II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 745 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 1, 2007 Ms. Landrieu introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To provide for increased export assistance staff in areas in which the President declared a major disaster as a result of Hurricane Katrina of 2005 and Hurricane Rita of 2005.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Gulf Coast Export Recovery Act of 2007.

2.

Additional staff for new orleans United States export assistance center

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Commerce shall hire 1 additional full-time international trade specialist, to be located in the New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Export Assistance Center. (b)

Responsibilities

The international trade specialist hired under subsection (a) shall provide service to the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, St. Martin, St. Landry, and Iberia, Louisiana, and any other parish selected by the Secretary of Commerce.

3.

Gulf coast export assistance

(a)

Increase in small business international trade staff

The Administrator shall hire an additional full-time international finance specialist to the Office of International Trade of the Administration. (b)

Location and service area

The international finance specialist hired under subsection (a) shall— (1)be located in the New Orleans, Louisiana United States Export Assistance Center; (2)help to carry out the export promotion efforts described in section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649); and (3)provide such services in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. (c)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. (2)

Availability of funds

Amounts made available under this subsection shall remain available until expended.

4.

Definitions

For purposes of this Act, the terms Administration and Administrator mean the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively.