1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Extension of program authority.
TITLE I—Disaster planning and response
Sec. 101. Disaster loans to nonprofits.
Sec. 102. Disaster loan amounts.
Sec. 103. Small business development center portability grants.
Sec. 104. Assistance to out-of-State businesses.
Sec. 105. Outreach programs.
Sec. 106. Small business bonding threshold.
Sec. 107. Termination of program.
Sec. 108. Increasing collateral requirements.
Sec. 109. Public awareness of disaster declaration and application periods.
Sec. 110. Consistency between Administration regulations and standard operating procedures.
Sec. 111. Processing disaster loans.
Sec. 112. Development and implementation of major disaster response plan.
Sec. 113. Disaster planning responsibilities.
Sec. 114. Additional authority for district offices of the Administration.
Sec. 115. Assignment of employees of the Office of Disaster Assistance and Disaster Cadre.
TITLE II—Disaster lending
Sec. 201. Catastrophic national disaster declaration.
Sec. 202. Private disaster loans.
Sec. 203. Technical and conforming amendments.
Sec. 204. Expedited disaster assistance loan program.
Sec. 205. HUBZones.
TITLE III—Disaster assistance oversight
Sec. 301. Congressional oversight.
2.In this Act—
(1)the terms Administration and Administrator mean the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively;
(2)the term catastrophic national disaster means a catastrophic national disaster declared under section 7(b)(11) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)), as added by this Act;
(3)the term declared disaster means a major disaster or a catastrophic national disaster;
(4)the term disaster area means an area affected by a natural or other disaster, as determined for purposes of paragraph (1) or (2) of section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)), during the period of such declaration;
(5)the term disaster loan program of the Administration means assistance under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b));
(6)the term disaster update period means the period beginning on the date on which the President declares a major disaster or a catastrophic national disaster and ending on the date on which such declaration terminates;
(7)the term major disaster has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122);
(8)the term small business concern has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); and
(9)the term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and any territory or possession of the United States.
3.Extension of program authority
(a)Section 1 of the Act entitled An Act to extend temporarily certain authorities of the Small Business Administration
, approved October 10, 2006 (Public Law 109–316; 120 Stat. 1742), is amended by striking July 31, 2007
each place it appears and inserting October 31, 2007
.
(b)The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on July 31, 2007.
<enum>I</enum><header>Disaster planning and response</header>
<section id="id1623150c-32a8-41c5-b77c-903138ea0a5f"><enum>101.</enum><header>Disaster loans to nonprofits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida6cb3db7-ad1c-4fde-922d-56b6496ab851" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idc66e8536-5ac4-4f48-a9f2-b84df910fb65"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Loans to nonprofits</header><text>In addition to any other loan authorized by this subsection, the Administrator may make such loans (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis) as the Administrator determines appropriate to a nonprofit organization located or operating in an area affected by a natural or other disaster, as determined under paragraph (1) or (2), or providing services to persons who have evacuated from any such area.</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>
<section id="id97128955-2737-4d25-b648-ec70d9b32851"><enum>102.</enum><header>Disaster loan amounts</header>
<subsection id="id6e0445ed-f422-4cda-a9a1-14b0d7ce83bf"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Increased loan caps</header><text>Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (4), as added by this title, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7254c1e9-6698-4847-b318-0b87ea36f91e" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id06711c90-d6f1-4f6b-b271-32b764766ef4"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Increased loan caps</header>
<subparagraph id="id251e399b-43ac-4fd5-b76b-7b8f33958ef9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Aggregate loan amounts</header><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B), and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the aggregate loan amount outstanding and committed to a borrower under this subsection may not exceed $2,000,000.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idcd0e1763-71c2-4c18-9d8f-5530ce3dc6eb"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Waiver authority</header><text>The Administrator may, at the discretion of the Administrator, increase the aggregate loan amount under subparagraph (A) for loans relating to a disaster to a level established by the Administrator, based on appropriate economic indicators for the region in which that disaster occurred.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection>
<subsection id="idc9c92ddf-49fc-4999-a9f7-b571a4471d6c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Disaster mitigation</header>
<paragraph id="id6c32e449-40a1-443a-b724-65324e6afa29"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 7(b)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting <quote>of the aggregate costs of such damage or destruction (whether or not compensated for by insurance or otherwise)</quote> after <quote>20 per centum</quote>.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id54c518ec-039f-409d-9044-a10441cd7f43"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to a loan or guarantee made after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id96307ab9-8662-4ea7-a64c-27ec43ed7b9f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Technical amendments</header><text>Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id2446f709-9d8a-4227-90c0-41dbeed4bc00"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>the, Administration</quote> and inserting <quote>the Administration</quote>;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id63cfe95b-65b1-45c1-9f65-d6ff81b67a9e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)(A), by striking <quote>Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act</quote> and inserting <quote>Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) (in this subsection referred to as a <term>major disaster</term>)</quote>; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7e70b941-c97a-40aa-a1e1-a51e78169a07"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in the undesignated matter at the end—</text>
<subparagraph id="id81d1becd-c639-4fc1-9b4b-332c94b65a6f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, (2), and (4)</quote> and inserting <quote>and (2)</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2b2a9d9b-6182-4406-95f7-fff0861eff88"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>, (2), or (4)</quote> and inserting <quote>(2)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="id079be31b-f87f-45e6-bff7-b7add1a0e4ac"><enum>103.</enum><header>Small business development center portability grants</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21(a)(4)(C)(viii) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C)(viii)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id1ed31aee-0e8a-4aec-857b-99b15daaaaa2"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the first sentence, by striking <quote>as a result of a business or government facility down sizing or closing, which has resulted in the loss of jobs or small business instability</quote> and inserting <quote>due to events that have resulted or will result in, business or government facility downsizing or closing</quote>; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idb93f0457-f7e3-4dba-88ec-91943806319e"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end <quote>At the discretion of the Administrator, the Administrator may make an award greater than $100,000 to a recipient to accommodate extraordinary occurrences having a catastrophic impact on the small business concerns in a community.</quote>.</text> </paragraph></section>
<section id="id34bf332c-b268-4d84-90d3-11bfb3eaf947"><enum>104.</enum><header>Assistance to out-of-State businesses</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21(b)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(b)(3)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id919f6ba2-c460-49b2-8e80-434ea00023d4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>At the discretion</quote> and inserting the following: “<header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">Small business development centers.—</header-in-text></text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1b61305d-86ae-49ac-b6b1-19c3a6c6b802" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id548e30c2-b180-4c9a-8d14-ceb8cc575fc4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>At the discretion</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idbb07039b-356e-41fb-9c36-439eed3f7865"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3c3a9d79-9027-453f-8b42-6ffe601b4c45" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id050d8859-25e5-45eb-bd92-32fd50f87e7a"><enum>(B)</enum><header>During disasters</header>
<clause id="idc4148a53-4aa6-4fea-b0a7-a22b7c20312c"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the discretion of the Administrator, the Administrator may authorize a small business development center to provide such assistance to small business concerns located outside of the State, without regard to geographic proximity, if the small business concerns are located in a disaster area declared under section 7(b)(2)(A).</text> </clause>
