S 2832

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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.

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 “Native American Entrepreneurial and Opportunity Act of 2025”.

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) 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.”. <all>