I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 648 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 22, 2009 Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas (for herself, Mr. Honda, and Ms. Bordallo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish the Commission on Women’s Business Ownership.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 2009.

2.

Establishment

There is established a commission to be known as the National Commission on Women’s Business Ownership (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the Commission).

3.

Duties of the Commission

(a)

Review required

The Commission shall— (1)review the status of women business owners nationwide, and the progress made since the 1980 White House Conference on Small Business; (2)review the role of the Federal Government in aid to, and the promotion of, women business owners; and (3)review data collection procedures with regard to women-owned business and Federal initiatives and procurement, with a view toward recommending improvements. (b)

Recommendations required

Based on its review, the Commission shall— (1)recommend new private-sector initiatives regarding management and technical assistance to women business owners; (2)recommend ways to create greater access to credit for women in business; and (3)recommend ways to enhance procurement opportunities for women business owners. (c)

Definition

For purposes of this Act, a business is owned by a woman if the sole owner is a woman, or if one-half or more of the partners are women, or if it is a corporation, where 50 percent or more of the stock is owned by women.

4.

Membership

(a)

In general

The Commission shall be composed of nine members appointed as follows: (1)Three members appointed by the President. (2)Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from a list of fifteen individuals nominated for such appointment by the chairman of the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives. (3)Three members appointed by the majority leader of the Senate from a list of fifteen individuals nominated for such appointment by the chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate. (b)

Qualifications

(1)Appointments under subsection (a) shall be made from individuals whip are specially qualified to serve on the Commission by virtue of their education, training, or experience, and who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government or Members of Congress. (2)Of the three individuals appointed under each of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a)— (A)no more than two members appointed under each paragraph shall be of the same political party; (B)at least one member appointed under each paragraph shall be a woman; and (C)at least one member appointed under each paragraph shall be an individual who is a small business owner. (3)In making the appointments under subsection (a), the appointing authorities should give consideration to achieving a geographical balance. (c)

Term

Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission, except that, if any member of the Commission becomes an officer or employee of the Federal Government or a Member of Congress, such individual may continue as a member of the Commission for not longer than the thirty-day period beginning on the date such individual becomes such an officer or employee or Member of Congress. (d)

Vacancies

A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (e)

Pay

Members of the Commission shall serve without pay, except members of the Commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out the functions of the Commission, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Federal Government are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. (f)

Quorum

Five members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings. (g)

Chairperson and Vice Chairperson

The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission shall be designated by the President. The term of office of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be the life of the Commission. (h)

Meetings

The Commission shall meet not less than four times nor more than six times each year. Meetings shall be at the call of a majority of its members.

5.

Director and Staff of the Commission

(a)

Director and staff

(1)The Commission shall have a Director who shall be appointed by the Commission. The Commission, with the recommendation of the Director, may appoint and fix the pay of four additional personnel. (2)The Director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to section 5311(b) of title 5, United States Code, and without regard to the provisions of such title governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no individual so appointed may receive pay in excess of the annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule. (b)

Services

The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5 of the Unites States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–18 of the General Schedule. (c)

Details

Upon request of the Commission, the head of any department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under this Act.

6.

Powers of the Commission

(a)

In general

The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Commission considers appropriate. (b)

Delegation

Any member or agent of the Commission may, if so authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is authorized to take by this section. (c)

Access to information

The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission. (d)

Use of mails

The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States. (e)

Administrative support

The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the Commission may request.

7.

Reports

The Commission shall transmit to the President and to each House of the Congress such interim reports as it considers appropriate and shall transmit a final report to the President no later than twenty-six months after the date of the Commission’s first meeting. The final report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as it considers appropriate.

8.

Termination

The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that it transmits its final report to the President and to each House of the Congress.

9.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.