[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1616 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1616

   To authorize assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses to 
   promote exports to the People's Republic of China, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 6, 2009

 Ms. Cantwell introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses to 
   promote exports to the People's Republic of China, 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 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United States-
China Market Engagement and Export Promotion Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
            TITLE I--PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Sec. 101. Grants to States to establish and operate offices to promote 
                            exports to China.
Sec. 102. Program to establish China market advocate positions in 
                            United States Export Assistance Centers.
Sec. 103. Assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses for trade 
                            missions to China.
Sec. 104. Plan to consolidate fees for Gold Key matching services in 
                            China.
        TITLE II--PROGRAMS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 201. Trade outreach at the Office of International Trade of the 
                            Small Business Administration.
Sec. 202. Grants for Chinese business education programs.

            TITLE I--PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

SEC. 101. GRANTS TO STATES TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE OFFICES TO PROMOTE 
              EXPORTS TO CHINA.

    (a) Grants.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director of the United 
States and Foreign Commercial Service, shall provide grants to States 
to establish and operate State offices in the People's Republic of 
China to provide assistance to United States exporters for the 
promotion of exports to China, with a particular focus on establishment 
of offices in locations in addition to Beijing and Shanghai.
    (b) Amount.--The amount of a grant under subsection (a) shall not 
exceed 33 percent of the total costs to establish and operate a State 
office described in such subsection.
    (c) Regulations.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall promulgate such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 2301(j)(5) of the Export Enhancement Act of 
        1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(j)(5)).
            (2) United states exporter.--The term ``United States 
        exporter'' has the meaning given the term in section 2301(j)(3) 
        of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(j)(3)).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
        years 2010 through 2014 to carry out this section.
            (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) shall 
        remain available until expended.

SEC. 102. PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH CHINA MARKET ADVOCATE POSITIONS IN 
              UNITED STATES EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTERS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Commerce, in the 
Secretary's role as chairperson of the Trade Promotion Coordinating 
Committee, shall establish a program to provide comprehensive 
assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses in the United States 
for purposes of facilitating exports to China.
    (b) China Market Advocates.--
            (1) Positions authorized.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall 
                create not fewer than 50 China market advocate 
                positions in United States Export Assistance Centers.
                    (B) Appointment and training.--The China market 
                advocates authorized under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                appointed by the Secretary from among individuals with 
                expertise in matters relating to trade with China and 
                shall receive the training authorized under paragraph 
                (2).
                    (C) Rate of pay.--China market advocates shall be 
                paid at a rate equal to the rate of basic pay for 
                grades GS-10 through GS-13 of the General Schedule 
                under section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.
                    (D) Geographic distribution.--To the maximum extent 
                practicable, China market advocates shall be assigned 
                to United States Export Assistance Centers in a manner 
                that achieves an equitable geographic distribution of 
                China market advocates among United States Export 
                Assistance Centers.
            (2) Training authorized.--The Secretary shall provide 
        training to China market advocates in the business culture of 
        China, the market of China, and the evolving political, 
        cultural, and economic environment in China.
    (c) Services Provided by Advocates.--China market advocates 
authorized under subsection (b) shall provide comprehensive assistance 
to small- and medium-sized businesses in the United States for purposes 
of facilitating exports of United States goods to China. Such 
assistance may include--
            (1) assistance to find and utilize Federal and private 
        resources to facilitate entering into the market of China;
            (2) continuous direct and personal contact with businesses 
        that have entered the market of China;
            (3) assistance to resolve disputes with the Government of 
        the United States or China relating to intellectual property 
        rights violations, export restrictions, and additional trade 
        barriers; and
            (4) to the extent practicable, locating and recruiting 
        businesses to enter the market of China.
    (d) Advertising of Program.--The Secretary of Commerce shall make 
available to the public through advertising and other appropriate 
methods information about services offered by China market advocates 
under the program authorized under subsection (a).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this section 
$15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014, of which--
            (1) $5,000,000 are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out subsection (b)(2); and
            (2) $2,000,000 are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
        out subsection (d).

SEC. 103. ASSISTANCE TO SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES FOR TRADE 
              MISSIONS TO CHINA.

