[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4465-H4470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6441) to amend the Small Business Act to improve the women's
business center program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6441
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
Improvement Act of 2022''.
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 (k).
``(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, if the organization certifies that grant funds
received under this section will not be commingled with other
funds;
``(C) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965), unless such
institution is currently receiving a grant under section 21;
``(D) a development, credit, or finance corporation
chartered by a State, if such corporation certifies that
grant funds received under this section will not be
commingled 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) Resource partners.--The term `resource partners'
means small business development centers, chapters of the
Service Corps of Retired Executives (established under
section 8(b)(1)(B)), and Veteran Business Outreach Centers
(described under section 32).
``(5) 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.
``(6) Women's business center association.--The term
`Women's Business Center Association' means a membership
organization formed by women's business centers to pursue
matters of common concern.
``(b) Authority.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established a Women's
Business Center Program under which the Administrator may
enter into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity to
provide a grant to such eligible entity to operate one or
more women's business centers for the benefit of small
business concerns owned and controlled by women.
``(2) Use of funds.--A women's business center established
using funds made available under this section shall be
designed to provide entrepreneurial counseling and training
that meets the needs of the small business concerns owned and
controlled by women, especially such concerns owned and
controlled by women who are both socially and economically
disadvantaged (as defined under section 8(a)), and shall
provide--
``(A) financial assistance, including counseling and
training on how to--
``(i) apply for and secure business credit and investment
capital;
``(ii) prepare and present financial statements; and
``(iii) manage cash flow and other financial operations of
a small business concern;
``(B) management assistance, including counseling and
training on how to plan, organize, staff, direct, and control
each major activity and function of a small business concern;
and
``(C) marketing assistance, including counseling and
training on how to--
``(i) identify and segment domestic and international
market opportunities;
``(ii) prepare and execute marketing plans;
``(iii) develop pricing strategies;
``(iv) locate contract opportunities;
``(v) negotiate contracts; and
``(vi) use various public relations and advertising
techniques.
``(3) Types of grants.--
``(A) Initial grant.--The amount of an initial grant, which
shall be for a 5-year term, provided under this subsection to
an eligible entity shall be not more than $300,000 annually
(as such amount is annually adjusted by the Administrator to
reflect the change in inflation).
``(B) Continuation grants.--The Administrator may award a
continuation grant, which shall be for a 5-year term, of not
more than $300,000 annually (as such amount is annually
adjusted by the Administrator to reflect the change in
inflation) 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.--
[[Page H4466]]
``(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 each women's
business center for which a grant under subsection (b) is
sought; and
``(ii) meets accounting and reporting requirements
established by the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget;
``(B) information demonstrating the experience and
effectiveness of the eligible entity in--
``(i) providing entrepreneurial counseling and training
described under subsection (b)(2);
``(ii) providing training and services to a representative
number of women who are both socially and economically
disadvantaged; and
``(iii) working with resource partners, offices of the
Administration, and other public and private entities
engaging in entrepreneurial and small business development;
and
``(C) a 5-year plan that--
``(i) includes information relating to the assistance to be
provided by each women's business center in the area in which
each such center is located;
``(ii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to meet
the needs of the market to be served by each women's business
center;
``(iii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to
obtain the matching funds required under subsection (e); and
``(iv) describes the ability of the eligible entity to
provide entrepreneurial counseling and training described
under subsection (b)(2), including to a representative number
of women who are both socially and 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 counseling and training;
``(B) the amount of time needed for the applicant to
commence operation of a women's business center;
``(C) in consultation with a Women's Business Center
Association, the capacity of the applicant to meet the
accreditation standards established under subsection (k)(4)
in a timely manner;
``(D) the ability of the applicant to sustain operations,
including the applicant's ability to obtain matching funds
under subsection (e), for a 5-year period;
``(E) the proposed location of a women's business center to
be operated by the applicant and the location's proximity to
Veteran Business Outreach Centers and to recipients of grants
under section 8(b)(1) or 21;
``(F) the population density of the area to be served by
the women's business center operated by the applicant; and
``(G) the advice and counsel of a Women's Business Center
Association to determine areas with unmet needs and the
likelihood that the recipient will become accredited.
