[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1208 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1208

To amend the Small Business Act to improve export growth opportunities 
             for small businesses, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 8, 2009

   Ms. Snowe introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Small Business Act to improve export growth opportunities 
             for small businesses, 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 Business Export Opportunity 
Development Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the terms ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean 
        the Small Business Administration and the Administrator 
        thereof, respectively;
            (2) the term ``Export Assistance Center'' means a one-stop 
        shop referred to in section 2301(b)(8) of the Omnibus Trade and 
        Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(b)(8));
            (3) the term ``export loan programs'' means the programs of 
        the Administration under paragraphs (14) and (16) of section 
        7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) and section 
        22 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 649), as amended by this Act; and
            (4) the term ``small business concern'' has the same 
        meaning as in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        632).

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION.

    (a) Office of Small Business Export Development and Promotion.--
Section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649) is amended to read 
as follows:

``SEC. 22. OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `accredited export assistance program' means 
        a program--
                    ``(A) that provides counseling and assistance 
                relating to exporting to small business concerns; and
                    ``(B) in which not less than 20 percent of the 
                technical assistance staff members are certified in 
                providing export assistance under subsection (g)(2);
            ``(2) the term `Associate Administrator' means the 
        Associate Administrator for Export Development and Promotion;
            ``(3) the term `Export Assistance Center' means a one-stop 
        shop referred to in section 2301(b)(8) of the Omnibus Trade and 
        Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(b)(8));
            ``(4) the term `export development officer' means an 
        individual described in subsection (d)(8);
            ``(5) the term `Office' means the Office of Export 
        Promotion and Development established under subsection (b)(1); 
        and
            ``(6) the term `Service Corps of Retired Executives' means 
        the Service Corps of Retired Executives authorized by section 
        8(b)(1).
    ``(b) Office Established.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Administration an Office of Export Promotion and Development, 
        which shall carry out the programs under this section.
            ``(2) Associate administrator.--The head of the Office 
        shall be the Associate Administrator for Export Development and 
        Promotion, who shall report directly to the Administrator.
    ``(c) Duties of Office.--The Associate Administrator, working in 
close cooperation with the Department of Commerce, the United States 
Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, other relevant Federal 
agencies, small business development centers, regional and district 
offices of the Administration, the small business community, and 
relevant State and local export promotion programs, shall--
            ``(1) maintain a distribution network for export promotion, 
        export finance, trade adjustment, trade remedy assistance, and 
        export data collection programs through use of the regional and 
        district offices of the Administration, the small business 
        development center network, the network of women's business 
        centers, chapters of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, 
        and Export Assistance Centers;
            ``(2) aggressively market the programs described in 
        paragraph (1) and disseminate information, including 
        computerized marketing data, to the small business community on 
        exporting trends, market-specific growth, industry trends, and 
        international prospects for exports;
            ``(3) promote export assistance programs through the 
        district and regional offices of the Administration, the small 
        business development center network, Export Assistance Centers, 
        the network of women's business centers, chapters of the 
        Service Corps of Retired Executives, State and local export 
        promotion programs, and partnerships with people in the private 
        sector; and
            ``(4) give preference in hiring or approving the transfer 
        of any employee into the Office or to an export development 
        officer position to otherwise qualified applicants who are 
        fluent in a language in addition to English, who shall--
                    ``(A) accompany foreign trade missions, if 
                designated by the Associate Administrator; and
                    ``(B) be available as needed to translate 
                documents, interpret conversations, and facilitate 
                multilingual transactions, including providing referral 
                lists for translation services, if required.
