Education

HR 1642, the Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025, requires Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) to help small businesses connect with career and technical education (CTE) programs. Specifically, SBDCs must provide small businesses with information on hiring CTE graduates and relevant programs, while WBCs must do the same for women-owned businesses. The bill also directs these centers to connect businesses with CTE programs to help students and graduates find jobs. This directly affects small businesses (and women-owned businesses for WBCs), CTE programs, and their graduates by creating formal pathways for hiring. The policy change mandates new duties for existing centers under the Small Business Act, without altering funding or creating new programs.

HR 881, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act, restricts Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with China-funded Confucius Institutes or specific Chinese entities deemed "of concern." It prohibits DHS funding for institutions with ties to Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese universities involved in military-civil fusion, defense work, Uyghur persecution, election interference, or other activities listed in the bill. Institutions must terminate such relationships within one year of enactment to regain eligibility for DHS funds. The bill requires the DHS Secretary to report to Congress on any institutions violating this funding restriction. (3 sentences)