<clause id="id37e30e16-56c4-4fbe-b8e2-fb2a31591e1a"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Continuity of services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A small business development center that provides counselors to an area described in clause (i) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure continuity of services in any State in which such small business development center otherwise provides services.</text> </clause>
<clause id="idc9f4c105-fe56-41ea-80c8-35b37db3d94c"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Access to disaster recovery facilities</header><text>For purposes of providing disaster recovery assistance under this subparagraph, the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, permit small business development center personnel to use any site or facility designated by the Administrator for use to provide disaster recovery assistance.</text> </clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></section>
<section id="idb4029bdf-7678-45fc-815b-cb16eb8f4774"><enum>105.</enum><header>Outreach programs</header>
<subsection id="idc1c3b81b-2901-4d4d-80c8-c8859d78e189"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of the declaration of a disaster area, the Administrator may establish a contracting outreach and technical assistance program for small business concerns which have had a primary place of business in, or other significant presence in, such disaster area.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="id6c5b8e31-298f-42c4-9589-c762c5fee2c4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrator action</header><text>The Administrator may carry out subsection (a) by acting through—</text>
<paragraph id="id8d16d643-f80d-4201-a60b-4aa52345031e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida54c69d6-59ef-4b17-9fa3-a717f5387f8c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Federal agency small business officials designated under section 15(k)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)(1)); or</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id971bdc2d-e5d7-4d00-9506-d8239b5b8037"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any Federal, State, or local government entity, higher education institution, procurement technical assistance center, or private nonprofit organization that the Administrator may determine appropriate, upon conclusion of a memorandum of understanding or assistance agreement, as appropriate, with the Administrator.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="iddbe148a7-bdfc-442e-9cca-aad9f4618dc0"><enum>106.</enum><header>Small business bonding threshold</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id862dfa67-7d4a-4209-9203-c6d319738655"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subsection (b), and notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any procurement related to a major disaster, the Administrator may, upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator may prescribe, guarantee and enter into commitments to guarantee any surety against loss resulting from a breach of the terms of a bid bond, payment bond, performance bond, or bonds ancillary thereto, by a principal on any total work order or contract amount at the time of bond execution that does not exceed $5,000,000.</text> </subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id65cc147a-8cd9-46e0-a450-cd2968e5f2af"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increase of amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon request of the head of any Federal agency other than the Administration involved in reconstruction efforts in response to a major disaster, the Administrator may guarantee and enter into a commitment to guarantee any security against loss under subsection (a) on any total work order or contract amount at the time of bond execution that does not exceed $10,000,000.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="ida88a1b11-439a-40b2-83bc-2fdc2ca6deae"><enum>107.</enum><header>Termination of program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 711(c) of the Small Business Competitive Demonstration Program Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 644 note) is amended by inserting after <quote>January 1, 1989</quote> the following: <quote>, and shall terminate on the date of enactment of the <short-title>Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007</short-title></quote>.</text> </section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5b3454a8-da49-48b5-9b2a-f7b830c90563"><enum>108.</enum><header>Increasing collateral requirements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(c)(6) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(c)(6)) is amended by striking <quote>$10,000 or less</quote> and inserting <quote>$14,000 or less (or such higher amount as the Administrator determines appropriate in the event of a catastrophic national disaster declared under subsection (b)(11))</quote>.</text> </section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6e3e2de9-d4db-41bd-aa06-44bacbd16f3a"><enum>109.</enum><header>Public awareness of disaster declaration and application periods</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3e5db2c1-440a-49f6-93c0-406869164a5c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (5), as added by this Act, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id91423cd9-b311-4a6e-96a9-ea0d2fd1aafb" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id464d7801-6ccd-4766-9018-b29eec5ed2a6"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Coordination with FEMA</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idad677d35-21c6-448f-9910-1604f11bf5d6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any disaster (including a catastrophic national disaster) declared under this subsection or major disaster, the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that all application periods for disaster relief under this Act correspond with application deadlines established under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), or as extended by the President.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2a1cc641-d164-4d51-9537-947812e629c0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Deadlines</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 10 days before the closing date of an application period for a major disaster (including a catastrophic national disaster), the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 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 that includes—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id922A395F383C40749BE80BA879F37AEA"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the deadline for submitting applications for assistance under this Act relating to that major disaster;</text> </clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA6AA13CDABEA497C8FFFC9BBEA41F047"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information regarding the number of loan applications and disbursements processed by the Administrator relating to that major disaster for each day during the period beginning on the date on which that major disaster was declared and ending on the date of that report; and</text> </clause>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id56A923BDACDF4A099E6CFE18BC4105C0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an estimate of the number of potential applicants that have not submitted an application relating to that major disaster.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id13233532-f182-415d-9d74-5d9c618276ad"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Public awareness of disasters</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a disaster (including a catastrophic national disaster) is declared under this subsection, the Administrator shall make every effort to communicate through radio, television, print, and web-based outlets, all relevant information needed by disaster loan applicants, including—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id230be599-845e-460c-b28b-0a13e151e136"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date of such declaration;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idee6e2d28-429c-418e-8ea1-ae73e040b4fa"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">cities and towns within the area of such declaration;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida324b55c-663c-40dd-9005-1a70a9b29669"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">loan application deadlines related to such disaster;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id34386e2a-9d22-454e-bc6e-7e6509948175"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all relevant contact information for victim services available through the Administration (including links to small business development center websites);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida93a56f6-14e7-49e6-95a8-5b7485f13392"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">links to relevant Federal and State disaster assistance websites, including links to websites providing information regarding assistance available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5684ff29-f949-4776-aa42-6085ad0c72ef"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information on eligibility criteria for Administration loan programs, including where such applications can be found; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idf408003d-6ccf-4273-a0cd-ee0957c92e90"><enum>(G)</enum><text>application materials that clearly state the function of the Administration as the Federal source of disaster loans for homeowners and renters.