117 S1255 IS: Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2021
U.S. Senate
2021-04-20
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2021
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.Sec. 3. Definitions.Sec. 4. Minority Business Development Agency.TITLE I—Existing initiativesSubtitle A—Market development, research, and informationSec. 101. Private sector development.Sec. 102. Public sector development.Sec. 103. Research and information.Subtitle B—Minority Business Development Agency Business Center ProgramSec. 110. Definition.Sec. 111. Purpose.Sec. 112. Establishment.Sec. 113. Grants and cooperative agreements.Sec. 114. Minimizing disruptions to existing MBDA Business Center program.Sec. 115. Publicity.Sec. 116. Funding.TITLE II—New initiatives to promote economic resiliency for minority businessesSec. 201. Annual diverse business forum on capital formation.Sec. 202. Agency study on alternative financing solutions.Sec. 203. Educational development relating to management and entrepreneurship.TITLE III—Rural minority business center programSec. 301. Definitions.Sec. 302. Business centers.Sec. 303. Report to Congress.Sec. 304. Study and report.TITLE IV—Minority business development grantsSec. 401. Grants to nonprofit organizations that support minority business enterprises.Sec. 402. Minority business grants.TITLE V—Administrative and other powers of the Agency; miscellaneous provisionsSec. 501. Administrative powers.Sec. 502. Federal assistance.Sec. 503. Audits.Sec. 504. Review and report by Comptroller General.Sec. 505. Annual reports; recommendations.Sec. 506. Separability.Sec. 507. Executive Order 11625.Sec. 508. Amendment to the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994.Sec. 509. Authorization of appropriations.2.(a)Congress finds the following:(1)During times of economic downturn or recession, communities of color, and businesses within those communities, are generally more adversely affected, which requires an expansion of the ability of the Federal Government to infuse resources into those communities.(2)Despite the growth in the number of minority business enterprises, gaps remain with respect to key metrics for those enterprises, such as access to capital, revenue, number of employees, and survival rate. Specifically—(A)according to the Department of Commerce, minority business enterprises are 2 to 3 times more likely to be denied loans than non-minority business enterprises;(B)according to the Bureau of the Census, the average non-minority business enterprise reports receipts that are more than 3 times higher than receipts reported by the average minority business enterprise; and(C)according to the Kauffman Foundation—(i)minority business enterprises are 1/2 as likely to employ individuals, as compared with non-minority business enterprises; and(ii)if minorities started and owned businesses at the same rate as non-minorities, the United States economy would have more than 1,000,000 additional employer businesses and more than 9,500,000 additional jobs.(3)Because of the conditions described in paragraph (2), it is in the interest of the United States and the economy of the United States to expeditiously ameliorate the disparities that minority business enterprises experience.(4)Many individuals who own minority business enterprises are socially disadvantaged because those individuals identify as members of certain groups that have suffered the effects of discriminatory practices or similar circumstances over which those individuals have no control, including individuals who are—(A)Black or African American;(B)Hispanic or Latino;(C)American Indian or Alaska Native;(D)Asian; and(E)Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.(5)Discriminatory practices and similar circumstances described in paragraph (4) are a significant determinant of overall economic disadvantage in the United States, which is evident in the persistent racial wealth gap in the United States.(6)While other Federal agencies focus only on small businesses and businesses that represent a broader demographic than solely minority business enterprises, the Agency focuses exclusively on—(A)the unique needs of minority business enterprises; and(B)enhancing the capacity of minority business enterprises.(b)The purposes of this Act are to—(1)require the Agency to promote and administer programs in the public and private sectors to assist the development of minority business enterprises; and(2)achieve the development described in paragraph (1) by authorizing the Assistant Secretary to carry out programs that will result in increased access to capital, management, and technology for minority business enterprises.3.In this Act:(1)The term Agency means the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce.(2)The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, who is appointed as described in section 4(b) to administer this Act. (3)Community-based organizationThe term community-based organization has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).(4)Except as otherwise expressly provided, the term eligible entity—(A)means—(i)a private sector entity;(ii)a public sector entity; or(iii)a Tribal government; and(B)includes an institution of higher education.(5)The term Federal agency has the meaning given the term agency in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. (6)Federally recognized area of economic distressThe term federally recognized area of economic distress means—(A)a HUBZone, as that term is defined in section 31(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657a(b));(B)an area that— (i)has been designated as—(I)an empowerment zone under section 1391 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or(II)a Promise Zone by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; or(ii)is a low or moderate income area, as determined by the Bureau of the Census; (C)a qualified opportunity zone, as that term is defined in section 1400Z–1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or(D)any other political subdivision or unincorporated area of a State determined by the Assistant Secretary to be an area of economic distress. (7)The term Indian Tribe— (A)has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304); and(B)includes a Native Hawaiian organization. (8)Institution of higher educationThe 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). (9)The term MBDA Business Center means any business center that— (A)is established by the Agency; and(B)provides technical business assistance to minority business enterprises consistent with the requirements of this Act.(10)MBDA Business Center agreementThe term MBDA Business Center agreement means a legal instrument— (A)reflecting a relationship between the Agency and the recipient of a Federal assistance award that is the subject of the instrument; and(B)that establishes the terms by which the recipient described in subparagraph (A) shall operate an MBDA Business Center.(11)Minority business enterpriseThe term minority business enterprise means a business enterprise (without regard to whether the business enterprise is a for-profit or not-for-profit enterprise)—(A)that is not less than 51 percent-owned by 1 or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and (B)the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by 1 or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. (12)The term private sector entity—(A)means an entity that is not a public sector entity; and(B)does not include—(i)the Federal Government; (ii)any Federal agency; or (iii)any instrumentality of the Federal Government. (13)The term public sector entity means—(A)a State;(B)an agency of a State;(C)a political subdivision of a State; or(D)an agency of a political subdivision of a State. (14)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce.