[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 8, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3801-H3806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2018
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1680) to amend the Small Business Act to improve the women's
business center program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
[[Page H3802]]
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1680
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Business Centers
Improvements Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.
Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 29. WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Assistant administrator.--The term `Assistant
Administrator' means the Assistant Administrator of the
Office of Women's Business Ownership established under
subsection (l).
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an organization described in section 501(c) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under
section 501(a) of such Code;
``(B) a State, regional, or local economic development
organization, so long as the organization certifies that
grant funds received under this section will not be co-
mingled with other funds;
``(C) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001)), unless such institution is currently receiving a
grant under section 21;
``(D) a development, credit, or finance corporation
chartered by a State, so long as the corporation certifies
that grant funds received under this section will not be
comingled with other funds; or
``(E) any combination of entities listed in subparagraphs
(A) through (D).
``(3) Small business concern owned and controlled by
women.--The term `small business concern owned and controlled
by women' has the meaning given under section 3(n).
``(4) Women's business center.--The term `women's business
center' means the location at which counseling and training
on the management, operations (including manufacturing,
services, and retail), access to capital, international
trade, Government procurement opportunities, and any other
matter that is needed to start, maintain, or expand a small
business concern owned and controlled by women.
``(b) Authority.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established a Women's
Business Center Program under which the Administrator may
provide a grant to any eligible entity to operate 1 or more
women's business centers for the benefit of small business
concerns owned and controlled by women.
``(2) Use of funds.--The women's business centers shall be
designed to provide counseling and training that meets the
needs of the small business concerns owned and controlled by
women, especially socially or economically disadvantaged
women, and shall provide--
``(A) financial assistance, including training and
counseling in how to apply for and secure business credit and
investment capital, preparing and presenting financial
statements, and managing cash flow and other financial
operations of a small business concern;
``(B) management assistance, including training and
counseling in how to plan, organize, staff, direct, and
control each major activity and function of a small business
concern; and
``(C) marketing assistance, including training and
counseling in identifying and segmenting domestic and
international market opportunities, preparing and executing
marketing plans, developing pricing strategies, locating
contract opportunities, negotiating contracts, and utilizing
varying public relations and advertising techniques.
``(3) Types of grants.--
``(A) Initial grant.--The amount of an initial grant
provided under this subsection to an eligible entity shall be
not more than $185,000 (as such amount is annually adjusted
by the Administrator to reflect the change in inflation).
``(B) Additional grants.--
``(i) In general.--With respect to an eligible entity that
has received a grant, the Administrator may award an
additional grant of up to $65,000, to be dispersed after the
expiration of the term of the initial grant under this
subsection if the Administrator determines that the eligible
entity--
``(I) has agreed to obtain, after its application has been
approved and notice of award has been issued, cash
contributions from non-Federal sources of 1 non-Federal
dollar for each Federal dollar;
``(II) is in good standing with the Women's Business Center
Program; and
``(III) has met performance goals for grant term of the
initial grant, if applicable.
``(ii) Limitations.--The Administrator may only award
additional grants under clause (i)--
``(I) during the 3rd and 4th quarters of the grant term of
the initial grant; and
``(II) from unobligated amounts made available to the
Administrator to carry out this section.
``(C) Continuation grants.--The Administrator may award a
continuation grant of up to $150,000 to an eligible entity
that received an initial grant under subparagraph (A). There
shall be no limitation on the number of continuation grants
an eligible entity may receive under this section.
``(c) Application.--
``(1) Initial grants and continuation grants.--To receive
an initial grant or continuation grant under this section, an
eligible entity shall submit an application to the
Administrator in such form, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Administrator may require,
including--
``(A) a certification that the eligible entity--
``(i) has designated an executive director or program
manager, who may be compensated using grant funds awarded
under this section or other sources, to manage the women's
business center for which a grant under subsection (b) is
sought; and
``(ii) meets the accounting and reporting requirements
established under guidance issued by the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget for the eligible entity;
``(B) information demonstrating the experience and
effectiveness of the eligible entity in--
``(i) provide counseling and training described under
subsection (b)(2);
``(ii) providing training and services to a representative
number of women who are socially or economically
disadvantaged; and
``(iii) working with resource partners of the
Administration and other entities; and
``(C) a 5-year plan that--
``(i) includes information relating to the assistance to be
provided by the women's business center in the area in which
the women's business center is located
``(ii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to meet
the needs of the market to be served by the women's business
center, including the ability to fundraise to obtain the
matching funds required under subsection (e)
``(iii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to
provide counseling and training described under subsection
(b)(2), including to a representative number of women who are
socially or economically disadvantaged.