``(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 (l)(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 paragraph 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 (l)(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 every
2 Federal dollars; and
``(B) in each subsequent year of the term of an initial
grant, if applicable, or for the term of a continuation
grant, 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) 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.
``(4) 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 matching funds described under
paragraph (1).
``(5) 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 (4)
during the remainder of the term, if applicable, of an
initial grant awarded under this section. Before approving
such eligible entity for a 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 matching funding
under paragraph (1) for such continuation grant.
``(6) 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
matching funds under paragraph (1) for a grant awarded under
this section for the eligible entity for a 1-year term of the
grant.
``(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 demonstrated ability of the eligible entity to
raise non-Federal funds; and
``(iii) the performance of the eligible entity under the
initial grant.
``(C) Limitation.--The Administrator may not issue a waiver
under this paragraph if the Administrator determines that
granting the waiver would undermine the credibility of the
Women's Business Center Program.
``(7) Excess non-federal dollars.--The amount of non-
Federal dollars obtained by an eligible entity that is
greater than 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 by using funds granted under the
Women's Business Center Program.
``(8) Carryover.--An eligible entity may use excess non-
Federal dollars described in paragraph (7) to satisfy the
matching funds requirement under paragraph (1) for the
subsequent 1-year grant term, if applicable, except that such
amounts shall be subject to the requirements of part 200 of
title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor
thereto.
``(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 grant funds
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 programmatic and financial
examination of each eligible entity, as described in
subsection (g); and
``(ii) provide the results of such examination to the
eligible entity.
``(3) Remediation of problems.--
``(A) Plan of action.--If an examination of an eligible
entity conducted under paragraph (2)(B) identifies any
problems, the eligible entity shall, within 45 calendar days
of receiving a copy of the results of such examination,
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 a cooperative agreement described in
subsection (b), the Assistant Administrator shall approve
such plan; or
``(ii) is inadequate to remedy the problems identified in
the annual examination to
[[Page H4467]]
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 examination 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) Consultation with majority women's business center
association.--If on the date of the enactment of this
subsection, a majority of women's business centers that are
operating pursuant to agreements with the Administration are
members of an individual Women's Business Center Association,
the Administrator shall--
``(A) recognize the existence and activities of such
Association; and
``(B) consult with the Association on, and negotiate with
the Association in the development of documents with respect
to--
``(i) announcing the annual scope of activities pursuant to
this section;
``(ii) requesting proposals to deliver assistance as
provided in this section; and
``(iii) governing the general operations and administration
of women's business centers, specifically including the
development of regulations and a uniform negotiated
cooperative agreement for use on an annual basis when
entering into individual cooperative agreements with women's
business centers.
``(6) Enforcement.--
``(A) Grants.--The Assistant Administrator shall develop
policies and procedures to minimize the possibility of
awarding a grant to an eligible entity that will operate a
women's business center that likely will not remain in
compliance with program and financial requirements.
``(B) Individual cooperative agreements.--The Assistant
Administrator shall enforce the terms of any individual
cooperative agreement described in paragraph (5)(B)(iii).
``(g) Program Examination.--
``(1) In general.--The Administration shall--
``(A) develop and implement an annual programmatic and
financial examination of each eligible entity receiving a
grant under this section, 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 to an eligible entity,
the Administrator--
``(A) shall consider the results of the most recent
examination of the eligible entity under paragraph (1);
``(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 a women's business
center for purposes of the management report under subsection
(m)(1), or the information provided by the center is
inadequate; and
``(C) shall consider the accreditation status as described
in subsection (k)(4).
``(3) Additional oversight.--The Assistant Administrator
shall work with the Women's Business Center Association
recognized under subsection (f)(5) (as applicable) to
develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures for
conducting financial examinations under this subsection and
to maintain internal controls that ensure that such financial
examinations are conducted properly.
