II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2000 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 14, 2023 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Military Spouse Entrepreneurship Act of 2023 . 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, the purpose of which shall be to assist military spouses in forming, operating, and growing small business concerns. (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. (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 military spouse entrepreneurship organizations 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 at select military installations 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.