Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act (Feb. 2026)
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- Crpt 119Hrpt498
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- Crpt 119Hrpt498
Summary
House Report 119–498 of the 119th Congress, 2d Session, dated February 17, 2026, submitted by the Committee on Small Business to accompany H.R. 7396, the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act. The committee reports the bill favorably without amendment; it codifies the Office of Native American Affairs within the U.S. Small Business Administration. The report states that Congress provided $5.3 million for the Office for Fiscal Year 2026, that the committee ordered the bill reported on February 11, 2026 by a roll call vote of 24 ayes to 0 nos, and that no CBO cost estimate had been received. It sets out the new section 49 of the Small Business Act, covering an Assistant Administrator, an annual report to Congress and termination 7 years after enactment. Minority views signed by Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez support the bill.
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119TH CONGRESS REPORT
" HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES !
2d Session 119–498
NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURIAL
OPPORTUNITY ACT
FEBRUARY 17, 2026.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State
of the Union and ordered to be printed
Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas, from the Committee on Small Business,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 7396]
The Committee on Small Business, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 7396) to establish an Office of Native American Affairs with-
in the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes, hav-
ing considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amend-
ment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose and Bill Summary ........................................................................ 2
II. Need for Legislation .................................................................................... 2
III. Hearings ....................................................................................................... 2
IV. Committee Consideration ........................................................................... 2
V. Committee Votes ......................................................................................... 2
VI. Section-by-Section of H.R. 7396 ................................................................. 4
VII. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ............................................. 4
VIII. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 4
IX. Oversight Findings & Recommendations .................................................. 4
X. Performance Goals and Objectives ............................................................ 4
XI. Statement of Duplication of Federal Programs ........................................ 5
XII. Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits ..................................................................................................... 5
XIII. Federal Mandates Statement ..................................................................... 5
XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement ................................................... 5
XV. Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................... 5
XVI. Statement of Constitutional Authority ...................................................... 5
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XVII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ........................ 5
XVIII. Minority Views ............................................................................................ 8
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I. PURPOSE AND BILL SUMMARY
On February 5, 2026, Rep. Sharice Davids (D–KS), Rep. Jake
Ellzey (R–TX), Rep. Kelly Morrison (D–MN), and Rep. Eli Crane
(R–AZ), introduced H.R. 7396, the Native American Entrepreneurial
Opportunity Act. H.R. 7396 codifies the Office of Native American
Affairs within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
II. NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs has been providing
services to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations for
decades. For Fiscal Year 2026, Congress provided $5.3 million in
appropriated funds for the Office of Native American Affairs. The
bill will provide statutory authority for the Office and increase
oversight by requiring an annual report to Congress that includes
the number of clients assisted, consultations conducted, and train-
ing sessions held. The authorization for the Office sunsets after
seven years, giving Congress a future opportunity to evaluate
whether the Office is effectively achieving its intended goals.
III. HEARINGS
On February 5, 2025, the Committee on Small Business held a
hearing examining matters related to H.R. 7396 titled ‘‘Hope on the
Horizon: Prioritizing Small Business Growth in the 119th Con-
gress.’’
IV. COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
The Committee on Small Business met in open session, with a
quorum being present, on February 11, 2026, and ordered H.R.
7396 to be reported favorably to the House of Representatives by
a roll call vote of 24 ayes to 0 nos.
V. COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representa-
tives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the mo-
tion to report legislation and amendments thereto. The Committee
voted to favorably report H.R. 7396 to the House of Representatives
at 9:41 AM.
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VI. SECTION-BY-SECTION OF H.R. 7396
Section 1—Short title
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Native American Entrepreneurial
Opportunity Act.’’
Section 2—Office of Native American Affairs
This section amends the Small Business Act by establishing the
Office of Native American Affairs within the SBA. The Office will
be led by an Assistant Administrator to assist Indian Tribes and
Native Hawaiian Organizations with entrepreneurial development,
contracting, and capital access.
Additionally, it requires the SBA to provide Congress with an an-
nual report on the effectiveness of the Office, including the number
of clients served, consultations provided, and trainings held.
The authorization expires seven years after enactment.
VII. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursu-
ant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the
time this report was filed, the Committee has requested but not re-
ceived a cost estimate from the Director of the Congressional Budg-
et Office.
VIII. NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX
EXPENDITURES
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives and section 308(a)(I) of the Congressional Budg-
et Act of 1974, the Committee provides the following opinion and
estimate with respect to new budget authority, entitlement author-
ity, and tax expenditures. While the Committee has not received an
estimate of new budget authority contained in the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursu-
ant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee does not believe that there will be any new or increased
costs attributable to this legislation.