    ``(d) Promotion of Sales Opportunities.--The Associate 
Administrator shall promote sales opportunities for small business 
goods and services abroad by--
            ``(1) in cooperation with the Department of Commerce, other 
        relevant agencies, regional and district offices of the 
        Administration, the small business development center network, 
        and State programs, developing a mechanism for--
                    ``(A) identifying sub-sectors of the small business 
                community with strong export potential;
                    ``(B) identifying areas of demand in foreign 
                markets;
                    ``(C) prescreening foreign buyers for commercial 
                and credit purposes; and
                    ``(D) assisting in increasing international 
                marketing by disseminating relevant information 
                regarding market leads, linking potential sellers and 
                buyers, and catalyzing the formation of joint ventures, 
                where appropriate;
            ``(2) in cooperation with the Department of Commerce, 
        actively assisting small business concerns in forming and using 
        export trading companies, export management companies and 
        research and development pools authorized under section 9 of 
        this Act;
            ``(3) working in conjunction with other Federal agencies, 
        regional and district offices of the Administration, the small 
        business development center network, and the private sector to 
        identify and publicize translation services, including those 
        available through colleges and universities participating in 
        the small business development center program;
            ``(4) working closely with the Department of Commerce and 
        other relevant Federal agencies to--
                    ``(A) collect, analyze, and periodically update 
                relevant data regarding the small business share of 
                United States exports and the nature of State exports 
                (including the production of Gross State Product 
                figures) and disseminate that data to the public and to 
                Congress;
                    ``(B) make recommendations to the Secretary of 
                Commerce and to Congress regarding revision of the 
                North American Industry Classification System codes to 
                encompass industries currently overlooked and to create 
                North American Industry Classification System codes for 
                export trading companies and export management 
                companies;
                    ``(C) improve the utility and accessibility of 
                export promotion programs for small business concerns; 
                and
                    ``(D) increase the accessibility of the Export 
                Trading Company contact facilitation service;
            ``(5) making available to the small business community 
        information regarding conferences on exporting and 
        international trade sponsored by the public and private sector;
            ``(6) providing small business concerns with access to up-
        to-date and complete export information by--
                    ``(A) making available at the district offices of 
                the Administration, through cooperation with the 
                Department of Commerce, export information, including 
                the worldwide information and trade system and world 
                trade data reports;
                    ``(B) maintaining a list of financial institutions 
                that finance export operations;
                    ``(C) maintaining a directory of all Federal, 
                regional, State and private sector programs that 
                provide export information and assistance to small 
                business concerns; and
                    ``(D) preparing and publishing such reports as it 
                determines to be necessary concerning market 
                conditions, sources of financing, export promotion 
                programs, and other information pertaining to the needs 
                of small business export firms so as to insure that the 
                maximum information is made available to small business 
                concerns in a readily usable form;
            ``(7) encouraging, in cooperation with the Department of 
        Commerce, greater small business participation in trade fairs, 
        shows, missions, and other domestic and overseas export 
        development activities of the Department of Commerce;
            ``(8) facilitating decentralized delivery of export 
        information and assistance to small businesses by assigning 
        primary responsibility for export development to one individual 
        in each district office, who shall--
                    ``(A) assist small business concerns in obtaining 
                export information and assistance from other Federal 
                departments and agencies;
                    ``(B) maintain a directory of all programs which 
                provide export information and assistance to small 
                business concerns in the region;
                    ``(C) encourage financial institutions to develop 
                and expand programs for export financing;
                    ``(D) provide advice to personnel of the 
                Administration involved in making loans, loan 
                guarantees, and extensions and revolving lines of 
                credit, and providing other forms of assistance to 
                small business concerns engaged in exports; and
                    ``(E) not later than 120 days after the date on 
                which the person is appointed as an export development 
                officer, and not less frequently than once each year 
                thereafter, participate in training programs designed 
                by the Administrator, in conjunction with the 
                Department of Commerce and other Federal departments 
                and agencies, to study export programs and to examine 
                the needs of small business concerns for export 
                information and assistance;
            ``(9) carrying out a nationwide marketing effort to promote 
        exporting as a business development opportunity for small 
        business concerns that uses technology, online resources, 
        training, and other strategies;
            ``(10) disseminating information to the small business 
        community through regional and district offices of the 
        Administration, the small business development center network, 
        Export Assistance Centers, the network of women's business 
        centers, chapters of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, 
        State and local export promotion programs, and partners in the 
        private sector regarding exporting trends, market-specific 
        growth, industry trends, and prospects for exporting; and
            ``(11) establishing and carrying out training programs for 
        the staff of the district offices of the Administration and 
        resource partners of the Administration on export promotion and 
        providing assistance relating to exports.
