Cortez Masto, Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Young Entrepreneurs

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation to connect students enrolled in 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) with mentors from the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) to develop their professional skills in entrepreneurship.

CCLC is a federal program that supports local afterschool and summer learning programs for students with high potential at under-resourced schools. SCORE's more than 11,000 volunteer counselors - working or retired business owners - provide business advice to entrepreneurs. Research has shown that exposure to entrepreneurship during childhood increases the likelihood of becoming an entrepreneur as an adult.

"A child's zip code shouldn't determine whether they are exposed to the mentors that can help them develop the skills to become innovators and business owners," said Senator Cortez Masto. "This legislation will help young entrepreneurs in every corner of the Silver State get the advice and training they need to drive Nevada's future."

"Tennessee is known for having a robust creative and entrepreneurial community," said Senator Blackburn. "The 21^st Century Entrepreneurship Act would ensure that Tennessee's entrepreneurs of tomorrow have someone to guide them today by encouraging entrepreneurship that results in the creation of new jobs, fosters economic growth, and improves quality of life."

Specifically, the 21^st Century Entrepreneurship Act would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop an entrepreneurship curriculum for CCLC and encourage SCORE volunteers to partner with local chapters to provide training and mentorship. It would also amend the Small Business Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to ensure these partnerships fall within the mission of each agency.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto is a champion for Nevada's small businesses. Last year, the Senator introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure America's small businesses can compete in the 21^st Century economy and bipartisan legislation to make it easier for the SEC to collect information on small businesses. Additionally, Cortez Masto introduced a bipartisan bill to require the SBA to provide annual awards to state and local governments that streamline the process of small business formation. She also stood with small businesses in Southern and Northern Nevada to highlight the devastating impacts the chaos of the Trump Administration's tariffs have had on the cost of operating small businesses and on the American economy itself. In DC, she hosted a spotlight hearing to speak with small business owners about the squeeze they are feeling from the tariffs.

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