IX. OVERSIGHT FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
In accordance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 2(b)(1)
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the over-
sight findings and recommendations of the Committee on Small
Business with respect to the subject matter contained in H.R. 7396
are incorporated into the descriptive portions of this report.
X. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of
the Rules of the House of Representatives, the goal of H.R. 7396
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is to codify the Office of Native American Affairs within the SBA.
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XI. STATEMENT OF DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, no provision of H.R. 7396 is known to be dupli-
cative of another Federal program, including any program that was
included in a report to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public
Law 111–139 or the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic As-
sistance.
XII. CONGRESSIONAL EARMARKS, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND
LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS
With respect to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee finds that the bill does not con-
tain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of
the Rules of the House of Representatives.
XIII. FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee will adopt as its own the estimate of the Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Of-
fice pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
XIV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation.
XV. APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or
accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Con-
gressional Accountability Act.
XVI. STATEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of the Rules of the House, the
Committee finds that the authority for this legislation in Art. I, § 8,
cl.1 of the Constitution of the United States.
XVII. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omit-
ted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics,
and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman):
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omit-
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ted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics,
and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in
roman):
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SMALL BUSINESS ACT
* * * * * * *
SEC. 49. OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Assistant Admin-
istrator’’ means the Assistant Administrator for Native Amer-
ican 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 Ha-
waiian 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 is established within the Administra-
tion the Office of Native American Affairs, which shall be re-
sponsible for establishing a working relationship with Indian
Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations by targeting pro-
grams of the Administration relating to entrepreneurial devel-
opment, 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 rea-
sonable, the Office shall educate Indian Tribes and Native Ha-
waiian 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 experi-
ence 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 con-
trolled by individuals who are members of Indian Tribes or Na-
tive Hawaiian Organizations;
(4) formulate policies, and promote policies and existing pro-
grams, to better address the entrepreneurial, capital access,
business development, and contracting needs of persons de-
scribed in paragraph (3);
(5) collaborate with Associate Administrators within the Ad-
ministration and officials of other Federal agencies to develop
policies and plans to implement programs of the Administra-
tion to holistically address the needs described in paragraph
(4);
(6) provide assistance, including grants, contracts, coopera-
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tive agreements, or other financial assistance, to Indian Tribes
and Native Hawaiian Organizations, or to private nonprofit or-
ganizations governed by members of Indian Tribes or Native
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Hawaiian Organizations that have the experience and capa-
bility 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 poten-
tial modifications to programs and procedures of the Adminis-
tration; and
(8) recommend annual budgets for the Office.
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—On an annual basis until the termi-
nation 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 termi-
nate 7 years after the date of the enactment of this section.
SEC. ø49.¿ 50. All laws and parts of laws inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
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XVIII. MINORITY VIEWS
In 2024, there were more than 3.4 million people who identified
as American Indian and Alaska Native alone,1 and in 2023, there
are 574 federally recognized Indian tribes in the United States.2 In
terms of entrepreneurship, in 2023, Native American-owned busi-
nesses saw $86 billion in sales, shipments, and revenue, and em-
ployed nearly 364,000 people.3 Congress created the Office of Na-
tive American Affairs (ONAA) at the Small Business Administra-
tion (SBA) to aid communities that represented some of the most
underserved populations in our country at that time.
Over the years, the ONAA has worked to ensure American Indi-
ans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians seeking to start and
grow small businesses have access to SBA’s entrepreneurial devel-
opment, lending, and procurement programs. The Office currently
engages in numerous outreach activities, including tribal consulta-
tions, development and distribution of promotional materials, and
participation in national economic development conferences. The
Office also contracts with third-party vendors to provide workshops
on business development and financial literacy, training webinars,
incubator training, and online entrepreneurial classes.4
Statutorily authorizing the ONAA at the SBA will increase ac-
cess to federal programs and services that support Native Amer-
ican entrepreneurs across the country and help Native Americans
launch and grow small businesses, and in turn, promote economic
development in their tribal communities. By affording ONAA the
stature and authority it will allow the Office to work effectively on
Indian Country’s behalf within the SBA and with other Cabinet-
level departments to better address the entrepreneurial, capital,
and contracting needs of Tribes and Native businesses.
NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ,
Ranking Member.
Æ
1 U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, Table B0200: Race, (2025).
2 U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, Facts for Features: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage
Month, (Nov. 2023), https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2023/aian-month.html.
3 U.S. CENSUS BUREAU (2023), Table AB00MYNESD01C: Statistics for Employer and Non-
employer Firms by Industry and Race for the U.S., States, Metro Areas, Counties, and Places:
2023, https://data.census.gov/table/ABSNESD2023.AB00MYNESD01C.
4 U.S. SMALL BUS. ADMIN., Office of Native American Affairs, https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/
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sba-locations/headquarters-offices/office-native-american-affairs.
(8)
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