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6785af48-71c2-43e8-baab-9e664f8b971c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Marketing and outreach</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall create a marketing and outreach plan that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5441311c-7e79-46be-a173-65ce84dc1702"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">encourages a proactive approach to the disaster relief efforts of the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfa8dae63-fd4c-4507-8ed6-b2c31aefbba6"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">makes clear the services provided by the Administration, including contact information, application information, and timelines for submitting applications, the review of applications, and the disbursement of funds;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfedb177e-cc6d-4c7e-86a4-afd7153cb515"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describes the different disaster loan programs of the Administration, including how they are made available and the eligibility requirements for each loan program;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddd75b2e9-b842-4d53-80c5-8bc5ae822263"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provides for regional marketing, focusing on disasters occurring in each region before the date of enactment of this Act, and likely scenarios for disasters in each such region; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idefbe09c6-5022-4f84-80b7-bf88b982e804"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensures that the marketing plan is made available at small business development centers and on the website of the Administration.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id31c2e9ef-6c12-4192-b873-f18e959ed6ac"><enum>110.</enum><header>Consistency between Administration regulations and standard operating procedures</header>
<subsection id="id68aadc26-4666-4741-a80d-0744e8497cc4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator shall, promptly following the date of enactment of this Act, conduct a study of whether the standard operating procedures of the Administration for loans offered under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) are consistent with the regulations of the Administration for administering the disaster loan program.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="idcade5297-09e8-4115-84d8-9e3ca741461c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administration shall submit to Congress a report containing all findings and recommendations of the study conducted under subsection (a).</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="id1a6a67dc-9778-4c36-ae79-42e1a520d36b"><enum>111.</enum><header>Processing disaster loans</header>
<subsection id="idf3604148-e849-44c1-b493-38ee320d4809"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority for qualified private contractors To process disaster loans</header><text>Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (7), as added by this Act, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6e0ae257-0990-4215-8c59-39b930d883ed" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ida0331ec6-e46f-408b-aed7-e19e91b91c65"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Authority for qualified private contractors</header>
<subparagraph id="id169e4a1d-ba09-423a-982d-533e7cba8d7b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Disaster loan processing</header><text>The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a qualified private contractor, as determined by the Administrator, to process loans under this subsection in the event of a major disaster or a catastrophic national disaster declared under paragraph (11), under which the Administrator shall pay the contractor a fee for each loan processed.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf3c8ca81-99d7-49a6-805c-d4f45ba2f087"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Loan loss verification services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a qualified lender or loss verification professional, as determined by the Administrator, to verify losses for loans under this subsection in the event of a major disaster or a catastrophic national disaster declared under paragraph (11), under which the Administrator shall pay the lender or verification professional a fee for each loan for which such lender or verification professional verifies losses.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection>
<subsection id="id251cf67a-2236-434a-874a-0b016b696dea"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination of efforts between the administrator and the internal revenue service To expedite loan processing</header><text>The Administrator and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shall, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that all relevant and allowable tax records for loan approval are shared with loan processors in an expedited manner, upon request by the Administrator.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="id7823547c-680d-4324-b4ed-d774fa7b7830"><enum>112.</enum><header>Development and implementation of major disaster response plan</header>
<subsection id="id0d7156ea-43f6-4f02-acf1-868b590c1b82"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall—</text>
<paragraph id="idc8f4e88d-d798-4053-85b8-20447bc2421a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by rule, amend the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season disaster response plan of the Administration (in this section referred to as the <quote>disaster response plan</quote>) to apply to major disasters; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idd233c70c-50ae-4377-b2f5-a3697660ce4b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit a report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives detailing the amendments to the disaster response plan.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id0735dfe0-9144-4c27-a0f6-c315d781ef7c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report required under subsection (a)(2) shall include—</text>
<paragraph id="id95a9eb19-c531-4ec2-b92c-18e201ebf982"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any updates or modifications made to the disaster response plan since the report regarding the disaster response plan submitted to Congress on July 14, 2006;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id740be29d-06cc-408b-8eb8-3f9b2cd69e07"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of how the Administrator plans to utilize and integrate District Office personnel of the Administration in the response to a major disaster, including information on the utilization of personnel for loan processing and loan disbursement;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id1A98175D7BEE40889C298FBE56D9749B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a description of the disaster scalability model of the Administration and on what basis or function the plan is scaled;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id33CE5D8DB7824709B65BF151C9AD98DC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>a description of how the agency-wide Disaster Oversight Council is structured, which offices comprise its membership, and whether the Associate Deputy Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development of the Administration is a member;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idE3D10A7FC364401E818583CFC07EB125"><enum>(5)</enum><text>a description of how the Administrator plans to coordinate the disaster efforts of the Administration with State and local government officials, including recommendations on how to better incorporate State initiatives or programs, such as State-administered bridge loan programs, into the disaster response of the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id56FE1576617B4C13ABAB4E54F1B5FB6C"><enum>(6)</enum><text>recommendations, if any, on how the Administration can better coordinate its disaster response operations with the operations of other Federal, State, and local entities;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id49F9C2B8DA9646F281FC47F429D5B8EA"><enum>(7)</enum><text>any surge plan for the disaster loan program of the Administration in effect on or after August 29, 2005 (including surge plans for loss verification, loan processing, mailroom, customer service or call center operations, and a continuity of operations plan);</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id9F44C42A7BD24196B7869D3E56079B26"><enum>(8)</enum><text>the number of full-time equivalent employees and job descriptions for the planning and disaster response staff of the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id0A59FC9D8917483EBBB25C4DA47A499B"><enum>(9)</enum><text>the in-service and preservice training procedures for disaster response staff of the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id371851F8508D4E6097BD78B0DACE596E"><enum>(10)</enum><text>information on the logistical support plans of the Administration (including equipment and staffing needs, and detailed information on how such plans will be scalable depending on the size and scope of the major disaster;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idCD375D59E1E34F19B0EAC3AE0976FE26"><enum>(11)</enum><text>a description of the findings and recommendations of the Administrator, if any, based on a review of the response of the Administration to Hurricane Katrina of 2005, Hurricane Rita of 2005, and Hurricane Wilma of 2005; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id7964F062F6CA4610A19611CD1877DF4C"><enum>(12)</enum><text>a plan for how the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will coordinate the provision of accommodations and necessary resources for disaster assistance personnel to effectively perform their responsibilities in the aftermath of a major disaster.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id12A9551334694157A19B78C0A93EDF5C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Exercises</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of the submission of the report under subsection (a)(2), the Administrator shall develop and execute simulation exercises to demonstrate the effectiveness of the amended disaster response plan required under this section.</text> </subsection></section>