    ``(e) Export Finance Specialist Program.--
            ``(1) Export finance specialist program.--The Associate 
        Administrator shall work in cooperation with the Export-Import 
        Bank of the United States, the Department of Commerce, other 
        relevant Federal agencies, and the States to develop a program 
        through which export finance specialists in the district 
        offices of the Administration, regional and local loan 
        officers, and small business development center personnel can 
        facilitate the access of small business concerns to relevant 
        export financing programs of the Export-Import Bank of the 
        United States and to export and pre-export financing programs 
        available from the Administration and the private sector.
            ``(2) Program activities.--To carry out paragraph (1), the 
        Associate Administrator shall work in cooperation with the 
        Export-Import Bank of the United States and the small business 
        community, including small business trade associations, to--
                    ``(A) aggressively market Administration export 
                financing and pre-export financing programs;
                    ``(B) identify financing available under various 
                programs of the Export-Import Bank of the United 
                States, and aggressively market those programs to small 
                business concerns;
                    ``(C) assist in the development of financial 
                intermediaries and facilitate the access of those 
                intermediaries to financing programs;
                    ``(D) promote greater participation by private 
                financial institutions, particularly those institutions 
                already participating in loan programs under this Act, 
                in export finance; and
                    ``(E) provide for the participation of appropriate 
                Administration personnel in training programs conducted 
                by the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
    ``(f) Counseling for Small Business Concerns.--The Associate 
Administrator shall--
            ``(1) work in cooperation with other Federal agencies and 
        the private sector to counsel small business concerns with 
        respect to initiating and participating in any proceedings 
        relating to the administration of the United States trade laws; 
        and
            ``(2) work with the Department of Commerce, the Office of 
        the United States Trade Representative, and the International 
        Trade Commission to increase access to trade remedy proceedings 
        for small business concerns.
    ``(g) Export Assistance Programs.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Associate Administrator shall 
        require, as part of the agreement under section 21, that each 
        small business development center has an accredited export 
        assistance program.
            ``(2) Certification.--The Associate Administrator shall 
        certify technical assistance staff members of small business 
        development centers in providing export assistance, in 
        accordance with such criteria as the Associate Administrator 
        may establish.
            ``(3) Training.--The Associate Administrator shall provide 
        training relating to export assistance programs at the annual 
        conference of small business development centers.
            ``(4) Report.--The Associate Administrator shall submit an 
        annual report to Congress that includes--
                    ``(A) the number of small business concerns 
                assisted by accredited export assistance programs;
                    ``(B) the export revenue generated by small 
                business concerns assisted by accredited export 
                assistance programs; and
                    ``(C) an estimate of the number of jobs created or 
                retained because of assistance provided by accredited 
                export assistance programs.
    ``(h) Export Assistance Officer.--The Associate Administrator 
shall--
            ``(1) assign an export assistance officer with training in 
        export assistance and marketing to each district office of the 
        Administration, who shall--
                    ``(A) conduct training and information sessions for 
                small business concerns interested in exporting; and
                    ``(B) conduct outreach to small business concerns 
                with the potential to export; and
            ``(2) provide annual training for export assistance 
        officers.
