H.R. 6450House117th Congress (2021-2023)Passed House

SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:58 AM UTC

The SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022 amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize and modernize the SCORE program. It defines a SCORE Association and Foundation, sets up a cooperative agreement with the SBA, and expands online counseling. The bill also authorizes funding and adds new reporting and oversight requirements, affecting small‑business owners, volunteers, and the SBA.

Key Provisions

Defines the “SCORE Association” (or successor) and “SCORE Foundation” and clarifies the SCORE program’s meaning.
Requires the SBA Administrator to enter a cooperative agreement with the SCORE Association, conduct a financial exam every two years, approve large contracts, and reconcile quarterly performance reports.
Mandates the SCORE Association to manage nationwide chapters, provide annual staff training, keep program and donation funds separate, and enforce volunteer counseling and workshop duties, including expanded online services.
Establishes joint duties for the Administrator and Association to develop plans for serving rural, disadvantaged, and underserved communities and to recruit diverse volunteers.
Sets accounting rules, a centralized compliance officer, salary caps tied to senior executive rates, and limits performance awards to 5% of total salaries.
Adds whistleblower protection updates, annual training, and privacy safeguards for client information, with limited disclosures for audits or court orders.
Authorizes up to $13.5 million in SBA appropriations for the SCORE program in fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Requires annual performance reports to Congress, a strategic study and plan for the next five years, and separate reports on leased space costs and online counseling effectiveness.
Updates numerous references to the SCORE program across existing statutes to reflect the new definitions and structure.

Legislative Activity

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12 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

April 27, 2022

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 20, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

Small Business Committee

January 20, 2022

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Small Business Committee

February 3, 2022

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Small Business Committee

February 3, 2022

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Small Business. H. Rept. 117-257.

Small Business Committee

March 7, 2022

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 187.

March 7, 2022

HouseFloor

Ms. Velazquez moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

April 26, 2022 • 2:40 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4470-4473)

April 26, 2022 • 2:40 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6450.

April 26, 2022 • 2:40 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

April 26, 2022 • 2:50 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4470-4472)

April 26, 2022 • 2:50 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

April 26, 2022 • 2:50 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

April 27, 2022

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about H.R. 6450 on the floor

2 Republicans2 Democrats

Rep. Nydia M. VelázquezD-NY-7 · Apr 26, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6450) to amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program, and for other purposes. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6450) to amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program, and for other purposes.

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 measure under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6450, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022.

America's nearly 30 million small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all businesses. Since its inception, the SBA has undertaken efforts to connect new entrepreneurs and small business owners with more experienced businessmen and -women.

SCORE, one component of SBA's resource partner ecosystem, is uniquely situated to make these connections. SCORE'S expansive network consists of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and executives who volunteer as mentors to small businesses and entrepreneurs, both in person and online.

SCORE volunteers provide personalized advice and pull from their personal business experience to help the next generation of business leaders. Providing consultation on topics such as business plan development, strategic marketing, and financing ideas, SCORE ensures their clients receive comprehensive counseling and training while meeting their individualized needs.

In 2020, through SCORE'S network of over 250 chapters and 10,000 volunteers, the program helped create over 45,000 new businesses and over 74,000 new jobs. In addition, SCORE had a return on Federal investment of over $67 for every $1 of Federal appropriations.

Increasing funding for SCORE is important to its continued success, and I am pleased that H.R. 6450 increases its authorization to $13.5 million for 2 fiscal years.

H.R. 6450 not only reauthorizes this essential program but also takes necessary steps to restore integrity, accounting, and performance to the program.

The measures in the bill to expand and promote client and volunteer diversity will ensure SCORE can reach all of America's small business owners and entrepreneurs, no matter their background or location.

I commend Representatives Young Kim and Angie Craig for working together to make sure that the SCORE program is strengthened while maintaining efficient and effective operations.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the SCORE program has made good progress improving the transparency, accountability, and efficacy of their organization. Today's legislation builds upon that progress so that a critical program can succeed well into the future.

SCORE is unique among SBA's resource partners in that they connect clients directly with successful business mentors who have firsthand experience and knowledge to help them with their unique situations.

H.R. 6450 will expand SCORE's ability to reach more small business owners and entrepreneurs, particularly those in underserved and rural communities while maintaining the program improvements SCORE has worked hard to develop.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support of the SCORE program. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'', and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18 · Apr 27, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6450 the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022 which would: reauthorize $13.5 million for the program for two years; ensure the SBA prevents abuse and misuse of…

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6450 the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022 which would:

reauthorize $13.5 million for the program for two years;

ensure the SBA prevents abuse and misuse of funds; and

expand counseling and training programs to provide online webinars, electronic mentoring platforms and online toolkits to better serve small businesses.

