[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2639 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2639
To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to
establish and carry out a program that assists military spouses in
establishing small business concerns, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 31, 2025
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to
establish and carry out a program that assists military spouses in
establishing small business concerns, 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 ``Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY SPOUSES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(2) Small business concern.--The term ``small business
concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
(b) Program.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the
Administrator shall establish a program within the Small
Business Administration--
(A) the purpose of which shall be to assist
military spouses in forming, operating, and growing
small business concerns; and
(B) which shall include providing such assistance
through remotely accessible online services.
(2) Extension of existing program.--In lieu of establishing
a new program, the Administrator may carry out the purpose
described in paragraph (1) through an extension of a program
that is in existence, as of the date of enactment of this Act,
if that extension is tailored to military spouses and otherwise
achieves that purpose and satisfies the requirements of this
section.
(c) Assistance.--The assistance provided by the Administrator under
the program described in subsection (b) shall include the following:
(1) Assistance for military spouses in identifying and
understanding the requirements with respect to forming and
operating a small business concern, including assistance
relating to relocating the operations of a small business
concern.
(2) Assistance for military spouses in strengthening the
expertise and skills necessary for the formation and operation
of a small business concern, including the expertise and skills
necessary to create a sustainable small business concern
throughout the uniquely challenging requirements of life as a
military spouse, which arise as a result of--
(A) military deployments;
(B) military-related absences from the workforce;
or
(C) multiple permanent changes of duty station or
other long-term relocations for military reasons.
(3) Through partnerships with organizations supporting
military spouse entrepreneurship and business volunteer
entities (including by entering into cooperative agreements
with those organizations and entities), providing mentorship to
military spouses with respect to entrepreneurship.
(4) Any other assistance that the Administrator determines
to be appropriate.
(d) Survey; Report.--
(1) Survey.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation
with such nonprofit organizations and other
stakeholders determined appropriate by the
Administrator, shall conduct a survey to identify the
barriers to forming, operating, and growing small
business concerns that are faced by military spouses as
a result of life as a military spouse, including as a
result of the conditions described in subparagraphs
(A), (B), and (C) of subsection (c)(2).
(B) Analysis required.--The survey conducted under
subparagraph (A) shall include an analysis of the
challenges that military spouses face in accessing
capital and other critical resources with respect to
forming, operating, and growing small business
concerns, including the education, mentoring, and
training that is required to form, operate, and grow a
small business concern.
(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate
and the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives a report containing the results of the survey
conducted under paragraph (1).
(e) Use of Results; Outreach.--In carrying out the program
described in subsection (b), the Administrator shall--
(1) take into consideration the results of the survey
conducted under subsection (d)(1); and
(2) develop an outreach program to ensure that the program
becomes well-known.
(f) Consultation Permitted.--In carrying out this section, the
Administrator may consult with the Secretary of Defense, as determined
necessary by the Administrator.
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