(15)Socially and economically disadvantaged individual(A)The term socially and economically disadvantaged individual means an individual who has been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice, or to cultural bias, because of the identity of the individual as a member of a group, without regard to any individual quality of the individual that is unrelated to that identity.(B)In carrying out this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall presume that the term socially and economically disadvantaged individual includes any individual who is—(i)Black or African American;(ii)Hispanic or Latino;(iii)American Indian or Alaska Native;(iv)Asian;(v)Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; or(vi)a member of a group that the Agency determines under part 1400 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on November 23, 1984, is a socially disadvantaged group eligible to receive assistance.(16)The term specialty center means an MBDA Business Center that provides specialty services focusing on specific business needs, including assistance relating to—(A)capital access;(B)Federal procurement;(C)entrepreneurship;(D)technology transfer; or(E)any other area determined necessary or appropriate based on the priorities of the Agency.(17)The term State means—(A)each of the States of the United States;(B)the District of Columbia;(C)the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;(D)the United States Virgin Islands;(E)Guam;(F)American Samoa;(G)the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and(H)each Indian Tribe.4.Minority Business Development Agency(a)There is within the Department of Commerce the Minority Business Development Agency.(b)(1)The Agency shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, who shall be—(A)appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and(B)except as otherwise expressly provided, responsible for the administration of this Act.(2)(A)The Assistant Secretary shall be compensated at an annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.(B)Technical and conforming amendmentSection 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended, in the item relating to Assistant Secretaries of Commerce, by striking (11)
and inserting (12)
.(c)Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes—(1)the organizational structure of the Agency;(2)the organizational position of the Agency within the Department of Commerce; and(3)a description of how the Agency shall function in relation to the operations carried out by each other component of the Department of Commerce.(d)Office of Business Centers(1)There is established within the Agency an Office of Business Centers.(2)The Office of Business Centers shall be administered by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Assistant Secretary. (e)(1)In addition to the regional offices that the Assistant Secretary is required to establish under paragraph (2), the Assistant Secretary shall establish such other offices within the Agency as are necessary to carry out this Act.(2)(A)In order to carry out this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish a regional office of the Agency for each of the regions of the United States, as determined by the Assistant Secretary.(B)Each regional office established under subparagraph (A) shall expand the reach of the Agency and enable the Federal Government to better serve the needs of minority business enterprises in the region served by the office, including by—(i)understanding and participating in the business environment of that region;(ii)working with— (I)MBDA Business Centers that are located in that region; (II)resource and lending partners of the Small Business Administration and the Department of Agriculture that are located in that region; and(III)Federal, State, and local procurement offices that are located in that region;(iii)being aware of business retention or expansion programs that are specific to that region; (iv)seeking out opportunities to collaborate with regional public and private programs that focus on minority business enterprises; and(v)promoting business continuity and preparedness.<enum>I</enum><header>Existing initiatives</header><subtitle id="id0EDC9A6129D343EE8222D1D3D1AA1267" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Market development, research, and information</header><section id="H92D595AD483B463BB45AEF4D9D9592E4"><enum>101.</enum><header>Private sector development</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary shall, whenever the Assistant Secretary determines such action is necessary or appropriate—</text><paragraph id="HA2AF76D4BEC948648DC5940D0BE15785"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide Federal assistance to minority business enterprises operating in domestic and foreign markets by making available to those business enterprises, either directly or in cooperation with private sector entities, including community-based organizations and national nonprofit organizations—</text><subparagraph id="idB93FB0A83A0948F5BC0ADC23E42ECFDB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>resources relating to management;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2066CB9FB117403EB262E13792011B6C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>technological and technical assistance; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7EE30739BD384AEEAA0260E5D10C6F42"><enum>(C)</enum><text>financial, legal, and marketing services; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id11E5B6888F6441DEBDC7CF6775721234"><enum>(D)</enum><text>services relating to workforce development;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3A5BF4288EFF413C8ACED27335B5B525"><enum>(2)</enum><text>encourage minority business enterprises to establish joint ventures and projects—</text><subparagraph id="id3AEEFF13D97F4C5BA8C532C2BB365FAC"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with other minority business enterprises; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC93166D4511F43B3A387551FA297247A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in cooperation with public sector entities or private sector entities, including community-based organizations and national nonprofit organizations, to increase the share of any market activity being performed by minority business enterprises; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id542516b473734a23b3c84a726f77e683"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitate the efforts of private sector entities and Federal agencies to advance the growth of minority business enterprises.</text></paragraph></section><section id="H18780CF9564D412B9602B88B8372A6D5"><enum>102.