S. 2068: Minority Business Development Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-06-15 · Commerce · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 228.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-06-15 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 228. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Minority Business Development Act of 2021

Plain summary

Minority Business Development Act of 2021 This bill permanently authorizes the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), requires the MBDA to promote and administer programs that assist the development of minority business enterprises (MBEs), and establishes the Minority Business Enterprises Advisory Council to advise and assist the MBDA. Specifically, the bill requires the MBDA to (1) provide assistance to MBEs in domestic and foreign markets by making available specified resources, (2) promote the position of MBEs in local economies, and (3) collect data on the causes of MBE success or failure and research how economic conditions affect the development of MBEs. The bill establishes formal processes for the MBDA Business Center Program and the MBDA Rural Business Center Program through which business centers provide programs and services to support MBEs. The bill also establishes new initiatives to promote economic resiliency for minority businesses, including (1) an annual forum to review problems and programs relating to capital formation by MBEs, (2) a study and report on alternative financing solutions for MBEs, and (3) entrepreneurship education grants for certain institutions of higher education to develop and implement entrepreneurship curricula. Further, the bill establishes grants for certain nonprofit organizations that provide services to MBEs as one of their primary activities. The bill authorizes the MBDA to coordinate federal government programs and operations that affect the establishment, preservation, and strengthening of socially or economically disadvantaged businesses. The Government Accountability Office must report on the programs carried out pursuant to the bill.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Minority Business Development Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 2068, Minority Business Development Act of 2021 (2022-11-16)

Cosponsors on this site

Tim Scott (R-SC), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Cornyn (R-TX)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117s2068.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/s>

Record fed-us-cong117-s2068 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117