{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-gallego-introduce-halos-act-to-strengthen-startups/", "Ricketts, Gallego\u00a0Introduce\u00a0HALOS Act\u00a0to Strengthen Startups", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. The HALOS Act will make it easier for entrepreneurs to connect with investors and grow their businesses. These events encourage innovation. By supporting these events, investors will be better equipped to discover promising startups and entrepreneurs will be able to connect with a broader ecosystem.\n\n\u201cStartups drive American innovation,\u201d said Ricketts. \u201cEntrepreneurs in the Silicon Prairie and across the country shouldn\u2019t be stifled by red tape when trying to share their ideas with investors. The HALOS Act cuts through unnecessary bureaucracy so that promising companies can attract the capital they need to grow, create good paying jobs, and help maintain America\u2019s technological edge.\u201d\n\n\u201cEntrepreneurs often attend demo days to share their ideas and attract investors, but confusing and outdated rules make it hard to do that without worrying about violating securities laws,\u201d said Gallego. \u201cBy cutting unnecessary red tape and clarifying the rules around demo days, we can make it easier for Arizona entrepreneurs grow their businesses, create jobs, and build a more diverse mix of small businesses and founders across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cNVCA strongly supports the bipartisan HALOS Act, which removes unnecessary regulatory barriers that can complicate participation in Demo Days and hinder early engagement between entrepreneurs and investors,\u201d said Bobby Franklin, National Venture Capital Association President & CEO. \u201cBy clarifying that startups can discuss their products and business plans at these important events without triggering general solicitation concerns, the HALOS Act will help expedite capital access opportunities and strengthen the broader startup ecosystem in every corner of our country. We urge lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance this measure that will help promote American innovation.\u201d\n\nThe HALOS Act would:\n\nClarify SEC rules to ensure that showcasing of products and ideas at \u201cdemo days,\u201d pitch competitions, and community economic development events are not treated as \u201cgeneral solicitation\u201d under federal securities law so long as:\n\nThe startup does not advertise investment terms;\n\nThe event sponsor does not offer investment advice, negotiate terms, or receive compensation for connecting issuers and investors.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-gallego-introduce-halos-act-to-strengthen-startups/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4341920614242554, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}