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Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, members such as Roger Williams.
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June 23, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. 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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
have access to SBA's full range of business development tools regardless of the administration.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
generating $86 billion in sales, shipments, and revenues every year, and employing nearly 364,000 people in their communities.
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.