Hickenlooper, Mullin, Hirono, Sullivan, Blumenthal Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Give Native American Small Businesses a Seat at SBA Table

Bipartisan bill would establish an Associate Administrator position, dedicate funding at SBA's Office of Native American Affairs

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Markwayne Mullin, Mazie Hirono, Dan Sullivan, and Richard Blumenthal reintroduced legislation to increase the representation and financial resources available to Native American small-business owners. The Native American Entrepreneurial and Opportunity Act would ensure funding for the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Office of Native Americans Affairs (ONAA), increasing ONAA's ability to offer tailored support to Native American entrepreneurs. The bill would also establish a new Associate Administrator position in the Office of Native American Affairs reporting directly to the SBA's Administrator.

"Native American owned small businesses power communities across Colorado," said Hickenlooper. "They deserve an equal seat at the SBA table to fight for federal funding opportunities that'll help their businesses continue to grow and prosper."

"I'm glad to join Sen. Hickenlooper as an original cosponsor of the Native American Entrepreneurial and Opportunity Act," said Mullin. "Small businesses drive the American economy, and the same is true in Indian Country. The Small Business Administration should be equipped with the tools it needs to help Native business owners thrive, and this bill is a step in the right direction."

"As we work to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in Hawaii and across the country, it's critical that we prioritize Native-owned businesses," said Hirono. "I'm proud to join Senators Hickenlooper, Lummis, and Mullin in introducing the Native American Entrepreneurial and Opportunity Act to establish an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration and enable SBA to better serve Native American businesses, including Native Hawaiian businesses."

"Small businesses are the backbone of Alaska's economy, including those formed by hard-working Alaska Native entrepreneurs," said Sullivan. "Through programs like the SBA's 8(a) program, Native-owned businesses not only create jobs and generate economic activity, but they also reinvest in communities across the state that benefit all Alaskans. I'm glad to work with my colleagues on legislation to strengthen the SBA's Office of Native American Affairs and ensure the agency has the leadership and resources needed to help small businesses in Alaska thrive for generations to come."

"The Native American Entrepreneurial and Opportunity Act gives the Small Business Administration more tools to provide specialized expertise and assistance to Native-owned businesses-empowering Native American entrepreneurs and expanding their access to SBA's wide range of services," said Blumenthal.

Last Congress, the senators introduced the legislation and helped advance it out of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The SBA's Office of Native American Affairs is designed to empower Native American entrepreneurs by making sure business owners can access the SBA's full range of business development and financial tools. However, the office's outreach and influence is currently limited due to a lack of funding.

Specifically, the bill would bolster the resources available to Native American entrepreneurs by:

• Creating predictable ONAA funding so that ONAA resources can support more Native American small-business owners.

• Hiring an Associate Administrator to helm ONAA and provide effective policy leadership.

"The Office of Native American Affairs provides important opportunities, support, and education to numerous Native owned businesses across the country. The Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act will advance and move the office forward with stability to bolster economic development in Native communities," said Jon Panamaroff and Haven Harris, Native American Contractors Association (NACA) Co-Chairs. "We applaud this legislation's introduction and its emphasis on the office's involvement with the 8(a) Business Development Program."

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

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