<section commented="no" id="ID8707c1898bf14f0391cb88b3182f6305"><enum>113.</enum><header>Disaster planning responsibilities</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="idF5F238C624AB4F1DB00051327432B633"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assignment of Small Business Administration disaster planning responsibilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall specifically assign the disaster planning responsibilities described in subsection (b) to an employee of the Administration who—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="ID480df83112534289a6fa2ebc55e38848"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is not an employee of the Office of Disaster Assistance of the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="ID0dbe53bad07d430f8e38e161d6b438ae"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall report directly to the Administrator; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="IDe5e08b73dbac4a43a7975717a97f6024"><enum>(3)</enum><text>has a background and expertise demonstrating significant experience in the area of disaster planning.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" id="idC836CA4EF6F9434EBED80F8A66054B0D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>The responsibilities described in this subsection are—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id3F22FC3038EF4C5D90A096A7098C4C22"><enum>(1)</enum><text>creating and maintaining the comprehensive disaster response plan of the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="ID76d493eb1dac4f809395fa9d4a5ef744"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensuring in-service and pre-service training procedures for the disaster response staff of the Administration;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="IDa906b6b523d94a809d9fc0a379798883"><enum>(3)</enum><text>coordinating and directing Administration training exercises, including mock disaster responses, with other Federal agencies; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="IDc372d3ab1f4c4f49b99b62f53eeb5dda"><enum>(4)</enum><text>other responsibilities, as determined by the Administrator.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" id="id85685151BE6F4F8D869F9DE3B94E3EA3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 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 containing—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="IDd51b12eb92994d33820c59da9662605c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a description of the actions of the Administrator to assign an employee under subsection (a);</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="ID607f1eda33084121b2779476f47dc68f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>information detailing the background and expertise of the employee assigned under subsection (a); and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="IDa80c8c28faca421785f973ca7ce36b6a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>information on the status of the implementation of the responsibilities described in subsection (b).</text> </paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="ID6a697446617743728387fa227c139c90"><enum>114.</enum><header>Additional authority for district offices of the Administration</header>
<subsection id="id603B121B72B149A2B5202D0839A5CBEF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (8), as added by this Act, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE66AFE2DC4B14CBBAB0601084C60AF8A" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id8A3D7A44598B4FACAC78737E70471A76"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Use of district offices</header><text>In the event of a major disaster, the Administrator may authorize a district office of the Administration to process loans under paragraph (1) or (2).</text> </paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection>
<subsection id="idB68E97A2BDC248659EA7EDC5D81F06B4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Designation</header>
<paragraph id="id10B72F62F94F4ECF861BDDD0B1D39B0E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may designate an employee in each district office of the Administration to act as a disaster loan liaison between the disaster processing center and applicants under the disaster loan program of the Administration.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id686209AC4340411781607DDF780348FF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>Each employee designated under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idAF3D9F28A34B400AAF2F856CC486B559"><enum>(A)</enum><text>be responsible for coordinating and facilitating communications between applicants under the disaster loan program of the Administration and disaster loan processing staff regarding documentation and information required for completion of an application; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idA88E9749513F4D02BA570E5FD9439A25"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide information to applicants under the disaster loan program of the Administration regarding additional services and benefits that may be available to such applicants to assist with recovery.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idD7E7C8990FDB49C486A18AAD3D9686B6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Outreach</header><text>In providing outreach to disaster victims following a declared disaster, the Administrator shall make disaster victims aware of—</text>
<subparagraph id="id246DE79A2371480484779BCC9D57B6DB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any relevant employee designated under paragraph (1); and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id6A4157588B864C5A8D6B86197338D2D1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how to contact that employee.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="id380C8FD621434AC4B5C7BA634C5B5CB4"><enum>115.</enum><header>Assignment of employees of the Office of Disaster Assistance and Disaster Cadre</header>
<subsection id="id3779705A48DD42F1ACD3C8A3E9E2045D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (9), as added by this Act, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA37A58E05844454F98393982A09E8EED" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="idCE570C7770404726BD0C92314C51C15D"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Disaster assistance employees</header>
<subparagraph id="idB931EC2D4FDE424C90B220DBAEF54AB9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Administrator may, where practicable, ensure that the number of full-time equivalent employees—</text>
<clause id="id9650CCEEA40147A781515AACA83060E0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the Office of the Disaster Assistance is not fewer than 800; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="id2F1F2EBF8E9E40569FBAFF1EA9860179"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the Disaster Cadre of the Administration is not fewer than 750.</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDace2fe0b28c748c9985eab967f34b16a"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report</header><text>In carrying out this subsection, if the number of full-time employees for either the Office of Disaster Assistance or the Disaster Cadre of the Administration is below the level described in subparagraph (A) for that office, not later than 21 days after the date on which that staffing level decreased below the level described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, a report—</text>
<clause id="ID00dba51d7f6047e98a58d2c4718d2e59"><enum>(i)</enum><text>detailing staffing levels on that date;</text> </clause>
<clause id="IDeb92e4fee74e43a384149c14f272fd56"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>requesting, if practicable and determined appropriate by the Administrator, additional funds for additional employees; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="ID50915de457974fa2a35ff8e15b60f012"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>containing such additional information, as determined appropriate by the Administrator.</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>Disaster lending</header>
<section id="ID8910bb2e725f49ed8431196727fb67ee"><enum>201.</enum><header>Catastrophic national disaster declaration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)) is amended by inserting immediately after paragraph (10), as added by this Act, the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBDBE2373BF9F4B9E8B47CCCF6CF0380B" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDdfefd57a09c442bbb229da1b2e84fa17"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Catastrophic national disasters</header>
<subparagraph id="id76DFA70AE8A842B4B67C746770D1F19B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The President may make a catastrophic national disaster declaration in accordance with this paragraph.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDb7dee17e8387453e9b6a72d22aa137b2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Promulgation of rules</header>
<clause id="id2E6A1BB4876442E3B26C3A5F326CB544"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall promulgate regulations establishing a threshold for a catastrophic national disaster declaration.</text> </clause>
<clause id="idBA3FB843C9AC4A4E946C6D90AAFD722C"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In promulgating the regulations required under clause (i), the Administrator shall establish a threshold that—</text>
<subclause id="id6B758456592A4618939F23B6E4842DD9"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is similar in size and scope to the events relating to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina of 2005;</text> </subclause>
<subclause id="idE886AAD1BC38497E827C7A72C5AF134A"><enum>(II)</enum><text>requires that the President declares a major disaster before making a catastrophic national disaster declaration under this paragraph;</text> </subclause>
<subclause id="id28D720F3C7804BF3AFD273924B1A81E0"><enum>(III)</enum><text>requires consideration of—</text>
