Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7102) to establish an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7102
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 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 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 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 seven years after the date of the enactment of this section.''. SEC. 3. COMPLIANCE WITH CUTGO.
No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.
I rise today in support of H.R. 7102, the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, introduced by Representatives Davids of Kansas and Crane of Arizona.
This bill would codify into law the Office of Native American Affairs, which has been providing services like counseling, training, and Tribal consultations for many years.
Additionally, this bill installs specific reporting requirements from the office. If we are going to be spending taxpayer dollars providing a service, it is critical we understand how effectively the services are being performed.
This bill would not appropriate any additional funds or expand government in any way, but it would provide Congress with better oversight and performance metrics to ensure that this office is performing to its fullest extent.
Native American entrepreneurs, Tribal-owned corporations, and Native American small businesses are vital to their local economics.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Davids and Representative Crane for their work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R.
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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation brought to us by Congresswoman Davids and Congressman Crane, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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