H. Rpt. 119-498 accompanies infrastructure legislation titled "Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act". Infrastructure bills affect highways, bridges, airports, transit, water systems, broadband, ports, or federal buildings. The Small Business Committee's report describes the infrastructure need, the proposed federal investment or regulatory change, and projected economic and community benefits. Infrastructure reports typically include analysis of safety, efficiency, environmental impact, and regional effects.
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House Report 119-498 - NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY ACT
[House Report 119-498]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
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 within the Small Business Administration, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon
without amendment 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 Expenditure4
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
XVII. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported...........5
XVIII.Minority Views..................................................8
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 training 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
Congress.''
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
Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded
votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments
thereto. The Committee voted to favorably report H.R. 7396 to
the House of Representatives at 9:41 AM.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
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 annual 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 Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the cost
estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974. At the time this report was filed, the Committee has
requested but not received a cost estimate from the Director of
the Congressional Budget 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 Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following opinion and estimate with respect to new budget
authority, entitlement authority, 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 pursuant 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 oversight 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 is to codify the Office of Native American Affairs
within the SBA.
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 duplicative 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 Assistance.
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 contain 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 Office 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 Congressional 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, Sec. 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 omitted 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 omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
SMALL BUSINESS ACT
* * * * * * *
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 is 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.
Sec. [49.] 50. All laws and parts of laws inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed to the extent of such
inconsistency.
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 businesses saw $86 billion in sales,
shipments, and revenue, and employed nearly 364,000 people.\3\
Congress created the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA)
at the Small Business Administration (SBA) to aid communities
that represented some of the most underserved populations in
our country at that time.
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\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 Nonemployer Firms by Industry and Race for the U.S.,
States, Metro Areas, Counties, and Places: 2023, https://
data.census.gov/table/ABSNESD2023.AB00MYNESD01C.
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Over the years, the ONAA has worked to ensure American
Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians seeking to start
and grow small businesses have access to SBA's entrepreneurial
development, lending, and procurement programs. The Office
currently engages in numerous outreach activities, including
tribal consultations, 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\
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\4\U.S. Small Bus. Admin., Office of Native American Affairs,
https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-locations/headquarters-offices/
office-native-american-affairs.
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Statutorily authorizing the ONAA at the SBA will increase
access to federal programs and services that support Native
American 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. Velazquez,
Ranking Member.
[all]