<item id="ID71db13f2f238457a926824dcc467d882"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the dollar amount per capita of damage to the State, its political subdivisions, or a region;</text> </item>
<item id="ID593493c0af8b4436bce8310358f0f0d5"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the number of small business concerns damaged, physically or economically, as a direct result of the event;</text> </item>
<item id="IDc16053bb421e48caad7eba1b9c0dfe0d"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>the number of individuals and households displaced from their predisaster residences by the event;</text> </item>
<item id="ID1d7736b60edf412383aae1caadf760a1"><enum>(dd)</enum><text>the severity of the impact on employment rates in the State, its political subdivisions, or a region;</text> </item>
<item id="IDb5dd4d990fed42f4a7cbe0ac483fe879"><enum>(ee)</enum><text>the anticipated length and difficulty of the recovery process;</text> </item>
<item id="ID40b89645712e4c31833e29fadec2558c"><enum>(ff)</enum><text>whether the events leading to the relevant major disaster declaration are of an unusually large and calamitous nature that is orders of magnitude larger than for an average major disaster; and</text> </item>
<item id="ID9874b1e17c634730ae365fe727a70f95"><enum>(gg)</enum><text>any other factor determined relevant by the Administrator.</text> </item></subclause></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID1cf6b7c3cbd14685993307515eb9cb68"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>If the President makes a catastrophic national disaster declaration under this paragraph, the Administrator may make such loans under this paragraph (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis) as the Administrator determines appropriate to small business concerns located anywhere in the United States that are economically adversely impacted as a result of that catastrophic national disaster.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDe8da76fa3d7549a492aefe918fd21a4c"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Loan terms</header><text>A loan under this paragraph shall be made on the same terms as a loan under paragraph (2).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </section>
<section id="id7027aafb-fcac-46e4-b8ca-d93f349917a9"><enum>202.</enum><header>Private disaster loans</header>
<subsection id="id6d85df54-357d-4390-bb1d-8a41c3496f0b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id59f7c091-2e5d-432d-88da-dd2a67746f8d"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idd47ddaf8-ad68-4cb4-8da1-3a01456dbddb"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (b) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide973b53d-ed3f-40a0-a31b-7f4f919507d0" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id34578cb3-5368-4c71-bc8c-df7e664dbe6a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Private disaster loans</header>
<paragraph id="idf758cc09-d192-4348-8c3a-8d2468ea21a3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection—</text>
<subparagraph id="id075FF1ADD0824E3098E0797482C9A8ED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the term <term>disaster area</term> means any area for which the President declared a major disaster (as that term is defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) that subsequently results in the President making a catastrophic national disaster declaration under subsection (b)(11);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id87006737-443a-43b8-a7ce-4fc50f3d205f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the term <term>eligible small business concern</term> means a business concern that is—</text>
<clause id="idfaf98eab-ee7b-4b8a-a610-428cea693bb2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a small business concern, as defined in this Act; or</text> </clause>
<clause id="id118911b5-e667-4edd-9d63-233f1c583911"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a small business concern, as defined in section 103 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958; and</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idbdbedf9f-4825-4ca4-84d2-64c9c900f28f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the term <term>qualified private lender</term> means any privately-owned bank or other lending institution that the Administrator determines meets the criteria established under paragraph (9).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id8bb72146-c0fa-4065-a5af-de0455454431"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>The Administrator may guarantee timely payment of principal and interest, as scheduled on any loan issued by a qualified private lender to an eligible small business concern located in a disaster area.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idf21dca1d-9cb7-4b60-ba47-1b95a19dd85c"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of loans</header><text>A loan guaranteed by the Administrator under this subsection may be used for any purpose authorized under subsection (b).</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id379224cb-2875-44f0-8fae-2c2b5c11e90e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Online applications</header>
<subparagraph id="id7bbe46d1-ff69-4d9d-83e7-39af7947823d"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Administrator may establish, directly or through an agreement with another entity, an online application process for loans guaranteed under this subsection.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ide1c4b414-6e91-4653-a1c7-09382ccecbd6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Other Federal assistance</header><text>The Administrator may coordinate with the head of any other appropriate Federal agency so that any application submitted through an online application process established under this paragraph may be considered for any other Federal assistance program for disaster relief.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id502b6c60-9784-429d-b7fc-ff486fb3a90f"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In establishing an online application process under this paragraph, the Administrator shall consult with appropriate persons from the public and private sectors, including private lenders.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idc8dd2f01-8b78-4ac1-9765-17d566feab90"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Maximum amounts</header>
<subparagraph id="id663ba6a7-e2bf-4b2e-98fb-c818fda59bd6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Guarantee percentage</header><text>The Administrator may guarantee not more than 85 percent of a loan under this subsection.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idaac5e1df-0737-484f-aba2-3d685bd214e3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Loan amounts</header><text>The maximum amount of a loan guaranteed under this subsection shall be $2,000,000.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idafd536cb-6369-4a36-8d78-7c1458fbfae0"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Loan term</header><text>The longest term of a loan for a loan guaranteed under this subsection shall be—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6b3b22ad-e62c-464b-881b-3cc1e3015a28"><enum>(A)</enum><text>15 years for any loan that is issued without collateral; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id0849bd8d-1a0e-4b0d-9b5f-f93edb905ea0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>25 years for any loan that is issued with collateral.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id55214ba2-7631-499b-9b46-64947133e48b"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Fees</header>
<subparagraph id="id81f203a2-de7c-442a-b6f2-373829b3b7f3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may not collect a guarantee fee under this subsection.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id59c5b4f4-633f-4ff0-93c1-825e6657acb4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Origination fee</header><text>The Administrator may pay a qualified private lender an origination fee for a loan guaranteed under this subsection in an amount agreed upon in advance between the qualified private lender and the Administrator.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="ida0d1de0a-4062-4ab7-958a-e6ed3601ce81"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Documentation</header><text>A qualified private lender may use its own loan documentation for a loan guaranteed by the Administrator, to the extent authorized by the Administrator. The ability of a lender to use its own loan documentation for a loan guaranteed under this subsection shall not be considered part of the criteria for becoming a qualified private lender under the regulations promulgated under paragraph (9).</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idb94335ee-f541-4dd1-a7d4-195797ff61f5"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Implementation regulations</header>
<subparagraph id="id15ed3417-2f02-4cd2-becb-4a16e5cfa688"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007</short-title>, the Administrator shall issue final regulations establishing permanent criteria for qualified private lenders.</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id77f88e08-8699-447e-a100-9130a0ddf030"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007</short-title>, the Administrator shall submit a report on the progress of the regulations required by subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id0b1a9785-9593-4bc7-ae86-302cf965166c"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header>