``(2) Record retention.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall maintain a copy
of each application submitted under this subsection for not
less than 5 years.
``(B) Paperwork reduction.--The Administrator shall take
steps to reduce, to the maximum extent practicable, the
paperwork burden associated with carrying out subparagraph
(A).
``(d) Selection of Eligible Entities.--
``(1) In general.--In selecting recipients of initial
grants, the Administrator shall consider--
``(A) the experience of the applicant in providing
entrepreneurial training;
``(B) the amount of time needed for the applicant to
commence operation of a women's business center;
``(C) the capacity of the applicant to meet the
accreditation standards established under subsection (l)(4)
in a timely manner;
``(D) the ability of the applicant to sustain operations,
including its ability to obtain sufficient non-Federal funds,
for a 5-year period;
``(E) the proposed location of a women's business center to
be operated by the applicant eligible entity and its
proximity to Veteran Business Outreach Centers and to
recipients of grants under section 8(b)(1) or 21; and
``(F) the population density of the area to be served by
the women's business center operated by the applicant
eligible entity.
``(2) Selection criteria.--
``(A) Rulemaking.--The Administrator shall issue
regulations to specify the criteria for review and selection
of applicants under this subsection.
``(B) Modifications prohibited after announcement.--With
respect to a public announcement of any opportunity to be
awarded a grant under this section made by the Administrator
pursuant to subsection (j)(1), the Administrator may not
modify regulations issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) with
respect to such opportunity unless required to do so by an
Act of Congress or an order of a Federal court.
``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this clause may be
construed as prohibiting the Administrator from modifying the
regulations issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) (after
providing an opportunity for notice and comment) as such
regulations apply to an opportunity to be awarded a grant
under this section that the Administrator has not yet
publicly announced pursuant to subsection (j)(1).
``(e) Matching Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (5), upon approval
of an application submitted under subsection (c), the
eligible entity shall agree to obtain contributions from non-
Federal sources--
``(A) in the first and second year of the term of an
initial grant, if applicable, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 2
Federal dollars; and
``(B) in each year of the term of an initial grant, if
applicable, 1 non-Federal dollar for each Federal dollar:
``(2) Form of matching funds.--Not more than one-half of
non-Federal matching funds described under paragraph (1) may
be in the form of in-kind contributions that are budget line
items only, including office equipment and office space.
``(3) Disbursement of funds.--The Administrator may
disburse an amount not greater than 25 percent of the total
amount of a grant awarded to an eligible entity before such
eligible entity obtains the non-Federal matching funds
described under paragraph (1).
[[Page H3803]]
``(4) Failure to obtain matching funds.--If an eligible
entity fails to obtain the required matching funds described
under paragraph (1), the eligible entity may not be eligible
to receive advance disbursements pursuant to paragraph (3)
during the remainder of the term, if applicable, of a grant
awarded under this section. Before approving such eligible
entity for an additional grant or continuation grant under
this section, the Administrator shall make a written
determination, including the reasons for such determination,
of whether the Administrator believes that the eligible
entity will be able to obtain the requisite funding under
paragraph (1) for such additional grant or continuation
grant.
``(5) Waiver of non-federal share.--
``(A) In general.--Upon request by an eligible entity, and
in accordance with this paragraph, the Administrator may
waive, in whole or in part, the requirement to obtain non-
Federal matching funds for a grant awarded under this section
for the eligible entity for a fiscal year. The Administrator
may not issue such a waiver for more than a total of 2
consecutive fiscal years.