The SCORE program provides vital mentoring and education programs for business owners and entrepreneurs.

SCORE is dedicated to helping small business owners plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses. The programs volunteers also give continuous advice and support to the firms.

Almost 97 percent of businesses in the greater Houston area have fewer than 500

employees--the standard to be considered a small business--and these collectively employ 44 percent of the region's workforce, about 1.2 million people.

Houston adds more than 9,200 new startups annually. In 2021 startups attracted a record $753 million in venture capital funding, up from $702 million in 2019.

The creation of small businesses in Houston is likely to keep growing. Last year, real estate investment group Roofstock released a report ranking Houston among the Nation's top 10 metros for startup formation.

Houston also ranks number 5 among the nation's largest metro areas when it comes to the percentage of minority-owned startups.

Nearly 5,600 startups in the Houston area are minority-owned or about 30 percent of all companies less than two years old.

Together, these minority businesses employ more than 22,700 workers in the region.

But in a region where minorities make up 64 percent of the population, clear inequities in entrepreneurship remain in Houston that mirror the rest of the Nation.

There are currently close to 170,000 minority-owned startups in the U.S. employing more than 700,000 workers and generating close to $100 billion in annual revenue.

Nationally, Hispanics represent about 18 percent of the population but just 7 percent of startup owners. For Black Americans, those figures diminish to just 12 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Non-Hispanic Whites make up 60 percent of the U.S. population but own nearly 80 percent of the nation's startups.

Mr. Speaker, the reauthorization of the SCORE program funding is essential to the thousands of minorities and women entrepreneurs in this country.

People who have been historically disadvantaged are the people who benefit most from programs like SCORE and we must ensure that they continue to receive assistance.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 6450 the SCORE for Small Business Act.

Rep. Blaine LuetkemeyerR-MO-3 · Apr 26, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support today of H.R. 6450, the SCORE for Small Business Act. SCORE is the largest network of free private-sector volunteer mentors.…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support today of H.R. 6450, the SCORE for Small Business Act.

SCORE is the largest network of free private-sector volunteer mentors. They provide entrepreneurs with trainings on starting a business; succession planning; and management, finance, and marketing tools.

SCORE mentors have helped small businesses pivot their business model during the pandemic. They have shared marketing and data analytics expertise to help entrepreneurs grow their customer base and counseled numerous startups on the first steps to begin a business.

In addition to reauthorizing the program, H.R. 6450 takes important strides to add new program safeguards, data standards, and reporting requirements.

I am confident the provisions of this bill will support small business, improve SBA's and Congress' oversight of the SCORE program, and ensure that the integrity of the SCORE Association is restored and maintained.

Congresswoman Kim is a great advocate for small businesses and their resource partners, and I appreciate her work on this legislation. I also thank Ms. Craig and the chair for advancing this legislation.

H.R. 6450 was favorably reported out of the Committee on Small Business unanimously and passed the House last Congress in a similar form. I urge my colleagues to similarly pass the bill today on the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the ranking member on the Small Business Subcommittee of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development; a small business owner herself; and a great advocate for small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses consistently highlight the importance of resources to grow their business and serve their communities.

The private sector driven SCORE mentorship program is an important tool for small businesses seeking assistance and guidance during these challenging economic times.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 6450, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Young KimR-CA-39 · Apr 26, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Luetkemeyer and Chairwoman Velazquez for their leadership on the Small Business Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 6450, the SCORE for…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued April 27, 2022

IIB

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6450

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 27, 2022

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

AN ACT

To amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022.

SCORE Program provisions and requirements

Section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)(1)(B)—

(A)

by striking a Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting the SCORE program described in subsection (c); and

(B)

by striking SCORE may and inserting the SCORE Association (as defined in subsection (c)) may; and

(2)

by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

(c)

SCORE program

(1)

Definitions

In this subsection:

(A)

SCORE Association

The term SCORE Association means the Service Corps of Retired Executives Association or any successor or other organization that enters into a cooperative agreement (as described under paragraph (2)) with the Administrator to operate the SCORE program.

(B)

SCORE Foundation

The term SCORE Foundation means an organization with a mission to support the SCORE Association and volunteers of the SCORE program.

(C)

SCORE program

The term SCORE program means the SCORE program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B).

(2)

Cooperative agreement

The Administrator shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the SCORE Association to carry out the SCORE program, which shall include the following requirements:

(A)

Administrator duties

The Administrator shall—

(i)

every 2 years, conduct a financial examination of the SCORE Association to ensure that any costs paid for with Federal funds are allowable, allocable, and reasonable;

(ii)

review and approve contracts entered into by the SCORE Association to provide goods or services for the SCORE program of a value greater than an amount determined by the Administrator;

(iii)

maintain a system through which the SCORE Association provides documentation relating to such contracts; and

(iv)

within 30 days of the receipt of a quarterly report on the achievements of the SCORE program submitted by the SCORE Association, reconcile differences between such report and the performance results of the SCORE program reported in a management information system of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development.