    ``(i) Export Development Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `eligible small-business concern' 
                means a small-business concern--
                            ``(i) that--
                                    ``(I) has been in business for not 
                                less than 1 year;
                                    ``(II) has profitable domestic 
                                sales;
                                    ``(III) has demonstrated 
                                understanding of the costs associated 
                                with exporting and doing business with 
                                foreign purchasers, including the costs 
                                of freight forwarding, customs brokers, 
                                packing and shipping, as determined by 
                                the Administrator; and
                                    ``(IV) has in place a strategic 
                                plan for exporting;
                            ``(ii) an employee of which has completed 
                        an accredited export assistance program; and
                            ``(iii) that agrees to provide to the 
                        Associate Administrator such information and 
                        documentation as is necessary for the Associate 
                        Administrator to determine that the small-
                        business concern is in compliance with the 
                        internal revenue laws of the United States;
                    ``(B) the term `export initiative' includes--
                            ``(i) participation in a trade mission;
                            ``(ii) a foreign market sales trip;
                            ``(iii) a subscription to services provided 
                        by the Department of Commerce;
                            ``(iv) the payment of website translation 
                        fees;
                            ``(v) the design of international marketing 
                        media;
                            ``(vi) a trade show exhibition; and
                            ``(vii) participation in training 
                        workshops; and
                    ``(C) the term `small-business concern' has the 
                same meaning as in section 103 of the Small Business 
                Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662).
            ``(2) Grant program.--The Associate Administrator shall 
        establish an export development grant program, under which the 
        Associate Administrator may make grants to eligible small-
        business concerns to enhance the capability of the eligible 
        small-business concerns to be globally competitive, increase 
        business internationally, and increase export sales.
            ``(3) Application.--An eligible small-business concern that 
        desires a grant under this subsection shall submit to the 
        Associate Administrator at such time and in such manner as the 
        Associate Administrator shall prescribe an application that 
        identifies not less than 1 specific, achievable export 
        initiative that the eligible small-business concern will carry 
        out using a grant under this subsection.
            ``(4) Amount.--A grant under this subsection may not exceed 
        $5,000.
            ``(5) Matching funds.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        export initiative carried out with a grant under this 
        subsection shall be not more than 50 percent. The non-Federal 
        share of the cost of an activity carried out with a grant under 
        this subsection may be in kind or in cash.
            ``(6) Information and documentation.--An eligible small-
        business concern that receives a grant under this subsection 
        shall provide to the Associate Administrator--
                    ``(A) receipts for all expenditures made with the 
                grant; and
                    ``(B) information relating to any export sales 
                resulting from the grant.
            ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
        $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter.
    ``(j) Performance Measures.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Associate Administrator shall 
        develop performance measures for the Administration to support 
        export growth goals for the activities of the Office under this 
        section that include--
                    ``(A) the number of small business concerns that--
                            ``(i) receive assistance from the 
                        Administration;
                            ``(ii) had not exported goods or services 
                        before receiving the assistance described in 
                        clause (i); and
                            ``(iii) export goods or services;
                    ``(B) the number of small business concerns 
                receiving assistance from the Administration that 
                export goods or services to a market outside the United 
                States into which the small business concern did not 
                export before receiving the assistance;
                    ``(C) export revenues by small business concerns 
                assisted by programs of the Administration;
                    ``(D) the number of small business concerns 
                referred to an Export Assistance Center or a small 
                business development center by the staff of the Office; 
                and
                    ``(E) the number of small business concerns 
                referred to the Administration by an Export Assistance 
                Center or a small business development center.
            ``(2) Consistency of tracking.--The Associate 
        Administrator, in coordination with the departments and 
        agencies that are represented on the Trade Promotion 
        Coordinating Committee established under section 2312 of the 
        Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727) and the small 
        business development center network, shall develop a system to 
        track exports by small business concerns, including information 
        relating to the performance measures described in paragraph 
        (1), that is consistent with systems used by the departments 
        and agencies and the network.
            ``(3) Reports.--The Associate Administrator shall submit an 
        annual report to the Committee on Small Business and 
        Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
        Business of the House of Representatives that includes--
                    ``(A) a detailed account of the information 
                relating to the performance measures described in 
                paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) a description of the export assistance and 
                services provided to small business concerns by the 
                Administration.
    ``(k) Report.--The Associate Administrator shall submit an annual 
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 Administration in implementing 
the requirements under this section.