``(B) Considerations.--In determining whether to issue a
waiver under this paragraph, the Administrator shall
consider--
``(i) the economic conditions affecting the eligible
entity;
``(ii) the impact the waiver would have on the credibility
of the Women's Business Center Program under this section;
``(iii) the demonstrated ability of the eligible entity to
raise non-Federal funds; and
``(iv) the performance of the eligible entity under the
initial grant.
``(C) Limitation.--The Administrator may not issue a waiver
under this paragraph if granting the waiver would undermine
the credibility of the Women's Business Center Program.
``(6) Excess non-federal dollars.--The amount of non-
Federal dollars obtained by an eligible entity that is above
the amount that is required to be obtained by the eligible
entity under this subsection shall not be subject to the
requirements of part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor thereto, if such amount of non-
Federal dollars--
``(A) is not used as matching funds for purposes of
implementing the Women's Business Center Program; and
``(B) was not obtained using funds from the Women's
Business Center Program.
``(f) Other Requirements.--
``(1) Separation of funds.--An eligible entity shall--
``(A) operate a women's business center under this section
separately from other projects, if any, of the eligible
entity; and
``(B) separately maintain and account for any grants
received under this section.
``(2) Examination of eligible entities.--
``(A) Required site visit.--Before receiving an initial
grant under this section, each applicant shall have a site
visit by an employee of the Administration, in order to
ensure that the applicant has sufficient resources to provide
the services for which the grant is being provided.
``(B) Annual review.--An employee of the Administration
shall--
``(i) conduct an annual review of the compliance of each
eligible entity receiving an initial grant under this section
with the grant agreement, including a financial examination;
and
``(ii) provide such review to the eligible entity as
required under subsection (j)(3).
``(3) Remediation of problems.--
``(A) Plan of action.--If a review of an eligible entity
under paragraph (2)(B) identifies any problems, the eligible
entity shall, within 45 calendar days of receiving a copy of
such review, provide the Assistant Administrator with a plan
of action, including specific milestones, for correcting such
problems.
``(B) Plan of action review by the assistant
administrator.--The Assistant Administrator shall review each
plan of action submitted under subparagraph (A) within 30
calendar days of receiving such plan. If the Assistant
Administrator determines that such plan--
``(i) will bring the eligible entity into compliance with
all the terms of the grant agreement, the Assistant
Administrator shall approve such plan; or
``(ii) is inadequate to remedy the problems identified in
the annual review to which the plan of action relates, the
Assistant Administrator shall set forth such reasons in
writing and provide such determination to the eligible entity
within 15 calendar days of such determination.
``(C) Amendment to plan of action.--An eligible entity
receiving a determination under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall
have 30 calendar days from the receipt of the determination
to amend the plan of action to satisfy the problems
identified by the Assistant Administrator and resubmit such
plan to the Assistant Administrator.
``(D) Amended plan review by the assistant administrator.--
Within 15 calendar days of the receipt of an amended plan of
action under subparagraph (C), the Assistant Administrator
shall either approve or reject such plan and provide such
approval or rejection in writing to the eligible entity.
``(E) Appeal of assistant administrator determination.--
``(i) In general.--If the Assistant Administrator rejects
an amended plan under subparagraph (D), the eligible entity
shall have the opportunity to appeal such decision to the
Administrator, who may delegate such appeal to an appropriate
officer of the Administration.
``(ii) Opportunity for explanation.--Any appeal described
under clause (i) shall provide an opportunity for the
eligible entity to provide, in writing, an explanation of why
the eligible entity's amended plan remedies the problems
identified in the annual review conducted under paragraph
(2)(B).
``(iii) Notice of determination.--The Administrator shall
provide to the eligible entity a determination of the appeal,
in writing, not later than 15 calendar days after the
eligible entity files an appeal under this subparagraph.
``(iv) Effect of failure to act.--If the Administrator
fails to act on an appeal made under this subparagraph within
the 15-day period specified under clause (iii), the eligible
entity's amended plan of action submitted under subparagraph
(C) shall be deemed to be approved.
``(4) Termination of grant.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall terminate a
grant to an eligible entity under this section if the
eligible entity fails to comply with--
``(i) a plan of action approved by the Assistant
Administrator under paragraph (3)(B)(i); or
``(ii) an amended plan of action approved by the Assistant
Administrator under paragraph (3)(D)or approved on appeal
under paragraph (3)(E).
