HR 2397
6-18-07, House Agreed to Bill by Voice Vote
6-19-07, Referred to Senate Committee
on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2397
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 19, 2007
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship
AN ACT
To reauthorize the women's entrepreneurial development programs
of the Small Business Administration, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `SBA Women's Business Programs
Act of 2007'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL
Sec. 101. Annual studies on problems hindering the success of women entrepreneurs.
Sec. 102. Additional progress reports.
TITLE II--WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS
Sec. 201. Revised funding formula.
Sec. 202. Matchmaking formula change.
Sec. 203. Termination of funding.
Sec. 204. Women's business center awards to be made public.
TITLE I--NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL
SEC. 101. ANNUAL STUDIES ON PROBLEMS HINDERING THE SUCCESS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.
Section 409 of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7109)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
`(b) Problems Hindering the Success of Women Entrepreneurs- The Council
shall conduct at least one study per year that evaluates the problems hindering
the success of women entrepreneurs. The Council shall select the topic for
the study in consultation with the Committee on Small Business of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
of the Senate.'.
SEC. 102. ADDITIONAL PROGRESS REPORTS.
Section 406(d)(4) of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C.
7106(d)(4)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the
following: `, and on a biannual basis (notwithstanding paragraph (6)) submit
to the President and to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives
a report containing a description of, and the status of, such initiatives,
policies, programs, and plans'.
TITLE II--WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS
SEC. 201. REVISED FUNDING FORMULA.
Section 29(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(b)) is amended to
read as follows:
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator may provide financial assistance to
private nonprofit organizations to conduct projects for the benefit of
small business concerns owned and controlled by women. The projects 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 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.
`(2) TIERS- The Administrator shall provide assistance under paragraph
(1) in three tiers of assistance as follows:
`(A) The first tier shall be to conduct a 5-year project in a situation
where a project has not previously been conducted. Such a project shall
be in a total amount of not more than $150,000 per year.
`(B) The second tier shall be to conduct a 3-year project in a situation
where a first-tier project is being completed. Such a project shall
be in a total amount of not more than $100,000 per year.
`(C) The third tier shall be to conduct a 3-year project in a situation
where a second-tier project is being completed. Such a project shall
be in a total amount of not more than $100,000 per year. Third-tier
grants are renewable subject to established eligibility criteria as
well as criteria in subsection (b)(4).
`(3) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS- Of the amounts made available for assistance
under this subsection, the Administrator shall allocate--
`(A) at least 40 percent for first-tier projects under paragraph (2)(A);
`(B) 20 percent for second-tier projects under paragraph (2)(B); and
`(C) the remainder for third-tier projects under paragraph (2)(C).
`(4) BENCHMARKS FOR THIRD-TIER PROJECTS- In awarding third-tier projects
under paragraph (2)(C), the Administrator shall use benchmarks based on
socio-economic factors in the community and on the performance of the
applicant. The benchmarks shall include--
`(A) the total number of women served by the project;
`(B) the proportion of low income women and socio-economic distribution
of clients served by the project;
`(C) the proportion of individuals in the community that are socially
or economically disadvantaged (based on median income);
`(D) the future fundraising and service coordination plans;
`(E) the diversity of services provided; and
`(F) regional distribution within the 10 districts of the Administration.'.
SEC. 202. MATCHMAKING FORMULA CHANGE.
Section 29(c)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(c)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(A) For the first and second years of the project, 1 non-Federal dollar
for each 2 Federal dollars.
`(B) Each year after the second year of the project--
`(i) 1 non-Federal dollar for each Federal dollar; or
`(ii) if the center is in a community at least 50 percent of the population
of which is below the median income, 1 non-Federal dollar for each
2 Federal dollars.'.
SEC. 203. TERMINATION OF FUNDING.
Section 29(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(c)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`(5) TERMINATION- An organization that has conducted a project under this
subsection--
`(A) is not eligible to conduct another such project; and
`(B) may continue thereafter to use the women's business center logo
only with the consent of the Administrator.'.
SEC. 204. WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER AWARDS TO BE MADE PUBLIC.
Section 29(g)(2)(B)(ii)(V) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(g)(2)(B)(ii)(V))
is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: `,
and make available to the public the award made to each applicant so selected'.
Passed the House of Representatives June 18, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
END