</enum><header>Public sector development</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary shall, whenever the Assistant Secretary determines such action is necessary or appropriate—</text><paragraph id="H94B90F41939B413582912A818F1ABA38"><enum>(1)</enum><text>consult and cooperate with public sector entities for the purpose of leveraging resources available in the jurisdictions of those public sector entities to promote the position of minority business enterprises in the local economies of those public sector entities, including by assisting public sector entities to establish or enhance—</text><subparagraph id="H0A126CB60321452089DA01B5AD66C0BD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>programs to procure goods and services through minority business enterprises and goals for that procurement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB7C7EFB2183A49D6B3EA705C8B88336B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>programs offering assistance relating to—</text><clause id="idFBFB4FBE5CDD45A48E38AE59BB7042B8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>management;</text></clause><clause id="id7F10F2C2E7054BFA84DC52FBDA10FCAB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>technology;</text></clause><clause id="idCEDDDC8998E846DC8B27B042CD25572D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>law;</text></clause><clause id="idEC405042E260447C834C2580485D5A8A"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>financing, including accounting;</text></clause><clause id="idE7DDFD5596A8458B9B023DD2DD13DB89"><enum>(v)</enum><text>marketing; and</text></clause><clause id="id8983A896C5A647C189BA298DA5D34223"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>workforce development; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id290865A45F1E4C8F958447D86B812B58"><enum>(C)</enum><text>informational programs designed to inform minority business enterprises located in the jurisdictions of those public sector entities about the availability of programs described in this section;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEC06BFF245D947D2A05A157729B6DB5B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>meet with leaders and officials of public sector entities for the purpose of recommending and promoting local administrative and legislative initiatives needed to advance the position of minority business enterprises in the local economies of those public sector entities; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id420dea70198c473292c2f068a4656a8f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitate the efforts of public sector entities and Federal agencies to advance the growth of minority business enterprises.</text></paragraph></section><section id="idDB488F1796EC4F82A012A9FD46C17B61"><enum>103.</enum><header>Research and information</header><subsection id="idF0282EAF96A1472AB474ED1BF76FB65F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to achieve the purposes of this Act, the Assistant Secretary— </text><paragraph id="idEAC7B33F37B440E89DBC840E858E03A1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall—</text><subparagraph id="HB4E11B0906784958A037504FD0400A37"><enum>(A)</enum><text>collect and analyze data, including data relating to the causes of the success or failure of minority business enterprises;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEBFB12CF2C8A4BBCA3494FCF07819FE9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>perform evaluations of programs carried out by Federal agencies with an emphasis on increasing coordination between Federal agencies with respect to the development of minority business enterprises; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1B755CC419D14FCE9FE707AC1F72E3CB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>conduct research, studies, and surveys of—</text><clause id="idAEB305E42F7E49658FD482902C8E2097"><enum>(i)</enum><text>economic conditions generally in the United States; and</text></clause><clause id="id5C8BE6FDE63F4F42BA7F3564A832C852"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>how the conditions described in clause (i) particularly affect the development of minority business enterprises; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1375B01028374A018DDB9A723A11F662"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provide outreach, educational services, and technical assistance in the 10 most commonly spoken languages in the United States to ensure that limited-English proficient individuals receive culturally and linguistically appropriate access to the services and information provided by the Agency; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idFBB4B8A036F644DF8B9EE950825519C0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may, at the request of a public sector entity or a private sector entity, perform an evaluation of programs carried out by the entity that are designed to assist the development of minority business enterprises.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HFA55C25E21634FE786E1ED3A140C89FF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Information clearinghouse</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id11BBA13D567E4F7D938C34E51910ECF3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish and maintain an information clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination to relevant parties (including business owners and researchers) of demographic, economic, financial, managerial, and technical data relating to minority business enterprises; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id43512812365040CAB758B06A54EEA502"><enum>(2)</enum><text>take such steps as the Assistant Secretary may determine to be necessary and desirable to— </text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7D91BBCDC21743DB87C203067002241B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>search for, collect, classify, coordinate, integrate, record, and catalog the data described in paragraph (1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id175B1A2B0907421AA2A4964DA20EAC66"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in a manner that is consistent with section 552a of title 5, United States Code, protect the privacy of the minority business enterprises to which the data described in paragraph (1) relates.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idB7A33E8229DC4FBD9FF0739F7F4E2899" style="OLC"><enum>B</enum><header>Minority Business Development Agency Business Center Program</header><section id="id09A1DDC53BF44A6591658F4F538235A3"><enum>110.</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this subtitle, the term <term>MBDA Business Center Program</term> means the program established under section 112.</text></section><section id="idB4C6BC9D2E7945B68C18BF9989D08276"><enum>111.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of the MBDA Business Center Program shall be to create a national network of public-private partnerships that—</text><paragraph id="id55643AF6CE3747D3A2F0E518CC4CE716"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assist minority business enterprises to—</text><subparagraph id="id01321F48B51643ED8C3FD09535C07458"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">access capital, contracts, and grants; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0AE51199D8A046F28031FF863BE79B22"><enum>(B)</enum><text>create and maintain jobs;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA89C52DAD1B14F9C98CE52B302D62C77"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide counseling and mentoring to minority business enterprises; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5D94158E730D47D484E45953CB550B90"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitate the growth of minority business enterprises by promoting trade.</text></paragraph></section><section id="idFA2C9ED88C7546FB834BEE1AC386D900"><enum>112.</enum><header>Establishment</header><subsection id="id93B1D070AAA3443F95882B18DA7F5182"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established in the Agency a program—</text><paragraph id="idAE292CBC9F1A4F49AE7158E808CFC367"><enum>(1)</enum><text>that shall be known as the MBDA Business Center Program; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5AC96B647A4C40F299BD80F236738BDC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that shall be separate and distinct from the efforts of the Assistant Secretary under section 101; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id592EAD4387634D3CAD28FC95D5ED5B44"><enum>(3)</enum><text>under which the Assistant Secretary shall make Federal assistance awards to eligible entities to operate MBDA Business Centers, which shall, in accordance with section 113, provide technical assistance and business development services, or specialty services, to minority business enterprises.