``(B) Appeal of termination.--An eligible entity shall have
the opportunity to challenge the termination of a grant under
subparagraph (A) on the record and after an opportunity for a
hearing.
``(C) Final agency action.--A determination made pursuant
to subparagraph (B) shall be considered final agency action
for the purposes of chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code.
``(5) Solicitation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, an eligible entity may--
``(A) solicit cash and in-kind contributions from private
individuals and entities to be used to operate a women's
business center; and
``(B) use amounts made available by the Administrator under
this section for the cost of such solicitation and management
of the contributions received.
``(6) Notice and comment required.--The Administrator may
only make a change to the standards by which an eligible
entity obtains or maintains grants under this section, the
standards for accreditation, or any other requirement for the
operation of a women's business center if the Administrator
first provides notice and the opportunity for public comment,
as set forth in section 553(b) of title 5, United States
Code, without regard to any exceptions provided for under
such section.
``(g) Program Examination.--
``(1) In general.--The Administration shall--
``(A) develop and implement an annual programmatic and
financial examination of each eligible entity, under which
each such eligible entity shall provide to the
Administration--
``(i) an itemized cost breakdown of actual expenditures for
costs incurred during the preceding year; and
``(ii) documentation regarding the amount of matching
assistance from non-Federal sources obtained and expended by
the eligible entity during the preceding year in order to
meet the requirements of subsection (e) and, with respect to
any in-kind contributions described in subsection (e)(2) that
were used to satisfy the requirements of subsection (e),
verification of the existence and valuation of those
contributions; and
``(B) analyze the results of each such examination and,
based on that analysis, make a determination regarding the
programmatic and financial viability of each women's business
center operated by the eligible entity.
``(2) Conditions for continued funding.--In determining
whether to award a continuation grant, the Administrator--
``(A) shall consider the results of the most recent
examination of the eligible entity under paragraph (1); and
``(B) shall determine if--
``(i) the eligible entity has failed to provide, or
provided inadequate, information under paragraph (1)(A); or
``(ii) the eligible entity has failed to provide any
information required to be provided by the women's business
center for purposes of the management report under subsection
(k)(1), or the information provided by the center is
inadequate.
``(h) Contract Authority.--
``(1) Eligible entity.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section may enter into a contract with a
Federal department or agency to provide specific assistance
to small business concerns owned and controlled by women and
other underserved small business concerns, if performance of
such a contract does not hinder the ability of the eligible
entity to carry out the terms of a grant received under this
section.
``(2) Administrator.--The authority of the Administrator to
enter into contracts shall be in effect for each fiscal year
only to the extent and in the amounts as are provided in
advance in appropriations Acts. After the Administrator has
entered into a contract, either as a grant or a cooperative
agreement, with any applicant under this section, the
Administrator shall not suspend, terminate, or fail to renew
or extend any such contract unless the Administrator provides
the applicant with written notification setting forth
[[Page H3804]]
the reasons therefore and affords the applicant an
opportunity for a hearing, appeal, or other administrative
proceeding under chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code.
``(i) Privacy Requirements.--
``(1) In general.--A women's business center may not
disclose the name, address, or telephone number of any
individual or small business concern receiving assistance
under this section without the consent of such individual or
small business concern, unless--
``(A) the Administrator is ordered to make such a
disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal enforcement
action initiated by a Federal or State agency; or
``(B) the Administrator considers such a disclosure to be
necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of
a women's business center, except that such a disclosure
shall be limited to the information necessary for such audit.
``(2) Administration use of information.--This subsection
shall not--
``(A) restrict Administration access to women's business
center data; or
``(B) prevent the Administration from using information
about individuals who use women's business centers (other
than the information described in subparagraph (A)) to
conduct surveys of such individuals.
``(3) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue
regulations to establish standards for disclosures for
purposes of a financial audit under paragraph (1)(B).
``(j) Notification Requirements Under the Women's Business
Center Program.--The Administrator shall provide the
following:
``(1) A public announcement of any opportunity to be
awarded grants under this section, to include the selection
criteria under subsection (d) and any applicable regulations.
