Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025
Floor Speech
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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.''.
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.
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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.
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Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation, 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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