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD83BF1E53F214ABD8C4F14C920D94429"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coverage</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall take all necessary actions to ensure that the MBDA Business Center Program, in accordance with section 113, offers the services described in subsection (a)(3) in all regions of the United States.</text></subsection></section><section id="idC54ED6BF14D94003A14BB050B5FBB2FC"><enum>113.</enum><header>Grants and cooperative agreements</header><subsection id="id52F3A48F5B834D428A7AB8015AC3919D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>An MBDA Business Center (referred to in this subtitle as a <quote>Center</quote>), with respect to the Federal financial assistance award made to operate the Center under the MBDA Business Center Program—</text><paragraph id="id2FB04461A6AE40BA91274CAD766E1070"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall—</text><subparagraph id="id5BBDAD4170BC47B39F02D816D5C143A7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide to minority business enterprises programs and services determined to be appropriate by the Assistant Secretary, which—</text><clause id="idA5711819496C4650B1311394358777DA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall include referral services to meet the needs of minority business enterprises; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0B45DFE39E67414387CFDC595F3D5B7A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may include programs and services to accomplish the goals described in section 101(1);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id27F51ACBDC704936A3C6F236A7161551"><enum>(B)</enum><text>develop, cultivate, and maintain a network of strategic partnerships with organizations that foster access by minority business enterprises to economic markets, capital, or contracts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id85F045A14FEC45B2AC28D4F3CBA288C2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>continue to upgrade and modify the services provided by the Center, as necessary, in order to meet the changing and evolving needs of the business community;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8B7C7A7853284B20816794B6F77E3AED"><enum>(D)</enum><text>establish or continue a referral relationship with not less than 1 community-based organization; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6CC5EEC0B59445BF856E9346E94335C1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>collaborate with other Centers; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id02046050953D45A98A44FC9A86E2D727"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in providing programs and services under the applicable MBDA Business Center agreement, may—</text><subparagraph id="idF8355517C4BF4152A095C3094D0AED78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>operate on a fee-for-service basis; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2A945B58A6F7470FA68049624F3B4A7B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>generate income through the collection of—</text><clause id="idC02C8F69C28B4B57BCEF2755FF4108E7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>client fees;</text></clause><clause id="id0635568C56A64DD6AF51D0C857EF65BB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>membership fees; and</text></clause><clause id="id93529E2BD05A4959B0136D1D2BFF29F2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any other appropriate fees proposed by the Center in the application submitted by the Center under subsection (e).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idD5D84E4374154F28BF51BD23C357025C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Term</header><text>Subject to subsection (g)(3), the term of an MBDA Business Center agreement shall be not less than 3 years.</text></subsection><subsection id="idF7788DAB266E4772B72A129639E0DE61"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Financial assistance</header><paragraph id="id81BE3B803B954A0DB5F049B64599ED8D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The amount of financial assistance provided by the Assistant Secretary under an MBDA Business Center agreement shall be not less than $250,000 for the term of the agreement.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0991AE3EBD4748D487385DE1B878F9C1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Matching requirement</header><subparagraph id="idE544557B98554D418B79848F9369EE45"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A Center shall match not less than <fraction>1/3</fraction> of the amount of the financial assistance awarded to the Center under the terms of the applicable MBDA Business Center agreement, unless the Assistant Secretary determines that a waiver of that requirement is necessary after a demonstration by the Center of a substantial need for that waiver.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5FD31B8977024F228D58C9A22C1FC6AA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Form of funds</header><text>A Center may meet the matching requirement under subparagraph (A) using—</text><clause id="id3083965776B243DF9DBDA67C809195A1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>cash or in-kind contributions, without regard to whether the contribution is made by a third party; or</text></clause><clause id="idEE6C371F37C2445C8B951FE9B2248AF5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Federal funds received from other Federal programs.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id81FAB6C06BBA45AC8AD220382ECB394C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of financial assistance and program income</header><text>A Center shall use—</text><subparagraph id="id9495F834BE1D44DBBD656E6FBA5F067B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>all financial assistance awarded to the Center under the applicable MBDA Business Center agreement to carry out subsection (a); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id99BDBA22537F4C6CB1C8F233221A22D4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>all income that the Center generates in carrying out subsection (a)—</text><clause id="idB136F557377743F7A392D0BB0B20B2E1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to meet the matching requirement under paragraph (2) of this subsection; and</text></clause><clause id="idF3CAF0E0098B4EEC93CFEA3FFD5170A3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if the Center meets the matching requirement under paragraph (2) of this subsection, to carry out subsection (a).