<subparagraph id="id14d4f533-a6b0-4bc7-869e-837aac569773"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Amounts necessary to carry out this subsection shall be made available from amounts appropriated to the Administration to carry out subsection (b).</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id0173973e-7b59-4ba3-9440-d92ebe5aca72"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Authority to reduce interest rates</header><text>Funds appropriated to the Administration to carry out this subsection, may be used by the Administrator, to the extent available, to reduce the rate of interest for any loan guaranteed under this subsection by not more than 3 percentage points.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idCDF2A7C8E08140788CE35CD3EE4B8482"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Purchase of loans</header><text>The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a qualified private lender to purchase any loan issued under this subsection.</text> </paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="idb8bf6252-c293-45ee-a2e8-dc3c5db1fc6e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply to disasters declared under section 7(b)(2) of the Small Business Act (631 U.S.C. 636(b)(2)) before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="id6a37b6b1-44d3-44aa-be01-f5aaa3452135"><enum>203.</enum><header>Technical and conforming amendments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idf7c11125-5501-4304-b989-7e9b2cbb4c73"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 4(c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id11168d85-82ad-4781-b49f-75bd5cdccd1e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>7(c)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>7(d)(2)</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idbc8d09a7-37b6-46d4-abf6-3a340a8683d5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text>
<clause id="id4c95e25e-661a-4c0b-a938-38f11b2e41d6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>7(c)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>7(d)(2)</quote>; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="id43c50d78-ad2c-4295-84e6-9d32812e54bb"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>7(e),</quote>; and</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idaa534776-4401-4007-9607-e84ac8bd6331"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 7(b), in the undesignated matter following paragraph (3)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id09522241-9827-4f0c-be03-9731d5c0e8f9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>That the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection (c)</quote> and inserting <quote>That the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection (d)</quote>; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8464a3e5-8c40-40a3-add0-c11cedcc5ba0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law the interest rate on the Administration's share of any loan made under subsection (b) except as provided in subsection (c),</quote> and inserting <quote>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except as provided in subsection (d), the interest rate on the Administration's share of any loan made under subsection (b)</quote>.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></section>
<section id="id7307711f-74f6-4b80-a704-3a5d52f6962b"><enum>204.</enum><header>Expedited disaster assistance loan program</header>
<subsection id="id45d45248-0cd7-4dab-b801-466e2e3a9a20"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text>
<paragraph id="id3f865b22-fec1-4a23-85e5-8595c2837102"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <term>immediate disaster assistance</term> means assistance provided during the period beginning on the date on which the President makes a catastrophic disaster declaration under paragraph (11) of section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)), as added by this Act, and ending on the date that an impacted small business concern is able to secure funding through insurance claims, Federal assistance programs, or other sources; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide5f8e7fc-e28b-4aea-9877-fb779af77a14"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>program</term> means the expedited disaster assistance business loan program established under subsection (b).</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="idb1e639a0-466c-4c39-8dbb-5517afc17179"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Creation of program</header><text>The Administrator shall take such administrative action as is necessary to establish and implement an expedited disaster assistance business loan program to provide small business concerns with immediate disaster assistance under paragraph (11) of section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)), as added by this Act.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="idc8d2c2d2-c9cd-426f-a785-12fbbb027734"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation required</header><text>In establishing the program, the Administrator shall consult with—</text>
<paragraph id="id82e5cffb-2e9f-4819-b862-df5d7fc0a606"><enum>(1)</enum><text>appropriate personnel of the Administration (including District Office personnel of the Administration);</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id5f27a73f-b159-4f6d-9ccd-14a802b56978"><enum>(2)</enum><text>appropriate technical assistance providers (including small business development centers);</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id6e3fbcff-fba9-48ea-ae54-0b8195e66d90"><enum>(3)</enum><text>appropriate lenders and credit unions;</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idc05033ed-e3a4-46d6-b3c3-bc6e7306d161"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id9ba53f1f-717c-4eda-a11f-124a96927175"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.</text> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="idac78dabd-f84b-4093-a538-42b9ba38960a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Rules</header>
<paragraph id="id48bdd9f8-91df-4647-b1e3-db4c7a67ddbb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue rules in final form establishing and implementing the program in accordance with this section. Such rules shall apply as provided for in this section, beginning 90 days after their issuance in final form.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="idd3c83150-87a1-4429-ad8b-a7ba69fdf11f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The rules promulgated under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="idbfd6f270-797e-43f8-a3ca-da992a912127"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify whether appropriate uses of funds under the program may include—</text>
<clause id="id14a1304d-a82f-402f-9b1f-5fd356508772"><enum>(i)</enum><text>paying employees;</text> </clause>
<clause id="id0ebf2a3a-7e8e-40e2-a177-ef74500b71f6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>paying bills and other financial obligations;</text> </clause>
<clause id="id7c2aeef1-5f5e-4a23-85c3-8efb0a70fc58"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>making repairs;</text> </clause>
<clause id="id959b2933-eafd-48ad-bd1a-45c6ec8be5e2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>purchasing inventory;</text> </clause>
<clause id="idcdb5c313-35e6-4dfc-a6b4-99ae9d4bbc5d"><enum>(v)</enum><text>restarting or operating a small business concern in the community in which it was conducting operations prior to the declared disaster, or to a neighboring area, county, or parish in the disaster area; or</text> </clause>
<clause id="id98892872-5943-4cbb-938b-3ac38ef3f168"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>covering additional costs until the small business concern is able to obtain funding through insurance claims, Federal assistance programs, or other sources; and</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id8723c07a-f048-4d4b-bc55-8cc0e6e0a7b5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>set the terms and conditions of any loan made under the program, subject to paragraph (3).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="id356335c0-f805-4bbd-a1b1-a663b8f0f192"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Terms and conditions</header><text>A loan made by the Administration under this section—</text>
<subparagraph id="id6BD3ACD62DB34D6A8C90CF49C950B857"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be for not more than $150,000;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ide1df4afc-9e1e-4ee2-a872-2c51b8aa944f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall be a short-term loan, not to exceed 180 days, except that the Administrator may extend such term as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate on a case-by-case basis;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="idee7f66bb-22f6-4b68-8835-4b864c8d20e1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>shall have an interest rate not to exceed 1 percentage point above the prime rate of interest that a private lender may charge;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id14348e2b-6797-4630-9ce1-4e95d8cb6a1f"><enum>(D)</enum><text>shall have no prepayment penalty;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id9A92CF192B0D49C2B212B94E38DF347E"><enum>(E)</enum><text>may only be made to a borrower that meets the requirements for a loan under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b));</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id02f877ff-a3b7-4bc0-8cdd-9bf3b8878554"><enum>(F)</enum><text>may be refinanced as part of any subsequent disaster assistance provided under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id58F17A1A26744F09941E4CACC8976C99"><enum>(G)</enum><text>may receive expedited loss verification and loan processing, if the applicant is—</text>
<clause id="idE4CCA55406424B2988C014D1CD339E13"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a major source of employment in the disaster area (which shall be determined in the same manner as under section 7(b)(3)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(B))); or</text> </clause>