(B)

SCORE Association duties

The SCORE Association shall—

(i)

manage nationwide chapters of the SCORE program;

(ii)

provide annual training to employees of the SCORE Association on generating and using program income from the SCORE program;

(iii)

submit documentation to the Administrator verifying such annual training is completed;

(iv)

separate funds donated to the SCORE Association from program income and funds received pursuant to a cooperative agreement; and

(v)

maintain and enforce requirements for volunteers participating in the SCORE program, including requirements that each such volunteer shall—

(I)

based on the business experience and knowledge of the volunteer—

(aa)

provide personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching on the process of starting, expanding, managing, buying, and selling a business at no cost to individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns; and

(bb)

facilitate free or low-cost education workshops for individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business concerns; and

(II)

as appropriate, use tools, resources, and expertise of other organizations to carry out the SCORE program.

(C)

Joint duties

The Administrator, in consultation with the SCORE Association, shall ensure that the SCORE program and each chapter of the SCORE program—

(i)

develop and implement plans and goals to effectively and efficiently provide services to individuals in rural areas, economically disadvantaged communities, or other traditionally underserved communities, including plans for virtual, remote, and web-based initiatives, chapter expansion, partnerships, and the development of new skills by volunteers participating in the SCORE program; and

(ii)

reinforce an inclusive culture by recruiting diverse volunteers for the chapters of the SCORE program.

(3)

Online component

In addition to providing in-person services, the SCORE Association shall maintain and expand online counseling services including webinars, electronic mentoring platforms, and online toolkits to further support entrepreneurs.

(4)

Accounting

The SCORE Association shall—

(A)

maintain a centralized accounting and financing system for each chapter of the SCORE program;

(B)

maintain a uniform policy and procedures to manage Federal funds received pursuant to a cooperative agreement described in paragraph (2); and

(C)

maintain an employee of the SCORE Association to serve as a compliance officer to ensure expenditures of the SCORE program are fully compliant with any law, regulation, or cooperative agreement relating to the SCORE program.

(5)

Compensation

(A)

Salaries

The salary of an employee of the SCORE Association may not exceed the equivalent of the maximum rate of pay allowable for an individual in the career Senior Executive Service employed at the Administration.

(B)

Performance awards

The SCORE Association may spend up to 5 percent of the aggregate salaries of employees of the SCORE Association on individual performance awards to employees of the SCORE Association, to be disbursed before the last day of the fiscal year, if not later than 60 days before such disbursement the SCORE Association submits to the Administrator a report on the number and amount of such awards to be disbursed.

(C)

SCORE Foundation

A member of the Board of Directors of the SCORE Association or an employee of the SCORE Association may not simultaneously serve on the Board of Directors of, or receive compensation from, the SCORE Foundation without written approval from the Administrator.

(6)

Whistleblower protection requirements

The SCORE Association shall—

(A)

annually update all manuals or other documents applicable to employees and volunteers of the SCORE Association or the SCORE program to include requirements relating to reporting procedures and protectors for whistleblowers; and

(B)

conduct an annual training for employees and volunteers of the SCORE Association or the SCORE program on the requirements described in paragraph (1) and encourage the use of the hotline established by the Office of the Inspector General of the Small Business Administration to submit whistleblower reports.

(7)

Published materials

The SCORE Association shall ensure all published materials include written acknowledgment of Small Business Administration support of the SCORE program if such materials are paid for in whole or in part by Federal funds.

(8)

Privacy requirements

(A)

In general

Neither the Administrator nor the SCORE Association may disclose the name, address, or telephone number of any individual or small business concern receiving assistance from the SCORE Association without the consent of such individual or small business concern, unless—

(i)

the Administrator is ordered to make such a disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal enforcement action initiated by a Federal or State agency; or

(ii)

the Administrator determines such a disclosure is necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of the SCORE program, in which case disclosure shall be limited to the information necessary for the audit.

(B)

Administrator use of information

This paragraph shall not—

(i)

restrict the access of the Administrator to SCORE program activity data; or

(ii)

prevent the Administrator from using SCORE program client information to conduct client surveys.

(C)

Standards

(i)

In general

The Administrator shall, after the opportunity for notice and comment, establish standards for—

(I)

disclosures with respect to financial audits described under subparagraph (A)(ii); and

(II)

conducting client surveys, including standards for oversight of the surveys and for dissemination and use of client information.

