Native American Small Business Development Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 545.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 25, 2002

Native American Small Business Development Act - Amends the Small Business Act to establish within the Small Business Administration (SBA) the Office of Native American Affairs, headed by an Assistant Administrator, to implement SBA programs for the development of business enterprises by Native Americans (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians). Requires the Office to assist Native American entrepreneurs to: (1) start, operate, and grow small businesses; (2) develop management and technical skills; (3) seek Federal procurement opportunities; (4) increase Native American employment opportunities; and (5) increase Native American access to capital markets.Requires the SBA to provide financial assistance to tribal governments, tribal colleges, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Alaska Native corporations to create Native American business centers. Requires each business center to conduct five-year projects for business education aid to such entities. Requires each assistance applicant to submit a five-year plan on proposed assistance and training activities.Establishes a four-year pilot program under which the SBA is authorized to award Native American development grants to provide culturally-tailored business development training and related services to Native Americans and Native American small businesses.Establishes a four-year pilot program under which the SBA shall award at least three American Indian Tribal Assistance Center grants to establish joint projects to provide culturally-tailored business development assistance to prospective and current owners of small businesses on or near tribal lands.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD] · D–SD

Committees

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Indian Affairs Committee

12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Aug 1, 2002
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 545.
Aug 1, 2002
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Kerry with amendments. With written report No. 107-236.
Aug 1, 2002
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Reported by Senator Kerry with amendments. With written report No. 107-236.
Jul 24, 2002
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Apr 30, 2002
Committees on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Indian Affairs. Joint hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 107-615.
Apr 25, 2002
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3444-3447)
Apr 25, 2002
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3443-3444)
Apr 25, 2002
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Reported to Senate · Aug 1, 2002 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · Apr 25, 2002 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2538 · Native American Small Business Development Act

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.2335 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.2335, 107th Congress: Native American Small Business Development Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2335

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2335/BILLS-107s2335rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2335 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2335 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.2335, 107th Congress: Native American Small Business Development Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2335

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2335/BILLS-107s2335rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2335 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2335 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.2335, 107th Congress: Native American Small Business Development Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2335

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2335/BILLS-107s2335rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2335 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2335 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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Discuss S.2335, 107th Congress: Native American Small Business Development Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/2335

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 2002-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s2335/BILLS-107s2335rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:08:44Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2335 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.