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE1883364F5864C618B85D05D071E6276"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for selection</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="id6492734C4DB14737B476434136A0C59A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish criteria that—</text><subparagraph id="idE1930C993ECD4965BE6E70252613AE24"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Assistant Secretary shall use in determining whether to enter into an MBDA Business Center agreement with an eligible entity; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1EB534AFCD0642AFB3D90B23415435A5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may include criteria relating to whether an eligible entity is located in—</text><clause id="id43A17316619E4AC4A3E56214A11D10AB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an area, the population of which is composed of not less than 51 percent socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as determined in accordance with data collected by the Bureau of the Census; </text></clause><clause id="idC760B37D99DA468FB9A2C14195A7F2A4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a federally recognized area of economic distress; or</text></clause><clause id="id86647942C98344F79BDB4F678FCCDD25"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a State that is underserved with respect to the MBDA Business Center Program, as defined by the Assistant Secretary; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB7D84CBD007F4801983C7D051C967DBB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make the criteria and standards established under paragraph (1) publicly available, including—</text><subparagraph id="idAE2FB3790AD341FE9B9CB8FAA5EAE54B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>on the website of the Agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0B16765CD13A450D9F3185D716770CF8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in each Notice of Funding Opportunity soliciting MBDA Business Center agreements.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB6512285CEC24833A4E97EEFFA9F93D0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>An eligible entity desiring to enter into an MBDA Business Center agreement shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an application that includes—</text><paragraph id="id8ACD886268094DC198255B7A0A583986"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a statement of—</text><subparagraph id="id2106740F8C3E4EF7B449950656B93C3B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>how the eligible entity will carry out subsection (a); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id457BA8068FB4466F9C4E8E6C5C9D8796"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any experience of the eligible entity in—</text><clause id="idC5859CE7F8044DDF968E58C01D3706AD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>assisting minority business enterprises to—</text><subclause id="id4380BCCF17444BCDA3CAEC9F8C2EA6CB"><enum>(I)</enum><text>obtain—</text><item id="id9D22572C22454B76A50D7FA99CF93EDB"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>large-scale contracts, grants, or procurements; </text></item><item id="id500FCDF231C141EAA4DC72A0221DC31C"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>financing; or </text></item><item id="idDC748C288227494F870B18E7689F18B3"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>legal assistance;</text></item></subclause><subclause id="id86F490D45BE74E399E4BE0881F9B5EA7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>access established supply chains; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id93D1A1BD6C934DE89ABA23DB782084FE"><enum>(III)</enum><text>engage in—</text><item id="id91EB8BE7D67C4BC5A8D3BAA9F9B65E0D"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>joint ventures, teaming arrangements, and mergers and acquisitions; or</text></item><item id="id175788D9ADBD4561BBAF7A49FFCA27A5"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>large-scale transactions in global markets; </text></item></subclause></clause><clause id="id1BC5787B66E646CAAFCA171011F368E6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>supporting minority business enterprises in increasing the size of the workforces of those enterprises, including, with respect to a minority business enterprise that does not have employees, aiding the minority business enterprise in becoming an enterprise that has employees; and</text></clause><clause id="id8A8C020208034258B46DBA402FF5BB6B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>advocating for minority business enterprises; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0132656E87244B6298035137B526EA1F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the budget and corresponding budget narrative that the eligible entity will use in carrying out subsection (a) during the term of the applicable MBDA Business Center agreement.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id202E6D28D8184326883862175201FE4B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>If the Assistant Secretary grants an application of an eligible entity submitted under subsection (e), the Assistant Secretary shall notify the eligible entity that the application has been granted not later than 150 days after the last day on which an application may be submitted under that subsection.</text></subsection><subsection id="idB0728B1AACF84C16BCABBE9D19FD5A2D"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Program examination; accreditation; extensions</header><paragraph id="idFF3CA5E249A74EECA3C5A69C16CA2C78"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Examination</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall conduct a programmatic financial examination of each Center.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idBDB2A408A9F64CDD83F5E8964D4983C5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Accreditation</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may provide financial support, by contract or otherwise, to an association, not less than 51 percent of the members of which are Centers, to— </text><subparagraph id="id57EE628740504E688D57583184F79D05"><enum>(A)</enum><text>pursue matters of common concern with respect to Centers; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id523D3239C5E3467DB5E698E1C4DA0FB0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>develop an accreditation program with respect to Centers.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3E2E6EE731074818B3FC906612F2F169"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Extensions</header><subparagraph id="id8D4DF4AD73354F84B3EB6F302D647D97"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may extend the term under subsection (b) of an MBDA Business Center agreement to which a Center is a party, if the Center consents to the extension.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id29C6E2D0DF0E4CA3A9A6DA627C92D896"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Financial assistance</header><text>If the Assistant Secretary extends the term of an MBDA Business Center agreement under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall, in the same manner and amount in which financial assistance was provided during the initial term of the agreement, provide financial assistance under the agreement during the extended term of the agreement.