(ii)

Maximum privacy protection

The standards issued under this subparagraph shall, to the extent practicable, provide for the maximum amount of privacy protection.

(9)

Annual report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness of the SCORE program, which may be included as part of another report submitted to such Committees by the Administrator, and which shall include—

(A)

the total number and the number of unique clients counseled or trained under the SCORE program;

(B)

the number of hours of counseling provided under the SCORE program;

(C)

the number of local workshops provided under the SCORE program;

(D)

the number of clients attending online and local workshops provided under the SCORE program;

(E)

to the extent practicable, the demographics of SCORE program clients and volunteers, which shall include the gender, race, and age of each such client or volunteer;

(F)

with respect to businesses assisted under the SCORE program, the cost to create a job, the cost to create a business, and return on investment;

(G)

the number of referrals of SCORE program clients to other resources and programs of the Administration;

(H)

the number of SCORE program clients receiving financial assistance, including the type and dollar amount, under loan programs of the Administration;

(I)

the results of SCORE program client satisfactory surveys, including a summary of any comments received from such clients;

(J)

the number of new businesses started up by SCORE program clients;

(K)

the number of such new businesses realizing revenue growth;

(L)

to the extent practicable, the number of jobs created with assistance from the SCORE program;

(M)

the total cost of the SCORE program;

(N)

any recommendations of the Administrator to improve the SCORE program; and

(O)

an explanation of how the SCORE program has been integrated with—

(i)

small business development centers;

(ii)

women’s business centers (described under section 29);

(iii)

Veteran Business Outreach Centers 20 (described under section 32);

(iv)

other offices of the Administration; and

(v)

other public and private entities engaging in entrepreneurial and small business development.

Authorization of appropriations for the SCORE program

Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(i)

SCORE program

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out the SCORE program authorized by section 8(b)(1) such sums as are necessary for the Administrator to make grants or enter into cooperative agreements in a total amount that does not exceed $13,500,000 in each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

Reporting requirements

(a)

Study and report on the future role of the SCORE program

(1)

Study

The SCORE Association shall carry out a study on the future role of the SCORE program and develop a strategic plan for how the SCORE program will meet the needs of small business concerns during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, with specific objectives for the first, third, and fifth years of such 5-year period.

(2)

Report

Not later than the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the SCORE Association shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report containing—

(A)

all findings and determination made in carrying out the study required under paragraph (1);

(B)

the strategic plan developed under paragraph (1); and

(C)

an explanation of how the SCORE Association plans to achieve the strategic plan, assuming both stagnant and increased funding levels.

(b)

Administrator report on leased space

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report containing an assessment of the cost of leased space that is donated to the SCORE Association.

(c)

Online component report

Not later than 3 months after the last day of the first full fiscal year following the date of the enactment of this Act, the SCORE Association shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the effectiveness of the online counseling services required under paragraph (3) of section 8(c) of the Small Business Act, as added by section 2 of this Act, including a description of—

(1)

how the SCORE Association determines electronic mentoring and webinar needs, develops training for electronic mentoring, establishes webinar criteria curricula, and evaluates webinar and electronic mentoring results;

(2)

the internal controls that are used and a summary of the topics covered by the webinars; and

(3)

performance metrics, including the number of small business concerns counseled by, the number of small business concerns created by, the number of jobs created and retained by, and the funding amounts directed towards such online counseling services.

Technical and conforming amendments

(a)

Small Business Act

The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 7 (15 U.S.C. 636)—

(A)

in subsection (b)(12)—

(i)

in the paragraph heading, by inserting program after SCORE; and

(ii)

in subparagraph (A), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and

(B)

in subsection (m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and

(2)

in section 22 (15 U.S.C. 649)—

(A)

in subsection (b)—

(i)

in paragraph (1), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and

(ii)

in paragraph (3), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program; and

(B)

in subsection (c)(12), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program.

(b)

Other laws

(1)

Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997

Section 707 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program and inserting SCORE program (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act).

(2)

Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999

Section 301 of the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking Service Core of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program.

(3)

Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008

Section 3(5) of the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 636 note) is amended by striking the Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting the SCORE program.

(4)

Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

Section 621 of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 657p) is amended—

(A)

in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:

(4)

the term SCORE program means the SCORE program authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B));

; and

(B)

in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives and inserting SCORE program.

(5)

Energy Policy and Conservation Act

Section 337(d)(2)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6307(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and inserting SCORE program.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Administration; Administrator

The terms Administration and Administrator mean, respectively, the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof.

(2)

SCORE Association; SCORE Program

The terms SCORE Association and SCORE program have the meaning given those terms, respectively, under section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business Act, as added by section 2 of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives April 26, 2022.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk.