Technical corrections only. The changes between v3 and v4 are limited to updates reflecting the bill's legislative status as referred to the Senate and minor formatting adjustments. There are no substantive policy changes in the bill text.
Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25]
- Committees
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 4, 2025
Bottom line
The bill aims to strengthen the connection between small businesses and career and technical education programs to address workforce needs and foster entrepreneurship among CTE graduates.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Small Business Act to expand the responsibilities of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers (WBCs). It requires them to provide educational information to small businesses about hiring graduates from career and technical education (CTE) programs and to inform CTE programs about the resources available for students and graduates interested in starting or expanding a small business. Additionally, SBDCs and WBCs are mandated to connect small businesses with CTE programs to facilitate career opportunities for students and graduates.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill will effectively bridge the gap between small businesses facing skilled labor shortages and the pipeline of talent emerging from career and technical education programs. They contend it will provide valuable career pathways for CTE graduates, encourage entrepreneurship, and ultimately bolster local economies by strengthening the small business sector.
Opponents contend
Critics might argue that while the bill's intent is positive, adding new mandates to SBDCs and WBCs without providing additional funding could strain their existing resources. This could potentially dilute the quality of their current services or force them to reallocate funds from other critical programs, impacting their overall effectiveness.
The bill is very short and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick and thorough evaluation.
Section 2(a)
Definition of Career and Technical Education
This section adds a new definition to the Small Business Act, specifying that 'career and technical education' will have the same meaning as defined in Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. This ensures consistency and clarity in how the term is applied throughout the Small Business Act for the purposes of this bill.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a clear, consistent definition is essential for effective implementation of the bill's provisions, ensuring that all entities operate under the same understanding of 'career and technical education' as defined in existing federal law.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against definitional provisions that align with existing federal law, as they promote clarity and consistency in legislative interpretation.
Tradeoffs
None apparent; this is a standard legislative practice to ensure legal consistency and avoid redundancy.
Section 2(b)
Expanded Services for Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
This provision amends the Small Business Act to require SBDCs to provide educational information to small businesses on hiring career and technical education (CTE) graduates and identifying relevant CTE programs. It also mandates SBDCs to inform CTE programs about their services for students and graduates interested in starting businesses, and to facilitate connections between small businesses and CTE programs for career opportunities.
Section 2(c)
Expanded Services for Women's Business Centers (WBCs)
This provision mirrors the SBDC changes, requiring Women's Business Centers (WBCs) to provide educational information to women-owned small businesses about hiring CTE graduates and relevant CTE programs. It also mandates WBCs to inform CTE programs about their services for students and graduates interested in starting businesses, and to facilitate connections between women-owned small businesses and CTE programs for career opportunities.
Defines 'career and technical education' by referencing Section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
Section 2(a)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to avoid redundancy and ensure consistency with existing federal definitions, rather than an attempt to obscure the meaning.
Case for: Proponents argue that referencing an existing, well-established definition ensures legal consistency and avoids creating conflicting interpretations of what constitutes career and technical education across different federal programs.
Case against: Critics might suggest that requiring readers to consult external statutes can make a bill less self-contained and harder for a casual reader to fully comprehend without additional research, potentially reducing transparency.
Estimated impact: Ensures a consistent legal framework for CTE programs across federal statutes, impacting how SBDCs and WBCs interpret and implement their new mandates.