``(h) 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.
``(i) 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 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.
``(j) 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 orders such disclosure after 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 to conduct
surveys of such individuals.
``(3) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue
regulations to establish standards for disclosures for
purposes of a financial audit described under paragraph
(1)(B).
``(k) 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). 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
[[Page H4468]]
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 support, by contract or otherwise, to a Women's
Business Center Association to provide assistance in
establishing the standards required under subparagraph (A) or
for carrying out an accreditation program pursuant to such
standards.
``(5) Continuation grant considerations.--
``(A) In general.--In determining whether to award a
continuation grant under this section, the Administrator
shall consider the results of the annual programmatic and
financial examination conducted under subsection (g) and the
accreditation program.
``(B) Accreditation requirement.--After the end of the 2-
year period beginning on the date of enactment of this
subsection, the Administration may not award a continuation
grant under this section unless the applicable eligible
entity has been approved under the accreditation program
conducted pursuant to this subsection, except that the
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women's Business
Ownership may waive such accreditation requirement, in the
discretion of the Assistant Administrator, upon a showing
that the eligible entity is making a good faith effort to
obtain accreditation.
``(6) Annual conference.--Each women's business center
shall participate in annual professional development at an
annual conference facilitated by a Women's Business Center
Association.
``(l) 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.
``(m) Annual Management Report.--
``(1) 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 an annual report on the
effectiveness of women's business centers operated through a
grant awarded under this section.
``(2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include--
``(A) information concerning, with respect to each women's
business center established pursuant to a grant awarded under
this section, the most recent analysis of the annual
programmatic and financial examination of the applicable
eligible entity, as required under subsection (g)(1)(B), and
the subsequent determination made by the Administration under
that subsection;
``(B) the number of persons counseled and trained through
the Women's Business Center Program;
``(C) the total number of hours of counseling and training
through the Program;
``(D) the demographics of Program participants to include
gender, race, and age of each such participant;
``(E) the number of Program participants who are veterans;
``(F) the number of new businesses started by participants
in the Program;
``(G) to the extent practicable, the number of jobs
supported, created or retained with assistance from women's
business centers;
``(H) the amount of capital secured by participants in the
Program, including through loans and equity investment;
``(I) the number of participants in the Program receiving
financial assistance, including the type and dollar amount,
under the loan programs of the Administration;
``(J) an estimate of gross receipts, including to the
extent practicable a description of any change in revenue of
small business concerns assisted through the Program;
``(K) to the maximum extent practicable, increases or
decreases in revenues for the assisted small business
concerns;
``(L) the number of referrals made to other resources and
programs of the Administration;
``(M) the results of satisfaction surveys of participants,
including a summary of any comments received from such
participants; and
``(N) any recommendations by the Administrator to improve
the delivery of services by women's business centers.
``(n) 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, $31,500,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2025.
``(2) Use of amounts.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
amounts made available under this subsection for fiscal year
2022, 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 for costs incurred by the Administration in
connection with the management and administration of the
program under this section:
``(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 2025, 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.
``(4) Accreditation and annual conference.--Not less than
$500,000 of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph
(1) for a fiscal year shall be available for purposes of
carrying out subsection (k), of which no less than $50,000
shall be available to support an annual conference described
under subsection (k)(6).''.
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 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--
(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 issue such rules as are necessary to carry out section
29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656), as amended by
this Act, and ensure that a period of public comment for such
rules is not less than 60 days.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.
[[Page H4469]]
Luetkemeyer) each will control 20 minutes.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
April 26, 2022, on page H4468, in the third column, the
following appeared: The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule,
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr.
The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro
tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms.
Velazquez) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6441, the Women's
Business Center Improvement Act of 2022. This bill will modernize and
strengthen the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Center
program to better serve America's women entrepreneurs and women-owned
small businesses.
I thank Ms. Davids and Ms. Tenney for their meaningful work to ensure
women entrepreneurs across the country have continued access to vital
counseling and training.
