S. 2832

119 S2832 IS: Native American Entrepreneurial and Opportunity Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-09-17
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
  II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 2832
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
  September 17 (legislative day,
  September 16), 2025
  Mr. Hickenlooper  (for himself,  Mr. Sullivan ,  Ms.
  Hirono , and  Mr. Mullin )
  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
  Committee on Small Business and
  Entrepreneurship
  A BILL
To establish an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business
  Administration, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Native American Entrepreneurial and Opportunity Act of 2025  .
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:
49.
Office of Native American Affairs
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Associate Administrator
The term  Associate Administrator  means the Associate 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 is 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, such as the program under section 8(a), to revitalize Native businesses and economic development in Indian country.
(2)
Connection with other programs
To the extent reasonable, the Office shall connect Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations to programs administered by other Federal agencies related to the interests described in paragraph (1).
(3)
Alternative work sites
(A)
In general
The Office may establish alternative work sites within such regional offices of the Administration as may be necessary, with initial focus on those parts of Indian Country most economically disadvantaged, to perform efficiently the functions and responsibilities of the Office.
(B)
Prohibition
The alternative work sites established under subparagraph (A) shall not be field offices of the Administration.
(c)
Associate Administrator
The Office shall be headed by an Associate 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)
carry out the program to provide assistance to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations and small business concerns owned and controlled by individuals who are members of those groups;
(4)
administer and manage Native American outreach expansion;
(5)
enhance assistance to Native Americans by formulating and promoting policies, programs, and assistance that better address their entrepreneurial, capital access, business development, and contracting needs, and collaborate with other Associate Administrators and intergovernmental leaders with similar missions across Federal agencies on the development of policies and plans to implement new programs of the Administration, while supplementing existing Federal programs to holistically serve those needs;
(6)
provide grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other financial assistance to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations, or to private nonprofit organizations governed by members of those entities, that have the experience and capability 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)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Office such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.
  .