H.R. 8404

119 HR 8404 IH: 21st Century Entrepreneurship Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-21
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8404  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 21, 2026   Ms. Davids of Kansas  (for herself and  Mr. Fitzpatrick ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Small Business , and in addition to the Committee on  Education and Workforce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned   A BILL
To allow participants in the Service Corps of Retired Executives to teach entrepreneurship at community learning centers, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   21st Century Entrepreneurship Act  .
2.
Findings
Congress finds that—
(1)
entrepreneurship creates new jobs, grows the economy, increases productivity, and significantly improves the quality of life of the people of the United States;
(2)
entrepreneurship rates in the United States have been unstable over the last several decades;
(3)
children from disadvantaged communities are less likely to become entrepreneurs and inventors, hampering economic growth and harming communities most in need;
(4)
studies show that children with mentors in entrepreneurship and inventorship are more likely to pursue these fields in adulthood; and
(5)
in order to promote growth in disadvantaged communities, increase entrepreneurship rates, and improve the economy, volunteer mentors with the SCORE program should be encouraged to engage with children in community learning centers.
3.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Community learning center
The term  community learning center  has the meaning given the term in section 4201(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7171(b) ).
(2)
SCORE program
The term  SCORE program  means the Service Corps of Retired Executives described in section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B) ).
4.
Entrepreneurship education for disadvantaged youth
(a)
In general
The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall, in consultation with the SCORE Program—
(1)
develop a curriculum for volunteers with the SCORE program to teach entrepreneurship to students served by community learning centers; and
(2)
in developing the curriculum required under paragraph (1), collaborate with education specialists, entrepreneurship groups, business groups, and groups with experience serving underrepresented children.
(b)
Consultation
The Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall develop and implement a strategy to teach the curriculum developed under subsection (a)(1) to the students described in that paragraph through community learning centers.
(c)
Collaboration with other programs
In teaching the curriculum developed under subsection (a), volunteers with the SCORE program are encouraged to collaborate with other entrepreneurial development programs of the Small Business Administration and other agencies, including—
(1)
small business development centers described in section 21 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 648 );
(2)
women’s business centers operating under section 29 of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 656 ); and
(3)
centers overseen by the Minority Business Development Agency (established under section 100002 of the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 ( 15 U.S.C. 9501 )).
(d)
SCORE program
Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B) ) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting  and to teach students entrepreneurship through community learning centers (as defined in section 4201(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7171(b) ))  before the period at the end.
(e)
Community learning centers
Part B of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7171 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 4201(a)(2) ( 20 U.S.C. 7171(a)(2) ), by inserting  entrepreneurship education taught through volunteers with the SCORE program (as defined in section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B) )),  after  apprenticeship programs, ; and
(2)
in section 4205(a) ( 20 U.S.C. 7175(a) )—
(A)
in paragraph (13), by striking  and  at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(15)
entrepreneurship education described in section 4201(a)(2).
 .
(f)
Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration 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 that—
(1)
identifies instances of the use of the curriculum described in subsection (a) by the SCORE program and a community learning center during the preceding 2-year period;
(2)
documents the use of funds by the SCORE program, and adherence by the SCORE program to contract award and procurement procedures, relating to the implementation of this Act;
(3)
documents any training or guidance provided to SCORE program chapter leadership on properly using funds provided to carry out this Act;
(4)
estimates the number of students who were reached through the entrepreneurship curriculum developed under subsection (a);
(5)
identifies any barriers to reaching additional students; and
(6)
identifies any plans for improving the curriculum or implementing the strategy developed under subsection (a).