<clause id="id611F93B3CAD943FA802A7EBE3D303AE5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>vital to recovery efforts in the region (including providing debris removal services, manufactured housing, or building materials); and</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id66939bd0-3427-4e93-96f9-bfb9c31d34a7"><enum>(H)</enum><text>shall be subject to such additional terms as the Administrator determines necessary or appropriate.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id608bbd0d-5847-4c53-adb3-e0d201b11248"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text>Not later than 5 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives on the progress of the Administrator in establishing the program.</text> </subsection>
<subsection id="idb0f8ce7e-a502-43bf-8d41-89b59c94ac2e"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.</text> </subsection></section>
<section id="id0A20ADB31850439FA5C622115E8BE9DD"><enum>205.</enum><header>HUBZones</header>
<subsection id="id833D43F5FC504D2382C3BA24FFDABA58"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(p) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(p)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="IDe49962177b224de1a0650f7791228fd1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2C6A2301F73344BA8F2C06443649A76B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>or</quote>;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="IDd60b4759a274420fa8df7acf27650693"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="ID751e601313fb4200bb545520c4aaebc5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4AB48BBBE177494EBDE16FCAA0BEB637" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="ID4740a7396a6c4bd6bbc5d9d41dee1069"><enum>(F)</enum><text>areas in which the President has declared a major disaster (as that term is defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) as a result of Hurricane Katrina of August 2005 or Hurricane Rita of September 2005, during the time period described in paragraph (8); or</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id0E2DF1334AB14A5380695B0207E02859"><enum>(G)</enum><text>catastrophic national disaster areas.</text> </subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="idDBC097D5D0AF472EA1BD326E07BAC5D9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5FAE0FC8D5524743B0AD0D1151D230A0" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="IDfc71f3703b4c45198f4c7cf1ba721fd1"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Catastrophic national disaster area</header>
<clause id="id73905652B9DC4ADBB191DC593A7E5E40"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>catastrophic national disaster area</term> means an area—</text>
<subclause id="id36A17D23E6A44BC09B4C82937963CED8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>affected by a catastrophic national disaster declared under section 7(b)(11), during the time period described in clause (ii); and</text> </subclause>
<subclause id="idE07287304D2B41A59E46D212E3B40BA2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for which the Administrator determines that designation as a HUBZone would substantially contribute to the reconstruction and recovery effort in that area.</text> </subclause></clause>
<clause id="id866885306AEC4898B9C5DA22EFD53964"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Time period</header><text>The time period for the purposes of clause (i)—</text>
<subclause id="id328117C53F15477A822484D935C4B818"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall be the 2-year period beginning on the date that the applicable catastrophic national disaster was declared under section 7(b)(11); and</text> </subclause>
<subclause id="id573CE2738F7B4C969F14C8D9FEE40B66"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be extended to be the 3-year period beginning on the date described in subclause (I).</text> </subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="id81709D008A0B4B3DB1A6637B6B6EA716"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE932EE145C814CFF9BBC460C9C78F944" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID7763c5fb2ca248d2bed4c030ff62c950"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Time period</header><text>The time period for the purposes of paragraph (1)(F)—</text>
<subparagraph id="idB50AC91A38904C81ABDA4718AFD8A332"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be the 2-year period beginning on the later of the date of enactment of this paragraph and August 29, 2007; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="id408638B3F8354FF78D998D42D8B97B2D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be extended to be the 3-year period beginning on the later of the date of enactment of this paragraph and August 29, 2007.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="id12BDA5A8CA7B4B7A9DF09DC051866291"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Tolling of graduation</header><text>Section 7(j)(10)(C) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(j)(10)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF4CC69CC4C88436880FF6630EF4804DB" style="OLC">
<clause id="idB9329F8B50834F4DB0FE1E071C4B1BFD" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id0616FA65E48F42EB989897DAB2F89212"><enum>(I)</enum><text>For purposes of this subparagraph, if the Administrator designates an area as a HUBZone under section 3(p)(4)(E)(i)(II), the Administrator shall not count the time period described in subclause (II) of this clause for any small business concern—</text>
<item id="idEAA8EBF8F508404EB7EAEFEF4B525A67" indent="up1"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>that is participating in any program, activity, or contract under section 8(a); and</text> </item>
<item id="id7AE77DFEBF0948AB9DEDD88E9137ACCD" indent="up1"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the principal place of business of which is located in that area.</text> </item></subclause>
<subclause id="id6955D52D4F784978ADC7A977EC763F64" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>The time period for purposes of subclause (I)—</text>
<item id="id1CECD4A3DC734089A355ED3E934FABFE"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>shall be the 2-year period beginning on the date that the applicable catastrophic national disaster was declared under section 7(b)(11); and</text> </item>
<item id="id982A5969F1F24693AE753C9EE6A270A3"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be extended to be the 3-year period beginning on the date described in item (aa).</text> </item></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block> </subsection>
<subsection id="idDF85F36D02C44CDFA512979E8343A250"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Study of HUBZone disaster areas</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives evaluating the designation by the Administrator of catastrophic national disaster areas, as that term is defined in section 3(p)(4)(E) of the Small Business Act (as added by this Act), as HUBZones.</text> </subsection></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Disaster assistance oversight</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide137732e-32e7-4c7b-b7c0-d7cf404130f3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Congressional oversight</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida5b8ec22-8d0a-4904-b305-2ad6cbceabbb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Monthly accounting report to congress</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id1c99ae46-bb5a-4c50-9359-34df518bbe1c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Reporting requirements</header><text>Not later than the fifth business day of each month during the applicable period for a major disaster, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and to the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on the operation of the disaster loan program authorized under section 7 of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (15 U.S.C. 636) for that major disaster during the preceding month.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" id="iddaa55188-78da-429b-a8c7-0a7fd6c69f57"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each report under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idba7593a9-16e7-4092-81e4-48728e9ca6ef"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the daily average lending volume, in number of loans and dollars, and the percent by which each category has increased or decreased since the previous report under paragraph (1);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id925bb906-8b6d-45f3-a213-71574cca098e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the weekly average lending volume, in number of loans and dollars, and the percent by which each category has increased or decreased since the previous report under paragraph (1);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idba4bd24a-41e9-4271-ab0c-47d5c6c9da8c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the amount of funding spent over the month for loans, both in appropriations and program level, and the percent by which each category has increased or decreased since the previous report under paragraph (1);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id833bb101-484c-4edc-a71f-3d1e15a633a6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the amount of funding available for loans, both in appropriations and program level, and the percent by which each category has increased or decreased since the previous report under paragraph (1), noting the source of any additional funding;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="idade3f466-7607-4820-b80b-dd20bbadd443"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an estimate of how long the available funding for such loans will last, based on the spending rate;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id17e05d9e-a8f2-44dc-973c-73141f3da7e2"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the amount of funding spent over the month for staff, along with the number of staff, and the percent by which each category has increased or decreased since the previous report under paragraph (1);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id29b1a6f7-1e63-40a2-9a5c-6ce1198959e9"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the amount of funding spent over the month for administrative costs, and the percent by which such spending has increased or decreased since the previous report under paragraph (1);</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id3ee24911-3ecd-4153-ad60-a22fd72fbf4f"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the amount of funding available for salaries and expenses combined, and the percent by which such funding has increased or decreased since the previous report under paragraph (1), noting the source of any additional funding; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf843f686-e60d-424b-a66c-3dd9126eb5c7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>an estimate of how long the available funding for salaries and expenses will last, based on the spending rate.