[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4041 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4041
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 4, 2012
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to further enhance the
promotion of exports of United States goods and services, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Export Promotion Reform Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVED COORDINATION EXPORT PROMOTION ACTIVITIES OF FEDERAL
AGENCIES.
Section 2312 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (relating to the
Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee; 15 U.S.C. 4727) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph
(7); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) in making the assessments under paragraph (5), review
the proposed annual budget of each agency described in
paragraph (5), under procedures established by the Committee
for such review, before the agency submits that budget to the
Office of Management and Budget and the President for inclusion
in the budget of the United States submitted to Congress under
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code; and'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as
paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) in conducting the review and developing the plan
under paragraph (2), take into account recommendations from a
representative number of United States exporters, in particular
small businesses and medium-sized businesses, and
representatives of United States workers;''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Executive Order and Regulations.--The President shall issue
an executive order and such regulations as are necessary to provide the
chairperson of the TPCC with the authority to ensure that the TPCC
carries out each of its duties under subsection (b) and develops and
implements the strategic plan under subsection (c).
``(h) Definition.--In this section, the term `small business' means
a small business concern as defined under section 3 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES.
Section 2301(c)(4) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (relating
to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service; 15 U.S.C.
4721(c)(4)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) as
subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively; and
(2) by striking ``(4) Foreign offices.--(A) The Secretary
may'' and inserting the following:
``(4) Foreign offices.--(A)(i) In consultation with the
Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, the Secretary shall
conduct a global assessment of overseas markets to determine
those with the greatest potential for increasing United States
exports, and to deploy the Commercial Service personnel and
other resources on the basis of the global assessment.
``(ii) The assessment conducted under clause (i) shall take
into account recommendations from a representative number of
United States exporters, in particular small- and medium-sized
businesses, and representatives of United States workers.
``(iii) Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment
of the Export Promotion Reform Act, the Secretary shall submit
to Congress results of the global assessment conducted under
clause (i) and a plan for deployment of Commercial Service
personnel and other resources on the basis of the global
assessment.
``(iv) The Secretary shall conduct an assessment and
deployment described in clause (i) not less than once in every
5-year period.
``(B) The Secretary may''.
SEC. 4. STRENGTHENED U.S. COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY IN SUPPORT OF U.S.
EXPORTS.
(a) Development of Plan.--Section 207(c) of the Foreign Service Act
of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927(c)) is amended by inserting before the period
at the end the following: ``, including through the development of a
plan, drafted in consultation with the Trade Promotion Coordinating
Committee, for effective diplomacy to remove or reduce obstacles to
exports of United States goods and services''.
(b) Assessments and Promotions.--Section 603(b) of the Foreign
Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4003(b)) is amended, in the second
sentence, by inserting after ``expertise'' the following: ``and (with
respect to members of the Service with responsibilities relating to
economic affairs) of the effectiveness of efforts to promote the export
of United States goods and services in accordance with a commercial
diplomacy plan developed pursuant to section 207(c),''.
(c) Inspector General.--Section 209(b) of the Foreign Service Act
of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3929(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new
paragraph:
``(5) the effectiveness of commercial diplomacy relating to
the promotion of exports of United States goods and services;
and''.
Passed the House of Representatives May 30, 2012.
Attest:
KAREN L. HAAS,
Clerk.