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--The Secretary of Commerce, in the 
Secretary's role as chairperson of the Trade Promotion Coordinating 
Committee, shall provide assistance through United States Export 
Assistance Centers to eligible small- and medium-sized businesses in 
the United States for business-related expenses for trade missions to 
China.
    (b) Selection Process.--The Secretary of Commerce shall--
            (1) develop a transparent and competitive scoring system 
        for selection of small- and medium-sized businesses to receive 
        assistance authorized under subsection (a) that focuses on the 
        feasibility of exporting goods and services to China; and
            (2) develop specific criteria for a definition of 
        ``business-related expenses'', as the term is used in 
        subsection (a), that is compatible with best business 
        practices.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $2,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to carry out this section.

SEC. 104. PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE FEES FOR GOLD KEY MATCHING SERVICES IN 
              CHINA.

    (a) Plan Required.--As soon as is practicable after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director of the United 
States and Foreign Commercial Service, shall submit to Congress a plan 
to consolidate fees charged by the Department of Commerce for Gold Key 
matching services provided to small- and medium-sized businesses that 
export goods or services produced in the United States to more than one 
market in China.
    (b) Gold Key Matching Services Defined.--In this section, the term 
``Gold Key matching services'' means the Gold Key Service program of 
the Department of Commerce and includes--
            (1) the arrangement of business meetings with pre-screened 
        contacts, representatives, distributors, professional 
        associations, government contacts, or licensing or joint 
        venture partners in a foreign country;
            (2) customized market and industry briefings with trade 
        specialists of the Department of Commerce;
            (3) timely and relevant market research;
            (4) appointments with prospective trade partners in key 
        industry sectors;
            (5) post-meeting debriefing with trade specialists of the 
        Department of Commerce and assistance in developing appropriate 
        follow-up strategies; and
            (6) assistance with travel, accommodations, interpreter 
        service, and clerical support.

        TITLE II--PROGRAMS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 201. TRADE OUTREACH AT THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF THE 
              SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

    Section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(h) Promotion of Exports to China.--The Office shall provide 
strategic guidance to small business concerns with respect to exporting 
goods and services to China.
    ``(i) Director of China Program Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--There shall be in the Office a Director 
        of China Program Grants (in this subsection referred to as the 
        `Director').
            ``(2) Appointment.--The Director shall be appointed by the 
        Administrator and shall be an individual with demonstrated 
        successful experience in matters relating to international 
        trade and administering government contracts.
            ``(3) Rate of pay.--The Director shall be paid at a rate 
        equal to or greater than the rate of basic pay for grade GS-14 
        of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United 
        States Code.
            ``(4) Duties.--The Director shall be responsible for 
        administering the grant program authorized under section 202 of 
        the United States-China Market Engagement and Export Promotion 
        Act (relating to Chinese business education programs) and any 
        other similar or related program of the Office.''.

SEC. 202. GRANTS FOR CHINESE BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration, acting through the Director of China Program Grants in 
the Office of International Trade, shall make grants to institutions of 
higher education, or combinations of such institutions, to pay the 
Federal share of the cost of planning, establishing, and operating 
education programs described in subsection (b) to--
            (1) develop and enhance student skills, awareness, and 
        expertise relating to business in China; and
            (2) prepare students to promote the competitiveness of and 
        opportunities for United States small business concerns in 
        China.
    (b) Education Programs Described.--Education programs described in 
this subsection are academic programs of study relating to business in 
China, including undergraduate and graduate level degrees, courses, or 
seminars on--
            (1) the economy of China;
            (2) trade and commerce in China;
            (3) new and expanding export opportunities for United 
        States small business concerns in China; and
            (4) the economic, commerce, and trade relations between the 
        United States and China.
    (c) Application.--A small business concern desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Director of China Program Grants 
may require.
    (d) Duration of Grants.--A grant under this section shall be for an 
initial period not to exceed 2 years. The Director of China Program 
Grants may renew such grant for additional 2-year periods.
    (e) Federal Share.--
            (1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        education program described in subsection (b) shall not exceed 
        50 percent of the cost of such program.
            (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
        of an education program described in subsection (b) may be 
        provided either in cash or in-kind.
    (f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``institution of higher 
education'' has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
                                 <all>