    ``(l) Discharge of Administration Export Promotion 
Responsibilities.--The Administrator shall ensure that--
            ``(1) the responsibilities of the Administration regarding 
        international trade and exporting are carried out through the 
        Associate Administrator;
            ``(2) the Associate Administrator has sufficient resources 
        to carry out such responsibilities; and
            ``(3) the Associate Administrator has direct supervision 
        and control over the staff of the Office, and over any employee 
        of the Administration whose principal duty station is an Export 
        Assistance Center or any successor entity.''.
    (b) Export Development Officers.--
            (1) Appointment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ensure that 
        export development officers are assigned to each district 
        office of the Administration, in accordance with section 
        22(d)(8) of the Small Business Act, as amended by this section.
            (2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``export 
        development officer'' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649), as 
        amended by this Act.
    (c) Export Assistance Centers.--
            (1) Vacant positions.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ensure 
        that the number of full-time equivalent employees of the Office 
        of Export Development and Promotion assigned to the Export 
        Assistance Centers is not less than the number of such 
        employees so assigned on January 1, 2003.
            (2) Export development officers.--Not later than 2 years 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in 
        coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, shall ensure that 
        export finance specialists are assigned to not fewer than 40 
        Export Assistance Centers.
            (3) Study.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Associate Administrator for Export 
        Development and Promotion shall carry out a nationwide study to 
        evaluate where additional export finance specialists are 
        needed.
            (4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``export 
        finance specialist'' means an export finance specialist 
        described in section 22(e)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 649(e)(1)), as amended by this section.
    (d) Appointment of Associate Administrator.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
appoint an Associate Administrator for Export Development and Promotion 
under section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649), as amended 
by this section.
    (e) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Number of associate administrators.--Section 4(b)(1) of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633(b)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) in the fifth sentence, by striking ``five''; 
                and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following: ``One of 
                the Associate Administrators shall be the Associate 
                Administrator for Export Development and Promotion, who 
                shall be the head of the Office of Export Development 
                and Promotion established under section 22.''.
            (2) Role of associate administrator in carrying out 
        international trade and export policy.--Section 2(b)(1) of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631(b)(1)) is amended in the 
        matter preceding subparagraph (A) by inserting ``through the 
        Associate Administrator for Export Development and Promotion 
        of'' before ``the Small Business Administration''.

SEC. 4. EXPORT FINANCE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Export Working Capital Program.--Section 7(a) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``not exceed'' and 
        inserting ``be''; and
            (2) in paragraph (14)--
                    (A) by striking ``(A) The Administration'' and 
                inserting the following: ``Export working capital 
                program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator'';
                    (B) by striking ``(B) When considering'' and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(C) Considerations.--When considering'';
                    (C) by striking ``(C) The Administration'' and 
                inserting the following:
                    ``(D) Marketing.--The Administrator''; and
                    (D) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
                following:
                    ``(B) Terms.--
                            ``(i) Loan amount.--The Administrator may 
                        not guarantee a loan under this paragraph of 
                        more than $5,000,000.
                            ``(ii) Fees.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--For a loan under 
                                this paragraph, the Administrator shall 
                                collect the fee assessed under 
                                paragraph (23) not more frequently than 
                                once each year.
                                    ``(II) Untapped credit.--The 
                                Administrator may not assess a fee on 
                                capital that is not accessed by the 
                                small business concern.''.
    (b) Participation in Preferred Lenders Program.--Section 7(a)(2)(C) 
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(2)(C)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
            (2) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
                            ``(ii) Export-import bank lenders.--Any 
                        lender that is participating in the Delegated 
                        Authority Lender Program of the Export-Import 
                        Bank of the United States (or any successor to 
                        the Program) shall be eligible to participate 
                        in the Preferred Lenders Program.''.
