Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that our Nation's entrepreneurs face challenges in starting and operating small businesses. Finding a skilled workforce, establishing an effective online presence, and building a customer base are hurdles common to all small business owners.

However, our Native American small business owners face these challenges in a more severe way. Today, I will highlight a few reasons for that disparity.

First, Native Americans are twice as likely to live in poverty as compared to other Americans. This significantly impacts their ability to use savings and assets to fund their small businesses, to access credit, and to take on the risk of entrepreneurship.

Second, these businessowners face geographical barriers, with longer distances for supply deliveries and a lack of reliable broadband and telephone service. These physical obstacles make networking, finding mentors, and reaching out to a consumer base a bit more difficult, ultimately reducing their chances of success.

Third, Native Americans who are entrepreneurs often face greater hurdles in attracting private investment and accessing Federal contracting opportunities. Addressing these challenges is crucial to leveling the playing field for Tribal small business communities and bolstering our overall economy.

Currently, the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Native American Affairs works diligently to connect Native businessowners with entrepreneurial development, lending, and procurement programs. However, the absence of a congressional mandate for this office limits its capacity and

leaves it vulnerable to changes from one administration to the next.

That is why we really need to pass this Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act. This bill would codify the SBA's Office of Native American Affairs into Federal law, establishing an assistant administrator role to oversee operations and report directly to SBA leadership. It would also require the office to report to Congress on its successes in Indian Country.

Native-owned businesses employ over 300,000 Americans and are vital drivers of our national economy. These Tribal businesses deserve a seat at the table to advocate not only for the challenges that I mentioned earlier but also for the successes and achievements that they have.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Crane, my Republican colleague and co-lead on this, for his partnership in introducing this bill. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to stand united in support of this crucial legislation and vote in favor of successful entrepreneurship in Tribal communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7102 the ``Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act.''

H.R. 7102 creates an Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) within the Small Business Administration.

I am a long-time member of the Congressional Native American Caucus as well as the Congressional Small Business Caucus.

I understand the need for Native Americans to have an advocate within the Small Business Administration.

The Native American business community as well as families would be positively impacted by the passage of H.R. 7102.

This bill would draw attention to the resources that are available to tribal business owners through the (SBA) and oversee economic and entrepreneurial relationships with the Small Business Administration.

The goal is to produce economic development within tribal communities by educating Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations about programs administered by other Federal agencies.

The passing of H.R. 7102 would allow the Office of Native American Affairs to:

Work with Indian tribes, Alaska Native corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and small businesses owned by individuals who are members of those entities on entrepreneurial development, contracting and capital access programs to establish or expand their small business concerns and promote economic development in Indian Country.

Formulating and promoting policies, and enhancing existing programs, so they better address the entrepreneurial, capital access, business development and contracting needs of tribes and Native businesses, including by collaborating with high-level officials of SBA and other federal agencies.

In addition, the (ONAA) will be able to provide financial and other assistance directly to deploy training, counseling and other educational outreach, workshops, supplier events.

Additional important assistance would include access to the SBA's entrepreneur and contracting programs to facilitate Native contractors' participation in SBA's various small business contracting programs, facilitating and improving access to SBA's various loan programs, loan guarantees, disaster assistance, and other capital access programs.

Finally, ensuring tribal consultations are conducted to solicit input and facilitate discussion of potential modifications to SBA programs and procedures.

It is imperative that H.R. 7102 is passed because Native Americans will have an advocate and the economic and entrepreneurial tools it needs to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering H.R. 7102, the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act.

Let me begin by commending Ms. Davids for her leadership and bipartisan efforts to codify the Office of Native American Affairs at SBA. She is a valued member of the Committee on Small Business and has remained committed to working with stakeholders to make this bill a reality.

The office has been a tremendous resource for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians seeking to launch and grow their small businesses. Throughout the year, it engages in several outreach activities, including consultations, development and distribution of promotional materials, and participation in national economic development conferences.

Codifying the office would ensure that Tribal small businesses have access to SBA's full range of business development tools regardless of the administration.

Importantly, the legislation requires that the assistant administrator report directly to the Administrator, ensuring the voice of the Tribal communities will be heard at SBA.

I also thank Mr. Crane for joining Ms. Davids in her efforts, and I strongly support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Native American-owned businesses are powerful economic engines, contributing over $33 billion to the U.S. economy every year and employing more than 200,000 people in their communities.

By enhancing the Office of Native American Affairs, SBA will be able to work on behalf of Indian Country and better target resources to Indian Tribes.

I once again thank Representatives Davids and Crane for their bipartisan work to provide assistance to these critically important businesses and entrepreneurs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

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

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. 7102, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Crane).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-introduce this legislation to officially establish the Office of Native American Affairs at the Small Business Administration, and I thank Representative Davids for her leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent over half of Arizona's Tribes. Something I hear often is there is a need for economic growth and opportunity.

Tribal entrepreneurs who run businesses on reservations face complex hurdles when it comes to understanding tax implications, property rights, regulatory burdens, and lending. Tribal entrepreneurs should have the ability to access SBA's programs just like anyone else, but in reality, these communities do not experience adequate access or outreach.

Most importantly, they need specialized expertise to assist them in navigating the unique complexities of running a business on a reservation--complexities mostly created by us, the Federal Government.

Economic development in our Tribal communities is crucial. I am hopeful that establishing the Office of Native American Affairs into statute will bring attention to resources the Small Business Administration can provide to Tribal businessowners and encourage the office to continue developing new methods for outreach to ensure that Tribal businesses are not overlooked. This bill would also ensure that Congress can practice proper oversight of the office's activities and effectiveness going forward.

I encourage representatives from this office to come out and visit Tribal communities in my district and begin a dialogue with small business owners who may be unaware that this office even exists. Doing so will allow the Office of Native American Affairs to adjust and enhance their programs so they can best serve Tribal small business owners.