``(2) To any applicant for a grant under this section that
failed to obtain such a grant, an opportunity to debrief with
the Administrator to review the reasons for the applicant's
failure.
``(3) To an eligible entity that receives an initial grant
under this section, if a site visit or review of the eligible
entity is carried out by an officer or employee of the
Administration (other than the Inspector General), a copy of
the site visit report or evaluation, as applicable, within 30
calendar days of the completion of such visit or evaluation.
``(k) Reports.--
``(1) Management report.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall prepare and
submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the effectiveness
of women's business centers operated through a grant awarded
under this section.
``(B) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include information concerning, with respect to each
women's business center established pursuant to a grant
awarded under this section--
``(i) the number of individuals receiving assistance;
``(ii) the number of startup business concerns formed;
``(iii) the gross receipts of assisted concerns;
``(iv) the employment increases or decreases of assisted
concerns;
``(v) to the maximum extent practicable, increases or
decreases in profits of assisted concerns; and
``(vi) the most recent analysis, as required under
subsection (g)(1)(B), and the subsequent determination made
by the Administration under that subsection.
``(2) Study and report on representation of women.--
``(A) Study.--The Administrator shall periodically conduct
a study to identify industries, as defined under the North
American Industry Classification System, underrepresented by
small business concerns owned and controlled by women.
``(B) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and every 5 years thereafter,
the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee
on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on
the results of each study under paragraph (1) conducted
during the 5-year period ending on the date of the report.
``(l) Office of Women's Business Ownership.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the
Administration an Office of Women's Business Ownership, which
shall be responsible for the administration of the
Administration's programs for the development of women's
business enterprises (as defined in section 408 of the
Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7108)). The
Office of Women's Business Ownership shall be administered by
an Assistant Administrator, who shall be appointed by the
Administrator.
``(2) Assistant administrator of the office of women's
business ownership.--
``(A) Qualification.--The position of Assistant
Administrator shall be a Senior Executive Service position
under section 3132(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code. The
Assistant Administrator shall serve as a noncareer appointee
(as defined in section 3132(a)(7) of that title).
``(B) Duties.--The Assistant Administrator shall administer
the programs and services of the Office of Women's Business
Ownership and perform the following functions:
``(i) Recommend the annual administrative and program
budgets of the Office and eligible entities receiving a grant
under the Women's Business Center Program.
``(ii) Review the annual budgets submitted by each eligible
entity receiving a grant under the Women's Business Center
Program.
``(iii) Collaborate with other Federal departments and
agencies, State and local governments, not-for-profit
organizations, and for-profit organizations to maximize
utilization of taxpayer dollars and reduce (or eliminate) any
duplication among the programs overseen by the Office of
Women's Business Ownership and those of other entities that
provide similar services to women entrepreneurs.
``(iv) Maintain a clearinghouse to provide for the
dissemination and exchange of information between women's
business centers.
``(v) Serve as the vice chairperson of the Interagency
Committee on Women's Business Enterprise and as the liaison
for the National Women's Business Council.
``(3) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Women's
Business Ownership shall be to assist women entrepreneurs to
start, grow, and compete in global markets by providing
quality support with access to capital, access to markets,
job creation, growth, and counseling by--
``(A) fostering participation of women entrepreneurs in the
economy by overseeing a network of women's business centers
throughout States and territories;
``(B) creating public-private partnerships to support women
entrepreneurs and conduct outreach and education to small
business concerns owned and controlled by women; and
``(C) working with other programs of the Administrator to--
``(i) ensure women are well-represented in those programs
and being served by those programs; and
``(ii) identify gaps where participation by women in those
programs could be increased.
``(4) Accreditation program.--
``(A) Establishment.--Not later than 270 days after the
date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator shall
publish standards for a program to accredit eligible entities
that receive a grant under this section.
``(B) Public comment; transition.--Before publishing the
standards under subparagraph (A), the Administrator--
``(i) shall provide a period of not less than 60 days for
public comment on such standards; and
``(ii) may not terminate a grant under this section absent
evidence of fraud or other criminal misconduct by the
recipient.
