New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act
Introduced Dec 4, 2025 by Rep. Mike Carey
The House passed it. The Senate has to pass it before it can reach the President.
This bill increases the percentage of individuals who may participate in a Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program, generally expands eligibility for such programs, and modifies certain SEA program requirements.
As background, an SEA program provides an individual with an SEA allowance, rather than regular unemployment compensation benefits, if such individual is (1) eligible for unemployment compensation benefits and identified as likely to exhaust such benefits, (2) participating in self-employment assistance activities which include entrepreneurial training, business counseling, and technical assistance and are approved by the state, and (3) working full-time on establishing a business and becoming self-employed. Under current law, the number of individuals participating in an SEA program may not exceed 5% of the individuals receiving regular unemployment compensation benefits in the state.
The bill
increases the percentage of individuals who may participate in a state SEA program to 10%,
Read the full summary on Congress.govSummary by the Congressional Research Service.
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill — it may have passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record individual votes.
- Apr 28, 2026Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Apr 27, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Apr 27, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3114)
- Apr 27, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3114)
- Apr 27, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6431.
- Apr 27, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3114-3115)
- Apr 27, 2026Mr. Carey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Feb 20, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 435.
- Feb 20, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-509.
- Jan 14, 2026Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
- Jan 14, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Dec 4, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Dec 4, 2025Introduced in House