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd851d04a-a060-4438-a14f-cf9abed02dda"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Daily disaster updates to congress for presidentially declared disasters</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide2cdc4c8-02fb-48bc-93b2-54319f1d8f20"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each day during a disaster update period, excluding Federal holidays and weekends, the Administration shall provide to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the operation of the disaster loan program of the Administration for the area in which the President declared a major disaster.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida63456d2-24ed-4753-966c-f0de225f2526"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each report under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="id556e8a4b-ad2f-40b7-9054-4dbb84ee46e1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the number of Administration staff performing loan processing, field inspection, and other duties for the declared disaster, and the allocations of such staff in the disaster field offices, disaster recovery centers, workshops, and other Administration offices nationwide;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id65e36ae7-3d28-4c65-af71-ee83a439917e"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily number of applications received from applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7be2ef98-a9a3-410e-a4f9-94b0f8fbfcb7"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily number of applications pending application entry from applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide7526dd4-7940-478d-9d32-b5ce8a27a64c"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily number of applications withdrawn by applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2bd3657d-c12a-4e5c-89c3-57ed30f2d5ed"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily number of applications summarily declined by the Administration from applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1a614554-cb2c-49c0-acd9-ba7ad7911420"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily number of applications declined by the Administration from applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id337b53e1-6488-4f8e-939e-22acf2372680"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily number of applications in process from applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4b692012-3656-47bd-89b3-57ea7f8cceb3"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily number of applications approved by the Administration from applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5aae8af2-e5c7-4eec-92f6-3caaeb9ccc08"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily dollar amount of applications approved by the Administration from applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id916e83dd-d22c-4f67-b6bc-6e9f3cd166a3"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily amount of loans dispersed, both partially and fully, by the Administration to applicants in the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7fc60008-240e-43a3-b422-dcb794d41b31"><enum>(K)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the daily dollar amount of loans disbursed, both partially and fully, from the relevant area, as well as a breakdown of such figures by State;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5ccb0c6d-f3e5-476f-b7b8-78e9db759291"><enum>(L)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the number of applications approved, including dollar amount approved, as well as applications partially and fully disbursed, including dollar amounts, since the last report under paragraph (1); and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5ff2106b-0273-454d-bf9d-ebd2b1bf6605"><enum>(M)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the declaration date, physical damage closing date, economic injury closing date, and number of counties included in the declaration of a major disaster.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3f69e200-3d53-48e7-9522-700214ee33b5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Notice of the need for supplemental funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On the same date that the Administrator notifies any committee of the Senate or the House of Representatives that supplemental funding is necessary for the disaster loan program of the Administration in any fiscal year, the Administrator shall notify in writing the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives regarding the need for supplemental funds for that loan program.</text> </subsection>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa86a4c3-70a8-4e32-ba55-03e9ac86c951"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report on contracting</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf380245a-5edf-4c80-be1a-dbb18df416cd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after the date on which the President declares a major disaster, and every 6 months thereafter until the date that is 18 months after the date on which the major disaster was declared, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives regarding Federal contracts awarded as a result of that major disaster.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0816e215-5972-4b2f-8bb4-9e47c2cc782e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idab407e54-5cd5-466a-84b9-a8373228b210"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total number of contracts awarded as a result of that major disaster;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb67b0053-c0aa-4152-9410-ffc5d26892b7"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total number of contracts awarded to small business concerns as a result of that major disaster;</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2e7a88bd-746b-405a-9c78-29d8f80d1ce3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total number of contracts awarded to women and minority-owned businesses as a result of that major disaster; and</text> </subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcb155798-beef-4ea4-9ab6-5cc7300c2683"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total number of contracts awarded to local businesses as a result of that major disaster.</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="ID86a29f53a7b142f1ac71665321b08806"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report on loan approval rate</header>
<paragraph id="IDb44586fcb7004a548ecb2eebc3b51dd6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives detailing how the Administration can improve the processing of applications under the disaster loan program of the Administration.</text> </paragraph>
<paragraph id="ID65efd937d8b447369c7ac99980225d1a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID7067f895f5294a60b9262b77f30bc769"><enum>(A)</enum><text>recommendations, if any, regarding—</text>
<clause id="IDefca28f9227149f38bba6b0a60bbf6e5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>staffing levels during a major disaster;</text> </clause>
<clause id="IDe5563d82bb51427b8ad15d737861b77a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>how to improve the process for processing, approving, and disbursing loans under the disaster loan program of the Administration, to ensure that the maximum assistance is provided to victims in a timely manner;</text> </clause>
<clause id="ID2224f8f7fe30439fb1618893eff99fd2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the viability of using alternative methods for assessing the ability of an applicant to repay a loan, including the credit score of the applicant on the day before the date on which the disaster for which the applicant is seeking assistance was declared;</text> </clause>
<clause id="IDf1fe248b31ba494dbdfb6890f58af814"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>methods, if any, for the Administration to expedite loss verification and loan processing of disaster loans during a major disaster for businesses affected by, and located in the area for which the President declared, the major disaster that are a major source of employment in the area or are vital to recovery efforts in the region (including providing debris removal services, manufactured housing, or building materials);</text> </clause>
<clause id="ID327e80f2f11342198d742004033d6ebf"><enum>(v)</enum><text>legislative changes, if any, needed to implement findings from the Accelerated Disaster Response Initiative of the Administration; and</text> </clause>
<clause id="ID1804b0f2afaa4851919efeb31133563e"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>a description of how the Administration plans to integrate and coordinate the response to a major disaster with the technical assistance programs of the Administration; and</text> </clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8942e08441e04007873ed622e559efcb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the plans of the Administrator for implementing any recommendation made under subparagraph (A).</text> </subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
Passed the Senate August 3, 2007. Nancy Erickson, Secretary.