WBCs are a critic component of SBA's Resource Partner ecosystem,
assisting women in communities across the country, particularly those
that are socially and economically disadvantaged.
The WBC program forms more than 130 centers nationwide and offers a
full range of counseling and training services for all stages of
business development. Many of the WBCs provide multilingual services,
maintain evening and weekend hours to accommodate clients who work full
time, and provide childcare.
In fiscal year 2020, with the additional funding provided by the
CARES Act, the WBC program increased their reach by 22 percent and
trained and advised more than 82,000 clients, helping them create
nearly 30,000 small businesses.
As we all know, women were particularly hard-hit by the pandemic.
Women-owned businesses closed at higher rates than their male
counterparts as women disproportionately left the workforce to be the
primary caregivers for their families.
That is why I am pleased to support the Women's Business Centers
Improvement Act of 2022, which increases the program's annual
authorization level and increases the cap on individual center grants.
By doing so, more established centers can expand their reach to greater
numbers of women.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bipartisan bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 6441, the Women's Business
Centers Improvement Act of 2022.
Women's Business Centers, WBCs, support over 150,000 women
entrepreneurs each year through training, mentoring, business
development, and financing opportunities. This legislation, H.R. 6441,
will bring increased oversight to the WBC program and long overdue
modernizations.
This legislation improves collaboration with the SBA's Office of
Women's Business Ownership and requires the SBA to provide an annual
report to Congress to measure the effectiveness of the WBC program.
We have found that we have got some problems with some of the WBC
offices, and this legislation will help weed out the bad actors by
requiring SBA to develop policies and procedures to reduce the
possibility of awarding grants to a WBC that will likely not remain in
compliance with the program.
This important legislation will not only ensure the integrity of the
WBC program, but also support female entrepreneurs in their business
ventures.
{time} 1430
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Davids and Ms. Tenney for
working in a bipartisan manner to ensure this bill reached the House
floor. I thank the chair for advancing this bill.
I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6441, which was
unanimously reported out of our committee and has previously passed the
House floor in a similar form.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Kansas (Ms. Davids), the chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth,
Tax, and Capital Access.
Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and
our ranking member for all the work they are doing on the House
Committee on Small Business.
I rise today to urge my colleagues to stand up for the small business
owners in their community and vote for my bill to support the Women's
Business Centers.
Women are the engine of our economy. Women-owned businesses employ
9.4 million people nationwide, contributing $1.2 trillion to our
economy each year. When we invest in the success of women, we are
giving our entire economy a boost.
Women's Business Centers are an effective resource that reach more
than 88,000 entrepreneurs each year through training, mentorship, and
counseling. In 2020 alone, the WBC program increased its outreach by 22
percent and helped start and sustain more than 30,000 small businesses.
To put it clearly, during the pandemic, they increased their
outreach. That is a solid record of success made even more impressive
by the commitment to stepping up when they were needed the most.
I have visited with the local Kansas City Women's Business Center in
Overland Park. They serve the Kansas City metro area and the entire
State of Kansas. I have also spoken with women who have used their
services, folks like Lenora, who started Technology Group Solutions 15
years ago with the help of the Kansas City Women's Business Center. She
now oversees more than 80 employees in three States.
She told me that she hears from women who don't have the network or
access to capital that they need to get their businesses off the
ground. She sends them to the WBC because when Lenora first started her
business, the center helped fill those gaps, paving the way for her to
grow what is now a multimillion-dollar company.
Other women I have spoken with specifically cite the WBC's evening
and weekend hours and that they offer childcare during training
sessions. It is those tailored services that have made these centers
such a crucial contributor to the success of so many businessowners.
My bill, which we are voting on today, will enhance the WBC program
to ensure that women entrepreneurs all across the country have access
to counseling and training services. I have seen it in action, and it
is why I introduced and strongly support this bipartisan piece of
legislation.
