I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6231 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 28, 2010 Ms. Giffords (for herself and Mr. Manzullo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To amend the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to further enhance the promotion of exports of United States goods and services, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2010.

2.

Findings

The Congress finds that— (1)increased exports are essential to renewed and sustained economic growth in the United States and increased employment of American workers; (2)all major trading nations conduct export promotion activities on behalf of their nations’ exporters, with some activities that are more effective than United States programs, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO); (3)increased United States exports and jobs can be achieved through more effective use of existing resources, rather than additional funds or personnel for existing programs; (4)the Congress appropriates in excess of $1,300,000,000 each year for export promotion programs to 18 Federal agencies; (5)repeated GAO reports indicate that export promotion programs would be more effective with improved coordination, elimination of duplicative activities, and better allocation of resources; (6)Congress established the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) in 1992 to coordinate export promotion programs, but repeated GAO assessments are that the TPCC would be more effective with greater authority over budgetary allocations and program functions; and (7)increased United States exports require a coordinated effort by United States diplomats and export promotion officials to identify and overcome obstacles caused by foreign government policies, laws, and practices.

3.

Improved coordination export promotion activities of Federal agencies

Section 2312 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (relating to the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee; 15 U.S.C. 4727) is amended— (1)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (5), by striking and after the semicolon; (B)by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and (C)by inserting after paragraph (5) the following: (6)in making the assessments under paragraph (5), review the proposed annual budget of each agency described in paragraph (5) before the agency submits that budget to the Office of Management and Budget and the President for inclusion in the budget of the United States submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code; and ; (2)in subsection (c)— (A)by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and (B)by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3)in conducting the review and developing the plan under paragraph (2), take into account recommendations from a representative number of United States exporters, in particular small businesses and medium-sized businesses, and representatives of United States workers; ; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (g)

Executive order and regulations

The President shall issue an executive order and such regulations as are necessary to provide the chairperson of the TPCC with the authority to ensure that the TPCC carries out each of its duties under subsection (b) and develops and implements the strategic plan under subsection (c). (h)

Definition

In this section, the term small business means a small business concern as defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). .

4.

Effective deployment of U.S. Commercial Service resources

Section 2301(c)(4) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (relating to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service; 15 U.S.C. 4721(c)(4)) is amended— (1)by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively; (2)by striking (4) Foreign offices.—(A) The Secretary may and inserting the following: (4)

Foreign offices

(A)(i)The Secretary shall conduct a global assessment of overseas markets to determine those with the greatest potential for increasing United States exports, and to redeploy the Commercial Service personnel and other resources on the basis of the global assessment. (ii)The assessment conducted under clause (i) shall take into account recommendations from a represented number of United States exporters, in particular small- and medium-sized businesses, and representatives of United States workers. (iii)Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2010, the Secretary shall submit to Congress results of the global assessment conducted under clause (i) and a plan for redeployment of Commercial Service personnel and other resources on the basis of the global assessment. (iv)The Secretary shall conduct an assessment and redeployment described in clause (i) not less than once in every 5-year period. (B)The Secretary may ; and (3)in subparagraph (F), as redesignated, by striking is authorized, upon the request of the Secretary, to provide and inserting shall, upon the request of the Secretary, provide.

5.

Strengthened U.S. commercial diplomacy in support of U.S. exports

(a)

Development of plan

Section 207(c) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927(c)) is amended— (1)by inserting before the period at the end the following: , including through the development of a plan, drafted in consultation with the ambassador to such country, the Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies with export promotion programs acting through the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, for effective diplomacy to remove or reduce obstacles to exports of United States goods and services; and (2)by adding at the end the following new sentence: The chief of mission shall, prior to implementation of the plan required under this subsection, submit to the Secretary such plan for review by the Secretary.. (b)

Assessments and promotions

Section 603(a) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4003(a)) is amended, in the second sentence, by inserting before and (with respect to the following: assessments (with respect to members of the Service with responsibilities relating to economic affairs) of the effectiveness of efforts to promote the export of United States goods and services in accordance with a commercial diplomacy plan developed pursuant to section 207(c),. (c)

Inspector General

Section 209(b) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3929(b)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end; (2)by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (3)by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph: (5)the effectiveness of commercial diplomacy relating to the promotion of exports of United States goods and services; and .