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idE7634CCFC4FE43C091CBD8C0703F67EF"><enum>(h)</enum><header>MBDA involvement</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may take actions to ensure that the Agency is substantially involved in the activities of Centers in carrying out subsection (a), including by—</text><paragraph id="idBE7031D2423C41A1A67E3EE47DD6CE95"><enum>(1)</enum><text>providing to each Center training relating to the MBDA Business Center Program;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id26A36F363D5E469799F42AA321429B7B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>requiring that the operator and staff of each Center—</text><subparagraph id="id5EC62D0E3772469B97D37B9BC6AD56C7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>attend—</text><clause id="idDE9213D13A7245CFB145C84E951EE448"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a conference with the Agency to establish the services and programs that the Center will provide in carrying out the requirements before the date on which the Center begins providing those services and programs; and</text></clause><clause id="idE8E53E22288546259E7340599E2A0C8F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>training provided under paragraph (1);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE45D8955A74449848C78D2EF76B6023C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>receive necessary guidance relating to carrying out the requirements under subsection (a); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDB62A2AA7D9744209D54C4794186C1AE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>work in coordination and collaboration with the Assistant Secretary to carry out the MBDA Business Center Program and other programs of the Agency;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idAA62436989964023B9FD236ECF5841B2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>facilitating connections between Centers and— </text><subparagraph id="id6E2833E8BB4A4C8CAA708FAD0D46911F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Federal agencies other than the Agency, including the Small Business Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB524F4D37DE14864806AFB303139C3E8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>other institutions or entities that use Federal resources, including—</text><clause id="id66AF91C006FD4997B73B22D2B7C62B27"><enum>(i)</enum><text>small business development centers, as that term is defined in section 3(t) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632(t)</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id7E29EAD3694A465FB046054961458A0F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>women’s business centers described in section 29 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/656">15 U.S.C. 656</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id4318A79082B048C39A02A8973FD0F95D"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>eligible entities, as that term is defined in section 2411 of title 10, United States Code, that provide services under the program carried out under chapter 142 of that title; and</text></clause><clause id="idF91866699E3042E2A3FB200214580A22"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>entities participating in the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program established under section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/278k">15 U.S.C. 278k</external-xref>);</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE1601D30F7F44B5A8C0DBE0C2DB4453D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>monitoring projects carried out by each Center; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5BD7728CF5044BDC9110822F21A7563C"><enum>(5)</enum><text>establishing and enforcing administrative and reporting requirements for each Center to carry out subsection (a).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idAF85BCCE6086435F93938A2D36ECB841"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall issue and publish regulations that establish minimum standards regarding verification of minority business enterprise status for clients of entities operating under the MBDA Business Center Program.</text></subsection></section><section id="idC890373EC5004CF58A3CC272625309DE"><enum>114.</enum><header>Minimizing disruptions to existing MBDA Business Center program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary shall ensure that each Federal assistance award made under the Business Centers program of the Agency, as is in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, is carried out in a manner that, to the greatest extent practicable, prevents disruption of any activity carried out under that award.</text></section><section id="id56217D76D8D8435F8401C77549C3FEBD"><enum>115.</enum><header>Publicity</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In carrying out the MBDA Business Center Program, the Assistant Secretary shall widely publicize the MBDA Business Center Program, including—</text><paragraph id="id17DB63FDE065499C9D6A4EE98014ABFC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>on the website of the Agency;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2D6E91B7CFBC488CBC65FB4EF02077B6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>via social media outlets; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0AF4BC8E292A46BB974A30EC1B94B8ED"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by sharing information relating to the MBDA Business Center Program with community-based organizations, including interpretation groups where necessary, to communicate in the most common languages spoken by the groups served by those organizations.</text></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="id0E8D51CE2867403CB4B4899957242FE5"><enum>116.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funding</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary shall use not less than 50 percent of the amount made available to carry out this Act in each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024 to carry out the MBDA Business Center Program, including the component of the program relating to specialty centers.</text></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>New initiatives to promote economic resiliency for minority businesses</header><section id="idA1654AF6784248808C4EFBE3E64057CF"><enum>201.</enum><header>Annual diverse business forum on capital formation</header><subsection id="idd03f846da5704dea8f7fed72f31b35af"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Responsibility of Agency</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Agency shall conduct a Government-business forum to review the current status of problems and programs relating to capital formation by minority business enterprises.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2b77fa5f0a4242058da4785f54ad80ad"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Participation in forum planning</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall invite the heads of other Federal agencies, such as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, organizations representing State securities commissioners, representatives of leading minority chambers of commerce, not less than 1 certified owner of a minority business enterprise, business organizations, and professional organizations concerned with capital formation to participate in the planning of each forum conducted under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="id4deb367c78da41988956faaab2e9ddc5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Preparation of statements and reports</header><paragraph id="id20F5F1F9D1FB4BF1BF74AB2BDA09AE0A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Requests</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may request that any head of a Federal department, agency, or organization, including those described in subsection (b), or any other group or individual, prepare a statement or report to be delivered at any forum conducted under subsection (a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id14FCC6436CFE4276A8A0C0B1143D4785"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Cooperation</header><text>Any head of a Federal department, agency, or organization who receives a request under paragraph (1) shall, to the greatest extent practicable, cooperate with the Assistant Secretary to fulfill that request.