It would raise the cap on grants for the first time since the program
began and create an accreditation system to help establish standards of
excellence, ensuring that our funds are being spent wisely to help
growing entrepreneurs.
The Kansas City Women's Business Center served more than 800 clients
last year. How many more businesses could they grow? How many more
aspiring entrepreneurs could they reach with more resources?
I am proud to have introduced this important piece of legislation
alongside Congresswoman Tenney, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney), a strong advocate for small
businesses and the ranking member of the Small Business Subcommittee
for Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development.
Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6441,
the Women's Business Centers Improvement Act, legislation that I am
honored to lead with my colleague, Representative Sharice Davids.
Female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses play a critical role
in our Nation's economy. As a longtime small business owner myself, and
the owner of a woman-owned business, I understand the challenges women-
owned small businesses face, especially in rural communities.
The Women's Business Center program at the Small Business
Administration has been helping women overcome obstacles and build
thriving businesses for over 30 years. With more than 150 locations
across the Nation, the Women's Business Center program provides over
150,000 female small business owners annually with resources
[[Page H4470]]
and guidance, helping them to identify opportunities for growth.
The bipartisan Women's Business Centers Improvement Act will
strengthen the Women's Business Center program, increase authorized
funding, and enact commonsense taxpayer protections and oversight
provisions to safeguard public dollars and ensure that the program
efficiently serves the American people.
Additionally, the bill will expand the cap on grants made available
under this program, which will better support our women entrepreneurs.
These improvements will help the Women's Business Centers program run
efficiently and expand into more communities, like those underserved
communities particularly in my district and Ms. Davids' district and
all across New York and our Nation.
I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan women-owned small
businesses bill and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6441.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Women's
Business Centers Improvement Act, and I thank Representatives Davids
and Tenney for their work on this very important and bipartisan piece
of legislation.
As our small business owners continue to recover from the pandemic,
Congress must do everything it can to ensure access to quality
entrepreneurial development resources.
Underscoring the need for this bill, a recent study in partnership
with the Association of Women's Business Centers found that profits for
female business owners dropped by 26 percent from 2020 to 2021, with
average profits of about $47,000 less than male-owned firms.
The economic pressures of the pandemic have hit women-owned
businesses particularly hard, including increasing operating expenses
due to supply chain disruptions and rising costs.
As an entrepreneur myself, I recognize the challenges women business
leaders face every day and especially in this moment. It is why I stand
before you to talk about the importance of passing the Women's Business
Centers Improvement Act.
This legislation will make needed improvements to the Small Business
Administration's successful Women's Business Center program. The bill
will also strengthen the Office of Women's Business Ownership and will
improve coordination between the Association of Women's Business
Centers and the SBA.
Furthermore, this legislation allows Congress to increase funding for
Women's Business Center programs, which I have been proud to advocate
for with my colleague, Representative Marie Newman.
With these additional resources, the SBA will be able to advise and
train more women entrepreneurs. I have seen the demand for such
programs right in my community of Chester and Berks Counties.
In fact, this bipartisan effort is especially impactful for our
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which has one of the highest numbers of
women-owned businesses in the Nation. The time is now to build on that
success.
I thank Small Business Committee Chair Velazquez and Ranking Member
Luetkemeyer again for helping to bring this important bill to a vote
before the House today. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote
``yes'' today on this bipartisan bill to support our small business
owners.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, the WBC program has delivered for
women-owned small businesses for many years. This legislation
reauthorizes the program, increases accountability and oversight, and
ensures the program continues to serve our entrepreneurs in the future.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6441, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Women are vital members of the Nation's critical small business
community and the American economy. H.R. 6441 will modernize and
strengthen SBA's WBC program so it can meet the moment and provide the
necessary resources to women, particularly the ones driven out of the
workforce during the pandemic.
Not only have Ms. Davids and Ms. Tenney continued to work to improve
the WBC program, but they have expanded upon our efforts last Congress
by addressing the challenges highlighted during the public health
emergency. I thank them for this effort.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6441.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________