H.R. 7396

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7396 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7396

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 24, 2026

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

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To establish an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small 
Business Administration, and for other purposes.

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.''.

Passed the House of Representatives June 23, 2026.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.