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide315ab07573b414b9535db0deb1af046"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transmittal of proceedings and findings</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="idA9A7326E130D472389AD0308407EA819"><enum>(1)</enum><text>prepare a summary of the proceedings of each forum conducted under subsection (a), which shall include the findings and recommendations of the forum; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAF974881B1124CAF8986AE3C9B015A18"><enum>(2)</enum><text>transmit the summary described in paragraph (1) with respect to each forum conducted under subsection (a) to—</text><subparagraph id="id9157DA6206134661BAACDF8616568085"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the participants in the forum;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7F3E3687B716487D8DED4C170E92837A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Congress; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1C24A2BCDB2E4691A13ADD67CB00241A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the public, through a publicly available website.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id086CF3664F714CD28062D851A64EA334"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Review of findings and recommendations; public statements</header><paragraph id="idEFEF0EE07911459680CA02BB897F0665"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A Federal agency to which a finding or recommendation described in subsection (d)(1) relates shall—</text><subparagraph id="idDC45CD0307924D6CB2A763A27359FC5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>review that finding or recommendation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44E0267F46154106B44230441F6E2059"><enum>(B)</enum><text>promptly after the finding or recommendation is transmitted under subsection (d)(2)(C), issue a public statement—</text><clause id="idC23982693B4340488CC74BCB6FFF810A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>assessing the finding or recommendation; and</text></clause><clause id="id635B0088DEC8433FB9667289D140372C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>disclosing the action, if any, the Federal agency intends to take with respect to the finding or recommendation.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id01A798B7B5AC4564876F1B599EBC111A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Joint statement permitted</header><text>If a finding or recommendation described in subsection (d)(1) relates to more than 1 Federal agency, the applicable Federal agencies may, for the purposes of the public statement required under paragraph (1)(B), issue a joint statement.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H2AE4A8A0D2224369B6DD2C97EF64A70D"><enum>202.</enum><header>Agency study on alternative financing solutions</header><subsection id="id5f072d7d4f07496a8d526f6fb47b2d3b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The purpose of this section is to provide information relating to alternative financing solutions to minority business enterprises, as those business enterprises are more likely to struggle in accessing, particularly at affordable rates, traditional sources of capital.</text></subsection><subsection id="idb77c230760274890b781748b50a300b4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study and report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="id97a241f114144acda6f26f9fc7f981cd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a study on opportunities for providing alternative financing solutions to minority business enterprises; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6c67b617ccac492289fbd9e36dd6d0a1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to Congress, and publish on the website of the Agency, a report describing the findings of the study carried out under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H41E4A5CAB07F4DFB9AB2A9662B76A21F"><enum>203.</enum><header>Educational development relating to management and entrepreneurship</header><subsection id="id5A767C4F7896401CB21A59CB98DDBE44"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary shall, whenever the Assistant Secretary determines such action is necessary or appropriate—</text><paragraph id="H72637D27A1C441A4932CC4D6F5F649A6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>promote and provide assistance for the education and training of socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in subjects directly relating to business administration and management;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCE247AF1E2B54AB1B8CE137B7D450603"><enum>(2)</enum><text>join with, and encourage, institutions of higher education, leaders in business and industry, and other public sector and private sector entities, particularly minority business enterprises, to—</text><subparagraph id="id953764A0238B4841A7AE69E9DD566277"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop programs to offer scholarships and fellowships, apprenticeships, and internships relating to business to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD8BB4A5E55644742AB8EF44D0219FE7F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>sponsor seminars, conferences, and similar activities relating to business for the benefit of socially and economically disadvantaged individuals;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HAF1787D0AEA7467DA5D46FC873EF4E5B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>stimulate and accelerate curriculum design and improvement in support of development of minority business enterprises; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC5BC6CF7DBB540B48E0F14C1337A04BD"><enum>(4)</enum><text>encourage and assist private institutions and organizations and public sector entities to undertake activities similar to the activities described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8EC29B24F1E74FD7B574B54791D33125"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Parren J. Mitchell entrepreneurship education grants</header><paragraph id="id279B21302A6447C2AC91C658EF231408"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>eligible institution</term> means an institution of higher education described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1067q">20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idDCFD67C7D07741B7AE30ADA31F086937"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Grants</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall award grants to eligible institutions to develop and implement entrepreneurship curricula.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id730B3D55F4C94CCAB1E59028A7765F83"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>An eligible institution to which a grant is awarded under this subsection shall use the grant funds to—</text><subparagraph id="id3DEB9E8D4C244844B9B8712435FCE58F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop a curriculum that includes training in various skill sets needed by contemporary successful entrepreneurs, including—</text><clause id="id11640C4ECB7B45B9992EA3EE5ABC2460"><enum>(i)</enum><text>business management and marketing;</text></clause><clause id="id9EAF347684EF4784AC24FBBB43EFFB5B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>financial management and accounting;</text></clause><clause id="id5EDE6ED397C942479D5B68DE17459976"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>market analysis;</text></clause><clause id="idEBCD280F5D2546E8BC16AC0A16C2C82D"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>competitive analysis;</text></clause><clause id="idDD3EA9AC37F649E39E4B1C80C1DE32B7"><enum>(v)</enum><text>innovation;</text></clause><clause id="idA32FD8B7D1EF4C9385010A58691AEF50"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>strategic planning; and</text></clause><clause id="id30E55E29A6D54C4B907A7B8054EDEBDB"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>any other skill set that the eligible institution determines is necessary for the students served by the eligible institution and the community in which the eligible institution is located; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD812BA5ECD584EE1A54B782C24CBFCBA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>implement the curriculum developed under subparagraph (A) at the eligible institution.