Overview
Title
To amend the Small Business Act to include requirements relating to graduates of career and technical education programs for small business development centers and women’s business centers, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 1642 is a plan to help small businesses and women-owned businesses by connecting with students who finish special job training programs, so they can work together and grow better.
Summary AI
H.R. 1642, introduced in the 119th Congress, aims to amend the Small Business Act to help small businesses and women-owned businesses connect with graduates of career and technical education programs. This bill seeks to provide small business development centers and women’s business centers with new tools and resources to educate business owners about hiring graduates from these programs, and to help career and technical education programs connect their students with small business opportunities. The goal is to enhance employment and business growth through collaboration between educational institutions and small businesses.
Published
Keywords AI
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Bill Statistics
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Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
H.R. 1642, known as the "Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Small Business Act. The intention is to encourage collaboration between small businesses and educational institutions that offer career and technical education (CTE) programs. By doing so, the bill aims to provide small business development centers and women's business centers with the necessary guidelines to assist these businesses in hiring graduates from CTE programs. The hope is to create a smoother transition for students from education to employment and to equip small businesses with a skilled workforce tailored to their needs.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the main issues with the bill is the complexity of its language. Sections of the bill, particularly those detailing amendments to the Small Business Act, might be difficult for a layperson to understand, potentially hindering its effective implementation. Another area of concern is the referencing of multiple subparagraphs labeled 'U,' which could lead to confusion in interpreting or implementing these changes. This ambiguity is further compounded by the bill's reference to prior legislation without clear identification of its version, creating potential legal uncertainties.
Additionally, the bill lacks specific criteria to evaluate the success of the newly introduced educational information programs. It proposes connecting small businesses with CTE programs but does not offer a framework for assessing the effectiveness of these connections. Lastly, the dependence on definitions from external legislation raises concerns about consistency, as changes in the referenced Act might impact this bill’s application.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The bill has the potential to positively impact the workforce by improving the employability of CTE graduates and addressing skill gaps faced by small businesses. By fostering stronger linkages between educational programs and employment, the bill could reduce unemployment and underemployment among graduates, leading to more stable job markets and economic growth. However, if businesses and centers struggle with understanding the bill's provisions due to its complexity, the intended outcomes may not come to fruition as efficiently as planned.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For small businesses, the bill could offer significant benefits by providing access to a pool of specialized and ready-to-work graduates, reducing recruitment and training costs. However, uncertainties in the bill might make it challenging for these businesses to fully leverage the proposed connections and resources. Women's business centers and small business development centers, tasked with implementing these new provisions, might face operational challenges due to the vague instructions and dual subparagraph references.
On the other hand, educational institutions offering CTE programs stand to gain from enhanced relationships with the business community, potentially improving student enrollment and success rates by better aligning curricula with industry needs. For students in CTE programs, this bill represents an opportunity for smoother entry into their chosen careers. However, they may face uncertainty if the collaboration between businesses and educational programs does not materialize effectively due to the bill's ambiguities.
Overall, while the intent of the bill is commendable, addressing the identified issues could be crucial to optimizing benefits for all stakeholders involved.
Issues
The language in Section 2 (b) and (c) could be considered overly complex and difficult for laypersons to understand. The lack of clarity might hinder effective communication and understanding of the Act's provisions, which could affect small businesses' ability to benefit from the new measures, potentially leading to implementation challenges.
The amendment references multiple subparagraphs with the same designation ('U') in Section 2 (b), creating potential confusion. Without clear identifiers, it becomes difficult to accurately interpret or implement the intended amendments, which may result in operational inefficiencies or misalignment with legislative goals.
Section 2 (a) does not specify which edition or version of the Small Business Act it is amending, leading to potential ambiguities if there are multiple versions or past amendments. This lack of specificity could complicate legal interpretations and the Act's enforceability.
The bill lacks specific measures to assess the effectiveness of the new educational information programs mentioned in Section 2 (b) and (c), which could make it challenging to evaluate their success or to identify necessary improvements. Without clear evaluation criteria, the effectiveness of these programs remains uncertain.
The definition of 'career and technical education' in Section 2 (a) refers to another Act, which requires cross-referencing. This might pose legal and operational challenges if the definition changes in the referenced legislation, affecting the consistency and application of this Act.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The act is titled the “Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025.”
2. Inclusion of career and technical education Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section of the bill adds definitions and guidelines to several parts of the Small Business Act, including the meanings of "career and technical education," and addresses how small business development centers and women's business centers can assist businesses by providing information on hiring graduates from these programs and connecting them with relevant educational resources.