[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4138-H4140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY ACT
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7396) to establish an Office of Native American
Affairs within the Small Business Administration, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7396
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H4139]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Native American
Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act''.
SEC. 2. OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 49 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) as
section 50; and
(2) by inserting after section 48 (15 U.S.C. 657u) the
following:
``SEC. 49. OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Assistant administrator.--The term `Assistant
Administrator' means the Assistant Administrator for Native
American Affairs appointed under subsection (c).
``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 8(a)(13).
``(3) Native hawaiian organization.--The term `Native
Hawaiian Organization' has the meaning given the term in
section 8(a)(15).
``(4) Office.--The term `Office' means the Office of Native
American Affairs described in this section.
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--There may be established within the
Administration the Office of Native American Affairs, which
shall be responsible for establishing a working relationship
with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations by
targeting programs of the Administration relating to
entrepreneurial development, contracting, and capital access
to--
``(A) establish or expand small business concerns owned and
controlled by individuals who are members of Indian Tribes or
Native Hawaiian Organizations; and
``(B) promote economic development in Indian country (as
defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code).
``(2) Connection with other programs.--To the extent
reasonable, the Office shall educate Indian Tribes and Native
Hawaiian Organizations about programs administered by other
Federal agencies related to the interests described in
paragraph (1).
``(c) Assistant Administrator.--The Office shall be headed
by an Assistant Administrator for Native American Affairs,
who shall--
``(1) be appointed by and report to the Administrator;
``(2) have knowledge of Native American cultures and
experience providing culturally tailored small business
development assistance to Native Americans;
``(3) provide assistance to Indian Tribes and Native
Hawaiian Organizations and small business concerns owned and
controlled by individuals who are members of Indian Tribes or
Native Hawaiian Organizations;
``(4) formulate policies, and promote policies and existing
programs, to better address the entrepreneurial, capital
access, business development, and contracting needs of
persons described in paragraph (3);
``(5) collaborate with Associate Administrators within the
Administration and officials of other Federal agencies to
develop policies and plans to implement programs of the
Administration to holistically address the needs described in
paragraph (4);
``(6) provide assistance, including grants, contracts,
cooperative agreements, or other financial assistance, to
Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations, or to
private nonprofit organizations governed by members of Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian Organizations that have the
experience and capability to use the assistance to--
``(A) deploy training, counseling, workshops, educational
outreach, and supplier events; and
``(B) access the entrepreneurial, capital, and contracting
programs of the Administration;
``(7) assist the Administrator in conducting, or conduct,
Tribal consultation to solicit input and facilitate
discussion of potential modifications to programs and
procedures of the Administration; and
``(8) recommend annual budgets for the Office.
``(d) Report to Congress.--On an annual basis until the
termination date, the Assistant Administrator shall submit to
Congress a report on the effectiveness of the Office of
Native American Affairs that includes the number of clients
served in Tribal communities, the number of consultations
conducted, and the number of trainings held in Tribal
country.
``(e) Termination.--The authority under this section shall
terminate 7 years after the date of the enactment of this
section.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Williams) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Olszewski)
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.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7396, the Native
American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, introduced by Representative
Davids from the great State of Kansas, Representative Ellzey from the
great State of Texas, Representative Morrison from the great State of
Minnesota, and Representative Crane from the great State of Arizona.
The bill codifies the Office of Native American Affairs within the
Small Business Administration.
The SBA's entrepreneurial development programs help small businesses
start, grow, and compete by providing training, counseling, and access
to critical resources. For years, the Office of Native American Affairs
has played an important role in delivering these services to Native
American entrepreneurs and conducting consultations with Tribal
communities.
Despite its longstanding work, the office has never been formally
authorized by Congress.
In addition to codifying the office, this legislation strengthens
oversight by requiring an annual report to Congress. The report will
detail the office's activities, including the number of clients served,
consultations conducted, and training provided.
The reporting requirement will improve congressional oversight and
help ensure resources are being effectively deployed.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 7396, the Native American
Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, as amended, which would allow SBA to
codify the Office of Native American Affairs.
I commend Ms. Davids, Mr. Ellzey, Ms. Morrison, and Mr. Crane for
working on this bipartisan legislation.
We know that small businesses on Tribal reservations face a mix of
challenges, ranging from lack of access to capital to inadequate
business training. SBA's office has proven to be a valuable resource to
Native American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians,
supporting approximately 2,000 small businesses every year.
Codifying the office will help make sure that small Tribal businesses
have access to SBA's full range of business development tools
regardless of the administration.
Moreover, the Assistant Administrator will report directly to the
Administrator, making sure that the voices of Tribal communities will
be heard throughout the SBA.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this bipartisan bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we must pass H.R. 7396 to ensure
consistent, long-term support and access to resources for Native
American entrepreneurs and Tribal businesses, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids), the sponsor of this bill.
{time} 1450
Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Maryland for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, starting a small business is never easy. Whether it is a
family opening a restaurant, a contractor trying to grow their company,
or an entrepreneur launching a new product, success takes hard work,
access to capital, and the right support.
For many Native entrepreneurs, the barriers can be even higher. A
good idea shouldn't have a smaller chance of succeeding simply because
it is in Indian Country.
Too often, Native businessowners face challenges that make it harder
to get their businesses off the ground--from limited access to
financing and investment, to unreliable broadband service, to the long
distances many businesses must travel to reach customers, suppliers,
and markets.
That means great business ideas that could create jobs and strengthen
a community might be less likely to get the support and access to those
necessary needs to succeed.
It is not just a loss for Tribal communities. This can be a loss for
our entire economy. Native-owned businesses
[[Page H4140]]
employ more than 300,000 people across the entire country. They create
jobs. They drive economic growth, and they help build stronger
communities. They deserve the same opportunities to succeed as other
small business owners in America.
That is why I introduced the Native American Entrepreneurial
Opportunity Act. This bipartisan bill strengthens the U.S. Small
Business Administration's Office of Native American Affairs by
establishing it in law and ensuring that Native entrepreneurs have a
permanent advocate within the SBA, no matter who controls the White
House.
The bill creates an assistant administrator to lead the office, to
coordinate resources, and to help make sure that Tribal entrepreneurs
can access the lending programs, the business counseling, and the
contracting opportunities that already exist within the SBA.
Just as importantly, it creates accountability by requiring regular
reports to Congress about how these efforts are working in Indian
Country. This is a practical and bipartisan step that is going to help
entrepreneurs start businesses, create jobs, and contribute to their
local economies.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Jake Ellzey, Kelly Morrison, and
Eli Crane for partnering with me on this legislation. I urge my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill and to
support the entrepreneurs, workers, and communities that it is going to
benefit.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSZEWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
In closing, Native American-owned businesses are economic engines,
generating $86 billion in sales, shipments, and revenues every year,
and employing nearly 364,000 people in their communities.
The ONAA serves an important role in aiding Native American
communities that lack access to Federal programs. By helping American
Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians launch, grow, and expand
their small businesses, the office strengthens local economies and
promotes economic development. This bill will go a long way in
empowering Native entrepreneurs and supporting long-term economic
growth.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7936, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 7396 to
strengthen economic opportunity in Native American communities and
provide certainty that this important SBA office will continue its
work.
Mr. Speaker, 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. 7396, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________