HR 5672
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5672
To establish the Commission on Women's Business Ownership.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 1, 2008
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees
on Oversight and Government Reform and Small Business, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish the Commission on Women's Business Ownership.
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 Ownership Act of 2008'.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the `National Commission
on Women's Business Ownership' (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the
`Commission').
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Review Required- The Commission shall--
(1) review the status of women business owners nationwide, and the progress
made since the 1980 White House Conference on Small Business;
(2) review the role of the Federal Government in aid to, and the promotion
of, women business owners; and
(3) review data collection procedures with regard to women-owned business
and Federal initiatives and procurement, with a view toward recommending
improvements.
(b) Recommendations Required- Based on its review, the Commission shall--
(1) recommend new private-sector initiatives regarding management and technical
assistance to women business owners;
(2) recommend ways to create greater access to credit for women in business;
and
(3) recommend ways to enhance procurement opportunities for women business
owners.
(c) Definition- For purposes of this Act, a business is owned by a woman if
the sole owner is a woman, or if one-half or more of the partners are women,
or if it is a corporation, where 50 percent or more of the stock is owned
by women.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) In General- The Commission shall be composed of nine members appointed
as follows:
(1) Three members appointed by the President.
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
from a list of fifteen individuals nominated for such appointment by the
chairman of the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.
(3) Three members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate from a
list of fifteen individuals nominated for such appointment by the chairman
of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate.
(b) Qualifications- (1) Appointments under subsection (a) shall be made from
individuals whip are specially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue
of their education, training, or experience, and who are not officers or employees
of the Federal Government or Members of Congress.
(2) Of the three individuals appointed under each of paragraphs (1), (2),
and (3) of subsection (a)--
(A) no more than two members appointed under each paragraph shall be of
the same political party;
(B) at least one member appointed under each paragraph shall be a woman;
and
(C) at least one member appointed under each paragraph shall be an individual
who is a small business owner.
(3) In making the appointments under subsection (a), the appointing authorities
should give consideration to achieving a geographical balance.
(c) Term- Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission, except
that, if any member of the Commission becomes an officer or employee of the
Federal Government or a Member of Congress, such individual may continue as
a member of the Commission for not longer than the thirty-day period beginning
on the date such individual becomes such an officer or employee or Member
of Congress.
(d) Vacancies- A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in
which the original appointment was made.
(e) Pay- Members of the Commission shall serve without pay, except members
of the Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence,
and other necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out the functions
of the Commission, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in
the Federal Government are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5,
United States Code.
(f) Quorum- Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a
lesser number may hold hearings.
(g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson- The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson
of the Commission shall be designated by the President. The term of office
of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be the life of the Commission.
(h) Meetings- The Commission shall meet not less than four times nor more
than six times each year. Meetings shall be at the call of a majority of its
members.
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Director and Staff- (1) The Commission shall have a Director who shall
be appointed by the Commission. The Commission, with the recommendation of
the Director, may appoint and fix the pay of four additional personnel.
(2) The Director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard
to section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, and without regard to the
provisions of such title governing appointments in the competitive service,
and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule
pay rates, except that no individual so appointed may receive pay in excess
of the annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-18 of the General Schedule.
(b) Services- The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services
under section 3109(b) of title 5 of the Unites States Code, but at rates for
individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate
of basic pay payable for GS-18 of the General Schedule.
(c) Details- Upon request of the Commission, the head of any department or
agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency
to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under
this Act.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) In General- The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act,
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony,
and receive such evidence, as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Delegation- Any member or agent of the Commission may, if so authorized
by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take
by this section.
(c) Access to Information- The Commission may secure directly from any department
or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry
out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head
of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(d) Use of Mails- The Commission may use the United States mails in the same
manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of
the United States.
(e) Administrative Support- The Administrator of General Services shall provide
to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services
as the Commission may request.
SEC. 7. REPORTS.
The Commission shall transmit to the President and to each House of the Congress
such interim reports as it considers appropriate and shall transmit a final
report to the President no later than twenty-six months after the date of
the Commission's first meeting. The final report shall contain a detailed
statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with
its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it
considers appropriate.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that it transmits its final
report to the President and to each House of the Congress.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this Act.
END
