearing also discussed legislative proposals to enhance transparency, counter economic espionage, and create coordinated support packages for high-tech small businesses. Members emphasized the urgency of protecting American innovation and manufacturing competitiveness against CCP strategies and called for increased federal advocacy, funding, and policy coordination to support small businesses in securing capital and supply chains.