II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 532 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 9, 2011 Mr. Pryor (for himself and Ms. Snowe) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship A BILL To establish the Patriot Express Loan Program under which the Small Business Administration may make loans to members of the military community wanting to start or expand small business concerns, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Patriot Express Authorization Act of 2011.

2.

Patriot Express Loan Program

(a)

Program

(1)

In general

Section 7(a)(31) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(31)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (G)

Patriot Express Loan Program

(i)

Definition

In this subparagraph, the term eligible member of the military community— (I)means— (aa)a veteran, including a service-disabled veteran; (bb)a member of the Armed Forces on active duty who is eligible to participate in the Transition Assistance Program; (cc)a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces; (dd)the spouse of an individual described in item (aa), (bb), or (cc) who is alive; (ee)the widowed spouse of a deceased veteran, member of the Armed Forces, or member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who died because of a service-connected (as defined in section 101(16) of title 38, United States Code) disability; and (ff)the widowed spouse of a deceased member of the Armed Forces or member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces relating to whom the Department of Defense may provide for the recovery, care, and disposition of the remains of the individual under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1481(a) of title 10, United States Code; and (II)does not include an individual who was discharged or released from the active military, naval, or air service under dishonorable conditions. (ii)

Loan guarantees

The Administrator shall establish a Patriot Express Loan Program, under which the Administrator may guarantee loans under this paragraph made by express lenders to eligible members of the military community. (iii)

Loan terms

(I)

In general

Except as provided in this clause, a loan under this subparagraph shall be made on the same terms as other loans under the Express Loan Program. (II)

Use of funds

A loan guaranteed under this subparagraph may be used for any business purpose, including start-up or expansion costs, purchasing equipment, working capital, purchasing inventory, or purchasing business-occupied real estate. (III)

Maximum amount

The Administrator may guarantee a loan under this subparagraph of not more than $1,000,000. (IV)

Guarantee rate

The guarantee rate for a loan under this subparagraph shall be the greater of— (aa)the rate otherwise applicable under paragraph (2)(A); (bb)85 percent for a loan of not more than $500,000; and (cc)80 percent for a loan of more than $500,000. . (2)

GAO report

(A)

Definition

In this paragraph, the term programs means— (i)the Patriot Express Loan Program under section 7(a)(31)(G) of the Small Business Act, as added by paragraph (1); and (ii)the increased veteran participation pilot program under section 7(a)(33) of the Small Business Act, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act. (B)

Report requirement

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the programs. (C)

Contents

The report submitted under subparagraph (B) shall include— (i)the number of loans made under the programs; (ii)a description of the impact of the programs on members of the military community eligible to participate in the programs; (iii)an evaluation of the efficacy of the programs; (iv)an evaluation of the actual or potential fraud and abuse under the programs; and (v)recommendations for improving the Patriot Express Loan Program under section 7(a)(31)(G) of the Small Business Act, as added by paragraph (1). (b)

Fee reduction

Section 7(a)(18) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(18)) is amended— (1)in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking With respect to and inserting Except as provided in subparagraph (C), with respect to; and (2)by adding at the end the following: (C)

Military community

For an eligible member of the military community (as defined in paragraph (31)(G)(i)), the fee for a loan guaranteed under this subsection, except for a loan guaranteed under subparagraph (G) of paragraph (31), shall be equal to 75 percent of the fee otherwise applicable to the loan under subparagraph (A). . (c)

Technical and conforming amendments

(1)

Small Business Act

Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) is amended— (A)by striking paragraph (33); and (B)by redesignating paragraphs (34) and (35) as paragraphs (33) and (34), respectively. (2)

Small Business Jobs Act of 2010

Section 1133(b) of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–240; 124 Stat. 2515) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following: (1)by striking paragraph (33), as redesignated by section 2(c) of the Patriot Express Authorization Act of 2011; and (2)by redesignating paragraph (34), as redesignated by section 2(c) of the Patriot Express Authorization Act of 2011, as paragraph (33). .

3.

Reduction of Government printing costs

(a)

Strategy and guidelines

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall coordinate with the heads of the Executive departments and independent establishments, as those terms are defined in chapter 1 of title 5, United States Code— (1)to develop a strategy to reduce Government printing costs during the 10-year period beginning on September 1, 2011; and (2)to issue Government-wide guidelines for printing that implements the strategy developed under paragraph (1). (b)

Considerations

(1)

In general

In developing the strategy under subsection (a)(1), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of the Executive departments and independent establishments shall consider guidelines for— (A)duplex and color printing; (B)the use of digital file systems by Executive departments and independent establishments; and (C)determine which Government publications might be made available on Government Web sites instead of being printed. (2)

Essential printed documents

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall ensure that printed versions of documents that the Director determines are essential to individuals entitled to or enrolled for benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) or enrolled for benefits under part B of such title, individuals who receive old-age survivors' or disability insurance payments under title II of such Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), and other individuals with limited ability to use or access the Internet have access to printed versions of documents that the Director are available after the issuance of the guidelines under subsection (a)(2).