[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3793 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3793
To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in
consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business
Development, to establish a grant program to create or expand programs
at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and
universities that promote minority business ownership and
entrepreneurship, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 5, 2025
Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Adams, Mr.
Evans of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Torres of California) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in
consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business
Development, to establish a grant program to create or expand programs
at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and
universities that promote minority business ownership and
entrepreneurship, 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 ``Minority Entrepreneurship Grant
Program Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Minority
Entrepreneurship Advisory Board established under section 4(a).
(3) Historically black college or university.--The term
``historically Black college or university'' means a part B
institution, as that term is defined in section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(4) Minority.--The term ``minority'' includes an individual
who is--
(A) Black or African American;
(B) Hispanic or Latino;
(C) Native or Indigenous American;
(D) Asian;
(E) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander;
(F) Native Alaskan; or
(G) a member of a group that the Minority Business
Development Agency of the Department of Commerce
determines under part 1400 of title 15, Code of Federal
Regulations, as in effect on November 23, 1984, is a
socially disadvantaged group eligible to receive
assistance.
(5) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means any of the following:
(A) A Hispanic-serving institution, as that term is
defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)).
(B) A Tribal College or University, as that term is
defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).
(C) An Alaska Native-serving institution, as that
term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)).
(D) A Native Hawaiian-serving institution, as that
term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)).
(E) A Predominantly Black Institution, as that term
is defined in section 318(b) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)).
(F) A Native American-serving, nontribal
institution, as that term is defined in section 319(b)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059f(b)).
(G) An Asian American and Native American Pacific
Islander-serving institution, as that term is defined
in section 320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)).
(6) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the grant program
established under section 3(a).
(7) Small business concern.--The term ``small business
concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
(8) Student entrepreneur.--The term ``student
entrepreneur'' means a student who is--
(A) a minority;
(B) enrolled at a minority-serving institution or a
historically Black college or university; and
(C) seeking to establish or develop a business.
(9) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business
Development.
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the
Under Secretary, shall establish a grant program within the Small
Business Administration, the purpose of which shall be to create or
expand programs at minority-serving institutions and historically Black
colleges and universities that foster, promote, and increase
opportunities for minority business ownership.
(b) Application Process.--A minority-serving institution or a
historically Black college or university seeking a grant under the
Program shall submit to the Administrator an application that contains
a description of--
(1) the need for the grant funds to promote minority
entrepreneurship and business ownership among student
entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or
the historically Black college or university;
(2) how the grant funds will be used to carry out the
activities described in paragraph (1);
(3) how the programs created or expanded with the grant
funds will provide support to student entrepreneurs enrolled at
the minority-serving institution or historically Black college
or university who--
(A) seek support for an established business; or
(B) need assistance in establishing a business; and
(4) how the minority-serving institution or historically
Black college or university will create or expand programs or
initiatives that--
(A) increase minority business ownership; and
(B) expand business resources to student
entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving
institution or historically Black college or
university.
(c) Amount of Grant.--A grant made to a minority-serving
institution or a historically Black college or university under the
Program shall be not less than $250,000.
(d) Use of Grant Funds.--With a grant received under the Program, a
minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or
university shall support the creation or expansion of programs or
initiatives that offer business development resources that support
student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or
historically Black college or university, such as--
(1) free legal, accounting, human resources, information
technology, marketing, training, counseling, networking, and
technical assistance; and
(2) access to capital resources, such as the costs
associated with forming a new business enterprise.
(e) MSI Submission Requirement.--A minority-serving institution or
historically Black college or university to which a grant is made under
the Program shall, each year, submit to the Administrator a mid-year
and year-end report, each of which shall contain, for the period
covered by the report, the number of--
(1) student entrepreneurs trained, assisted, and counseled
with the grant funds;
(2) businesses created through the expenditure of the grant
funds, including, with respect to each such business--
(A) the name of the business;
(B) a description of the business; and
(C) the amount of grant funds expended in creating
the business;
(3) student entrepreneurs referred to other resources of
the Small Business Administration; and
(4) student entrepreneurs participating in programs created
or expanded through the expenditure of the grant funds, which,
to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race,
and ethnicity.
(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date on
which the first grant is made under the Program, and annually
thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that
contains information regarding the minority-serving institutions and
historically Black colleges or universities to which grants were made
under the Program for the period covered by the report, which shall
include--
(1) the name of each such minority-serving institution and
historically Black college or university and the amount of each
such grant;
(2) the number of student entrepreneurs trained, assisted,
and counseled with Program grant funds--
(A) at each minority-serving institution and
historically Black college or university to which a
grant was made under the Program; and
(B) in total under the Program;
(3) the number of businesses created through the
expenditure of Program grant funds--
(A) with respect to each minority-serving
institution and historically Black college or
university to which a grant was made under the Program;
and
(B) in total under the Program;
(4) the number of student entrepreneurs referred to
resources of the Small Business Administration--
(A) at each minority-serving institution and
historically Black college or university to which a
grant was made under the Program; and
(B) in total under the Program;
(5) the number of student entrepreneurs participating in
programs created or expanded through the expenditure of Program
grant funds at each minority-serving institution and
historically Black college or university to which a grant was
made under the Program, and in total under the Program, which,
to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race,
and ethnicity; and
(6) a statement regarding whether any amounts made
available to carry out this section remain unexpended, as of
the date on which the report is submitted.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator $50,000,000 to carry out this
section.
SEC. 4. ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a Minority
Entrepreneurship Advisory Board to develop recommendations regarding
how minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and
universities can better serve minority businesses and entrepreneurs.
(b) Membership of Board.--The members of the Board shall be--
(1) appointed by the Administrator; and
(2) individuals with--
(A) outstanding qualifications;
(B) knowledge regarding the needs of small business
concerns that are owned by minorities; and
(C) experience--
(i) working with startups; or
(ii) in providing consultation to small
business concerns.
(c) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
Congress the recommendations developed by the Board under subsection
(a).
(d) Inapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Requirements.--
Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply with respect
to the Board or the activities of the Board.
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