    (c) Export Express Program.--Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 636(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(32) Increased veteran'' and inserting 
        ``(33) Increased veteran''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(34) Export express program.--
                    ``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph--
                            ``(i) the term `export development 
                        activity' includes--
                                    ``(I) obtaining a standby letter of 
                                credit when required as a bid bond, 
                                performance bond, or advance payment 
                                guarantee;
                                    ``(II) participation in a trade 
                                show that takes place outside the 
                                United States;
                                    ``(III) translation of product 
                                brochures or catalogues for use in 
                                markets outside the United States;
                                    ``(IV) obtaining a general line of 
                                credit for export purposes;
                                    ``(V) performing a service contract 
                                from buyers located outside the United 
                                States;
                                    ``(VI) obtaining transaction-
                                specific financing associated with 
                                completing export orders;
                                    ``(VII) purchasing real estate or 
                                equipment to be used in the production 
                                of goods or services for export;
                                    ``(VIII) providing term loans or 
                                other financing to enable a small 
                                business concern, including an export 
                                trading company and an export 
                                management company, to develop a market 
                                outside the United States; and
                                    ``(IX) acquiring, constructing, 
                                renovating, modernizing, improving, or 
                                expanding a production facility or 
                                equipment to be used in the United 
                                States in the production of goods or 
                                services for export; and
                            ``(ii) the term `express loan' means a loan 
                        in which a lender uses to the maximum extent 
                        practicable the loan analyses, procedures, and 
                        documentation of the lender to provide 
                        expedited processing of the loan application.
                    ``(B) Authority.--The Administrator may guarantee 
                the timely payment of an express loan to a small 
                business concern made for an export development 
                activity.
                    ``(C) Level of participation.--
                            ``(i) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount 
                        of an express loan guaranteed under this 
                        paragraph shall be $500,000.
                            ``(ii) Percentage.--For an express loan 
                        guaranteed under this paragraph, the 
                        Administrator shall guarantee--
                                    ``(I) 90 percent of a loan that is 
                                not more than $350,000; and
                                    ``(II) 75 percent of a loan that is 
                                more than $350,000 and not more than 
                                $500,000.''.
    (d) International Trade Loans.--Section 7(a) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``$1,750,000, of which 
        not more than $1,250,000'' and inserting ``$5,000,000, of which 
        not more than $4,000,000''; and
            (2) in paragraph (16)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``a first lien 
                position'' and all that follows and inserting ``such 
                collateral as is determined adequate by the 
                Administrator.'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking clauses (i) 
                and (ii) and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) is confronting--
                                    ``(I) increased competition with 
                                foreign firms in the relevant market; 
                                or
                                    ``(II) an unfair trade practice by 
                                a foreign firm, particularly 
                                intellectual property violations; and
                            ``(ii) is injured by the competition or 
                        unfair trade practice.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) Guarantee.--For a loan guaranteed under this 
                paragraph, the Administrator shall guarantee 90 percent 
                of the loan.
                    ``(G) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term 
                `small business concern' has the meaning given the term 
                `small-business concern' in section 103 of the Small 
                Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662).''.
    (e) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 7 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(A), in the matter preceding 
                clause (i), by inserting ``or (D) of this paragraph or 
                in paragraph (16) or (34)'' after ``in subparagraph 
                (B)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``No'' and inserting 
                ``Except as provided in paragraph (14)(B), no''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
                        ``Lender'' and inserting ``Lenders'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (E)--
                                    (I) by striking ``Lender'' and 
                                inserting ``Lenders''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``subsection 
                                (a)(2)(C)(ii)'' and inserting 
                                ``subsection (a)(2)(C)(iii)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (7)(B)(ii), by striking ``Lender'' 
                and inserting ``Lenders''.

SEC. 5. MARKETING OF EXPORT LOANS.

    The Administrator shall make efforts to expand the network of 
lenders participating in the export loan programs, including by--
            (1) conducting outreach to regional and community lenders 
        through the staff of the Administration assigned to Export 
        Assistance Centers or to district offices of the 
        Administration;
            (2) developing a lender training program regarding the 
        export loan programs for employees of lenders;
            (3) simplifying and streamlining the application, 
        processing, and reporting processes for the export loan 
        programs; and
            (4) establishing online, paperless processing and 
        application submission for the export loan programs.

