[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2392-H2393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONNECTING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
GRADUATES ACT OF 2025
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1642) to amend the Small Business Act to include
requirements relating to graduates of career and technical education
programs for small business development centers and women`s business
centers, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1642
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Connecting Small Businesses
with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
(a) Definition.--Section 3 of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 632) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(gg) Career and Technical Education.--The term `career
and technical education' has the meaning given the term in
section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).''.
(b) Small Business Development Centers.--Section 21(c)(3)
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(c)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (T), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (v) of the first subparagraph (U) (relating
to succession planning), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon;
(3) in second subparagraph (U) (relating to training on
domestic and international intellectual property
protections)--
(A) in clause (ii)(II), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(B) by redesignating such subparagraph as subparagraph (V);
and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(W) providing educational information to small businesses
on--
``(i) hiring graduates from career and technical education
programs; and
``(ii) career and technical education programs relevant to
such businesses, including how to use such programs to
satisfy hiring needs of such businesses;
``(X) providing information to career and technical
education programs about how students and graduates of such
programs can access resources and services of small business
development centers to start and expand a small business
concern; and
``(Y) as appropriate, connecting small businesses with
career and technical education programs to assist students
and graduates of such programs with identifying career
opportunities.''.
(c) Women's Business Centers.--Section 29(b) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(4) providing educational information to small business
concerns owned and controlled by women on--
``(A) hiring graduates from career and technical education
programs; and
``(B) career and technical education programs relevant to
such concerns, including how to use such programs to satisfy
hiring needs of such concerns;
``(5) providing information to career and technical
education programs about how students and graduates of such
programs can access resources and services of women's
business centers to start and expand a small business
concern; and
``(6) as appropriate, connecting small business concerns
owned and controlled by women with career and technical
education programs to assist students and graduates of such
programs with identifying career opportunities.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. McGarvey)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
{time} 1515
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 1642,
the Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education
Graduates Act of 2025. Earlier this year, I introduced this bill
alongside the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski), my friend.
Across America, the skilled labor shortage, particularly in trades,
is a growing concern. Industries like construction, healthcare, and
manufacturing are struggling to find qualified workers. At the same
time, thousands of career and technical education graduates are
entering the workforce with the hands-on skills employers desperately
need.
This bipartisan legislation offers a commonsense solution. H.R. 1642
requires the Small Business Administration's resource partners to
provide small businesses with vital information on how to hire
graduates of career and technical education programs.
In addition, it ensures that students and graduates of these programs
know about the business counseling resources available through SBA
resource partners to help them start and grow their own small
businesses.
Solving the skilled workforce shortage will take an all-hands-on-deck
approach, and I am proud to lead this important step forward. I thank
Representative Olszewski for joining me in introducing this bipartisan
bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1642.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today as we consider bills that
will strengthen the SBA and work to broaden services available to small
businesses. These firms employ roughly half of the private workforce,
create two-thirds of all new jobs, and generate almost half of our
Nation's economic activity.
These aren't just statistics. They are the foundation of our local
economies, providing essential services, from plumbers and electricians
to physicians, and making towns and cities across the country
attractive places to live and work.
They don't work on just their own behalf. They create millions of
neighborhood jobs and reinvest in their local communities, from funding
Little League teams to engaging in philanthropy.
Over the past 4 years under the Biden administration, we saw a surge
in startups, as over 21 million new small businesses were created, the
vast majority of which were created by women, including women of color.
These acts of hope for the future make our economy stronger and give us
reason to celebrate.
Unfortunately, the past few months have caused extreme uncertainty in
the small business community. With so many new businesses starting,
there is much more we could do on Capitol Hill to support their growth
and flourishing.
That is why I am pleased we are here to consider seven bipartisan
bills that aim to strengthen SBA services, restore trust and
accountability, and expand resources for disabled entrepreneurs.
Turning to our first bill, while college affords opportunity for so
many of our students, it isn't the only path to success. For students
who are looking for in-demand skills that prepare them directly for the
workforce, career and technical education programs can offer viable
alternatives. These programs collaborate directly with local private-
[[Page H2393]]
sector businesses and tailor curricula to the needs of the community.
At a time when newly graduated students are seeing higher
unemployment rates than the broader labor force, small businesses that
rely on certain skills are still unable to find qualified workers. By
directing small business development centers and women's business
centers to provide educational information to small businesses about
career and technical education programs, this bill will go a long way
in meeting the labor needs of small businesses and also giving the
graduates of CTE programs the tools they need to launch and grow their
own successful startups.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Williams, Mr. Olszewski, Mr. Bresnahan,
and Mr. Tran for their work on this bipartisan bill. I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
H.R. 1642 to bring necessary solutions to all small businesses, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Tran).
Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1642, the
Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education
Graduates Act.
Small businesses can't thrive if they can't access a highly qualified
workforce. This legislation will help small business owners connect
with graduates of vocational programs and hire employees who can help
their businesses thrive.
Talented graduates come out of vocational education programs in my
district, like Coastline College in Fountain Valley, and have the
skills that small businesses in Orange County need.
This bill will help ensure graduates of career and technical
education programs find good-paying jobs that they are already trained
for. It is pro-small business, pro-students, pro-workforce, and pro-
economic growth. It is a win for everyone.
I am proud to co-lead H.R. 1642. I thank my colleagues, Chairman
Williams and Congressmen Olszewski and Bresnahan, for their leadership
in championing this important piece of legislation. I urge my
colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. McGARVEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
myself the balance of my time to close.
I thank my colleagues, Chairman Williams, Mr. Olszewski, Mr.
Bresnahan, and Mr. Tran, for their bipartisan effort to ensure small
businesses have access to the skilled workforce coming out of local
career and technical education programs.
For years, small businesses have raised concerns about their ability
to find workers with the best skills to staff their businesses. By
leveraging our small business development centers and women's business
centers, we can help connect promising graduates of CTE programs to
small businesses in need. Moreover, we can help those graduates start
and grow their own businesses.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1642, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this commonsense legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Williams) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1642.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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