[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5797 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5797

   To expand export promotion activities with respect to small- and 
    medium-sized manufacturers in the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2010

   Mr. Larsen of Washington introduced the following bill; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
 Committee on Science and Technology, 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 expand export promotion activities with respect to small- and 
    medium-sized manufacturers in the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Small Manufacturers Export 
Initiative Act''.

SEC. 2. GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION ACTIVITIES OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

    (a) Increase in Employees With Responsibility for Global Business 
Development and Promotion Activities.--
            (1) In general.--During the 24-month period beginning on 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Commerce shall increase the number of full-time departmental 
        employees (including those employed overseas) whose primary 
        responsibilities involve promoting or facilitating 
        participation by United States businesses in the global 
        marketplace and facilitating the entry into, or expansion of, 
        such participation by United States businesses. In carrying out 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that the cohort of 
        such employees is increased by not less than 80 persons.
            (2) Enhanced focus on united states small- and medium-sized 
        manufacturers.--In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary 
        shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that the 
        activities of the Department of Commerce relating to promoting 
        and facilitating participation by United States businesses in 
        the global marketplace include promoting and facilitating such 
        participation by small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the 
        United States.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 24-month period 
        beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, such sums 
        as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    (b) Additional Funding for Global Business Development and 
Promotion Activities of the Department of Commerce.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce for the 24-month period beginning on 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, $30,000,000 to promote 
        or facilitate participation by United States businesses in the 
        global marketplace and facilitating the entry into, or 
        expansion of, such participation by United States 
        manufacturers.
            (2) Requirements.--In obligating and expending the funds 
        authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        of Commerce shall give preference to activities that--
                    (A) assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers in 
                the United States; and
                    (B) the Secretary determines will create or sustain 
                the greatest number of jobs in the United States and 
                obtain the maximum return on investment.

SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE EXPORTECH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of Commerce for the 24-month period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act, $11,000,000 to expand ExporTech, a joint 
program of the Hollings Manufacturing Partnership Program and the 
Export Assistance Centers of the Department of Commerce.
    (b) Requirements.--In obligating and expending the funds authorized 
to be appropriated by subsection (a), the Secretary of Commerce shall 
give preference to activities that--
            (1) assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the 
        United States; and
            (2) the Secretary determines will create or sustain the 
        greatest number of jobs in the United States and obtain the 
        maximum return on investment.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS CONCERNING FEDERAL COLLABORATION WITH 
              STATES ON EXPORT PROMOTION ISSUES.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Commerce 
should enhance Federal collaboration with the States on export 
promotion issues by--
            (1) providing the necessary training to the staff at State 
        international trade agencies to enable them to assist the 
        United States and Foreign Commercial Service (established by 
        section 2301 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 
        4721)) in providing counseling and other export services to 
        businesses in their communities; and
            (2) entering into agreements with State international trade 
        agencies for those agencies to deliver export promotion 
        services in their local communities in order to extend the 
        outreach of United States and Foreign Commercial Service 
        programs.
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