``(C) Contracting authority.--The Administrator may provide
financial assistance, by contract or otherwise, to a relevant
national women's business center representative association
to provide assistance in establishing the standards required
under subparagraph (A) or for carrying out an accreditation
program pursuant to such standards.
``(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Administration to carry out this section, to remain
available until expended, $21,750,000 for each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2022.
``(2) Use of amounts.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
amounts made available under this subsection for fiscal year
2018, and each fiscal year thereafter, may only be used for
grant awards and may not be used for costs incurred by the
Administration in connection with the management and
administration of the program under this section.
``(B) Exceptions.--Of the amount made available under this
subsection for a fiscal year, the following amounts shall be
available:
``(i) For the first fiscal year beginning after the date of
the enactment of this subparagraph, 2.65 percent.
``(ii) For the second fiscal year beginning after the date
of the enactment of this subparagraph and each fiscal year
thereafter through fiscal year 2022, 2.5 percent.
``(3) Expedited acquisition.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Administrator may use such expedited
acquisition methods as the Administrator determines to be
appropriate to carry out this section, except that the
Administrator shall ensure that all small business sources
are provided a reasonable opportunity to submit proposals.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECT ON EXISTING GRANTS.
(a) Terms and Conditions.--A nonprofit organization
receiving a grant under section 29(m) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day before the
date of enactment of this Act, shall continue to receive the
grant under the terms and conditions in effect for the grant
on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, except
that the nonprofit organization may not apply for a
continuation of the grant under section 29(m)(5) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)(5)), as in effect on the day
before the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Length of Continuation Grant.--The Administrator of the
Small Business Administration may award a grant under section
29(m) of the Small Business Act, as amended by this Act, to a
nonprofit organization receiving a grant under section 29(m)
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on
the day before the date of enactment of this Act, for the
period--
[[Page H3805]]
(1) beginning on the day after the last day of the grant
agreement under such section 29(m); and
(2) ending at the end of the third fiscal year beginning
after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. REGULATIONS.
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Administrator of Small Business Administration
shall publish in the Federal Register such regulations as are
necessary to carry out section 29 of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 656), as amended by this Act. The Administrator
shall accept public comments on such proposed regulations for
a period of not less than 60 days.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1680, the Women's
Business Centers Improvements Act of 2018, which was introduced by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Knight), who is also the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce and who has been a very
active member of that committee for quite some time now.
This legislation makes key updates to the Small Business
Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership and the Women's
Business Center, or WBC, program.
The WBC program provides grants to over 100 nonprofit organizations
across the country to provide socially and economically disadvantaged
women with technical and managerial training designed to meet the needs
of women entrepreneurs. Many women's business centers offer training at
night, or in multiple languages, to ensure that all women have the
small business knowledge, tools, and support they need when creating or
sustaining a business.
Last year, WBCs trained over 114,000 clients and advised over 26,000
individuals. This training and counseling contributed to the creation
of more than 17,000 new small businesses in the United States. Clearly,
the Women's Business Center program has a profound impact not only in
our local communities, but also on our Nation's economy overall.
H.R. 1680 authorizes the WBC program, requiring specific conditions
for participation and application criteria for organizations seeking a
WBC grant. While many of these requirements have been met in practice,
the inclusion of these standards in statute allows for increased
congressional oversight and program confidence.
H.R. 1680 also increases the WBC grant award to reflect inflation.
This minor increase provides new and existing women's business centers
with the support they need to provide an effective course curriculum to
small business clients.
Additionally, H.R. 1680 requires the SBA to establish a WBC
accreditation program. This program, similar to the successful small
business development center accreditation program, will ensure
pragmatic consistency among WBC locations and guarantee that each
center is providing women entrepreneurs with effective training
opportunities. These updates will ensure that the funds supporting the
WBC program are used efficiently and to foster economic growth.
H.R. 1680 is an important step to ensuring that the more than 11.6
million women-owned small businesses continue to grow and that the next
generation of women entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pursue
business creation. For that reason, I urge my colleagues to support
H.R. 1680.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1415
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1680, the Women's Business
Centers Improvements Act of 2018.
Small businesses are as diverse as our Nation, and the SBA
entrepreneurial development initiatives are no different.