SEC. 6. SMALL BUSINESS TRADE POLICY.

    (a) Assistant United States Trade Representative for Small 
Business.--Section 141(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2171(c)) 
is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(6)(A) There is established within the Office the position of 
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Small Business, who 
shall be appointed by the United States Trade Representative.
    ``(B) The Assistant United States Trade Representative for Small 
Business shall--
            ``(i) promote the trade interests of small-business 
        concerns (as that term is defined in section 103 of the Small 
        Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662));
            ``(ii) advocate for the reduction of foreign trade barriers 
        with regard to the trade issues of small-business concerns that 
        are exporters;
            ``(iii) collaborate with the Administrator of the Small 
        Business Administration with regard to the trade issues of 
        small-business concern trade issues;
            ``(iv) assist the United States Trade Representative in 
        developing trade policies that increase opportunities for 
        small-business concerns in foreign and domestic markets, 
        including polices that reduce trade barriers for small-business 
        concerns; and
            ``(v) perform such other duties as the United States Trade 
        Representative may direct.''; and
            (2) by moving paragraph (5) 2 ems to the left.
    (b) Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee.--
            (1) Detailee.--Section 2312 of the Export Enhancement Act 
        of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(g) Small Business Administration.--The Administrator of the 
Small Business Administration shall detail an employee of the Small 
Business Administration having expertise in export promotion to the 
TPCC to encourage the TPCC to--
            ``(1) collaborate with the Small Business Administration 
        with regard to trade promotion efforts; and
            ``(2) consider the interests of small-business concerns (as 
        that term is defined in section 103 of the Small Business 
        Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662)) in the development of 
        trade promotion policies and programs.''.
            (2) National export strategy.--Section 2312 of the Export 
        Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end;
                            (ii) in paragraph (6), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) include an export strategy for small-business 
        concerns (as that term is defined in section 103 of the Small 
        Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662)), which shall--
                    ``(A) be developed by the Administrator of the 
                Small Business Administration; and
                    ``(B) include strategies to--
                            ``(i) increase export opportunities for 
                        small-business concerns;
                            ``(ii) protect small-business concerns from 
                        unfair trade practices, including intellectual 
                        property violations;
                            ``(iii) assist small-business concerns with 
                        international regulatory compliance 
                        requirements; and
                            ``(iv) coordinate policy and program 
                        efforts throughout the United States with the 
                        TPCC, the Department of Commerce, and the 
                        Export Import Bank of the United States.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (f), in paragraph (1), by 
                inserting ``(including implementation of the export 
                strategy for small business concerns described in 
                paragraph (7) of that subsection)'' after ``the 
                implementation of such plan''.
    (c) Recommendations on Trade Agreements.--
            (1) Notification by ustr.--Not later than 90 days before 
        the United States Trade Representative begins a negotiation 
        with regard to any trade agreement, the United States Trade 
        Representative shall notify the Administrator of the date the 
        negotiation will begin.
            (2) Recommendations.--Not later than 30 days before the 
        United States Trade Representative begins a negotiation with 
        regard to any trade agreement, the Administrator shall present 
        to the United States Trade Representative recommendations 
        relating to the needs and concerns of small business concerns 
        that are exporters.
    (d) Trade Disputes.--The Administrator shall carry out a 
comprehensive program to provide technical assistance, counseling, and 
reference materials to small business concerns relating to resources, 
procedures, and requirements for mechanisms to resolve international 
trade disputes or address unfair international trade practices under 
international trade agreements or Federal law, including--
            (1) directing the district offices of the Administration to 
        provide referrals, information, and other services to small 
        business concerns relating to the mechanisms;
            (2) entering agreements and partnerships with providers of 
        legal services relating to the mechanisms, to ensure small 
        business concerns may affordably use the mechanisms; and
            (3) in consultation with the Director of the United States 
        Patent and Trademark Office and the Register of Copyrights, 
        designing counseling services and materials for small business 
        concerns regarding intellectual property protection in other 
        countries.
                                 <all>