Women's business centers, or WBCs, are a critical initiative for
female entrepreneurs. WBCs provide in-depth counseling, training, and
mentoring to small firms, resulting in substantial economic impact.
Women businessowners have used this program to develop business
plans, obtain financing, and expand their operations. As more women
turn to entrepreneurship as a career path, it is critical this
initiative remain in place to close these gaps.
Women are the fastest growing sector of entrepreneurs, and as more
women establish home-based businesses, downsize from corporate
executive positions, these centers are crucial in addressing the whole
range of women's entrepreneurial needs.
The Women's Business Centers Improvements Act builds upon their
success by creating uniformity through accreditation for WBCs and
increasing maximum grant levels to ensure they have the resources to
meet the growing demand for their services.
We all agree that women businessowners offer invaluable contributions
to our economy, so we must step up to help them, and this legislation
achieves that.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, before I turn it over to the gentleman, the
principal sponsor of the bill, I want to thank our colleague Mr. Lawson
for his work on this bill as well. Again, we have been bipartisan,
Republican and Democrat, working together to advance, in this case,
women entrepreneurs all across the country.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from California (Mr. Knight), the chairman of the Subcommittee on
Contracting and Workforce.
Mr. KNIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership. I
thank Mr. Lawson and Ranking Member Velazquez for their leadership in
this very, very important measure.
Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in support of the Women's Business
Centers Improvements Act of 2018.
I introduced H.R. 1680 so that the outstanding growth our country has
seen within women's entrepreneurship within the last decade can
continue.
Over the last 10 years, the number of women-owned small businesses
has increased by 114 percent. With women-owned firms growing more than
two and a half times faster than the average business, we must
recognize women entrepreneurs as a driving force in the U.S. economy.
The legislation modernizes both the Small Business Administration's
Office of Women's Business Ownership and the SBA's Women's Business
Centers program.
The Office of Women's Business Ownership administers the grant
program that funds women's business centers. H.R. 1680 would require
consistent standards and application requirements for grant recipients,
ensuring that those centers have the ability to provide women with
small business counseling and training.
The bill also institutes commonsense oversight requirements,
standards for continued funding, and conditions of participation. This
will increase congressional accountability and responsibility.
H.R. 1680 will allow millions of women throughout the country
continued access to reliable and effective small business resources.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1680.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Lawson), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health
and Technology.
Mr. LAWSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1680,
the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act. This is a critically
important piece of legislation that supports our Nation's women-owned
small businesses.
Women's Business Centers support women-owned businesses through
counseling and technical assistance. This
[[Page H3806]]
network of educational centers is the nexus for women who are either
looking to start a business or looking to grow their business to the
next level.
This bill clarifies the work of the Office of Women's Business
Ownership within the SBA to help women entrepreneurs compete in a
global market.
Specifically, there are more than 11.6 million small businesses owned
by women, who employ nearly 9 million people. Further, there are
roughly 5.4 million businesses owned by women of color, employing over
2.1 million people.
I am proud to work with my colleague, Mr. Stephen Knight, on a
bipartisan bill to increase the level of support for women
businessowners so that we can guarantee that women entrepreneurs have
the on-the-ground resources for them to strive.
I might point out that in the committee we learned that women-owned
businesses are the fastest growing businesses in America.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this nonpartisan
bill, H.R. 1680.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the United States has over 9 million women-owned firms,
over one-third of all firms. Our economy relies heavily on women-owned
small businesses, as they generate over $1 trillion in revenues and
employ over 8 million workers. H.R. 1680 ensures that they have access
to the tools they need to succeed.
Because nearly half of aspiring women businessowners report a lack of
available mentors, we must take action to break down the barriers
hindering their success. That is why it is imperative for us to pass
this legislation today, ensuring access to mentorship and professional
guidance to the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs.
Today's measure is endorsed by the Association of Women's Business
Centers, along with other organizations.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, almost 40 percent of all firms in the United States are
women-owned, and over the last 10 years that number has more than
doubled.
It is important to recognize women entrepreneurs as a driving force
in the American economy. This legislation, I think, goes a long way in
recognizing that and actually improving it over the upcoming years.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1680, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________