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id69250E6EB3E14C3BBA3C86B4DBD33420"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Implementation timeline</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall establish and publish a timeline under which an eligible institution to which a grant is awarded under this section shall carry out the requirements under paragraph (3).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id33488C8041C84DB39325743417BB53A0"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Each year, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate, the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, as part of the annual budget submission of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, a report evaluating the awarding and use of grants under this subsection during the fiscal year immediately preceding the date on which the report is submitted, which shall include, with respect to that fiscal year—</text><subparagraph id="idBC867E43BC4944B9B32D3AA49A9D78D3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a description of each curriculum developed and implemented under each grant awarded under this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06E485B9EC5B4D7AA0B8F67393CEC4EC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date on which each grant awarded under this section was awarded; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id95B7918C08D04EBE87CC3389C798F66F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the number of eligible entities that were recipients of grants awarded under this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Rural minority business center program</header><section id="id1A043AD43E8F4490A07EBC336FDA8470"><enum>301.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="id075AA6CA42794743BCDFACC94D4BDB06"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriate congressional committees</header><text>The term <term>appropriate congressional committees</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="idA8033AF2CAE74252959716DB2EFB450E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8711330B313A4362B56BD5355D70C7EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id65588399F9B24C3DA41DF4E1BFDFD85D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5C8BE547F50845F29D5DF920203971B9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD4B6D25FC25645CE9D24F5791987A7EF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="idA671242417A042F8B78F162D2733AEF5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a minority-serving institution; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0AAE528E8DFD40409E7CD1A22D54D081"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a consortium of institutions of higher education that is led by a minority-serving institution.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id54FE667CD6A7473A8327455C1E79FEB4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>MBDA Rural Business Center</header><text>The term <term>MBDA Rural Business Center</term> means an MBDA Business Center that provides technical business assistance to minority business enterprises located in rural areas.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8A9544AC10A14A2F8ADA590EBC30341A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>MBDA Rural Business Center agreement</header><text>The term <term>MBDA Rural Business Center agreement</term> means an MBDA Business Center agreement that establishes the terms by which the recipient of the Federal assistance award that is the subject of the agreement shall operate an MBDA Rural Business Center. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4f5879343a0d40b1a05ade6dd80992ff"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Minority-serving institution</header><text>The term <term>minority-serving institution</term> means an institution described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1067q">20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2E2F67584374405B96ACE2F3CCECAD32" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Rural area</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="idA49EB013EEAA412CB8E18EF796F45492"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the term <term>rural area</term> has the meaning given the term in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1991">7 U.S.C. 1991(a)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id9155848C14DE4329BA3EC5D5365D8703"><enum>(B)</enum><header>100,000 inhabitants</header><text>For the purpose of this title, the reference to <quote>50,000 inhabitants</quote> in section 343(a)(13)(A)(i) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/1991">7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(A)(i)</external-xref>) shall be deemed to refer to 100,000 inhabitants.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB7CCDE02A72245E088A175E4BA0A69A3"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Rural minority business enterprise</header><text>The term <term>rural minority business enterprise</term> means a minority business enterprise located in a rural area.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id6d290530d3b74b0cbd5bebd39b218c42"><enum>302.</enum><header>Business centers</header><subsection id="ide827728531aa4a84970175afc2a4996a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may establish MBDA Rural Business Centers.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida9b149290e454936899166fb16e88295"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Partnership</header><paragraph id="ide8332370903640909dd0b4e37ccefe71"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>With respect to an MBDA Rural Business Center established by the Assistant Secretary, the Assistant Secretary shall establish the MBDA Rural Business Center in partnership with an eligible entity in accordance with paragraph (2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id59a1c94cb5d2485f85dfde8b54473153"><enum>(2)</enum><header>MBDA agreement</header><subparagraph id="idA69E1A17464048A4866C9BAE4BD1C42A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>With respect to each MBDA Rural Business Center established by the Assistant Secretary, the Assistant Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity that provides that—</text><clause id="id63dd6d0c6d1b47d699c00e6cd5bc6885"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the eligible entity shall provide space, facilities, and staffing for the MBDA Rural Business Center;</text></clause><clause id="id475b815d966848f181e58352a235c77d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Assistant Secretary shall provide funding for, and oversight with respect to, the MBDA Rural Business Center; and</text></clause><clause id="id03ace734fda84750baa7c5e1e8c65ae5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>subject to subparagraph (B), the eligible entity shall match 20 percent of the amount of the funding provided by the Assistant Secretary under clause (ii), which may be calculated to include the costs of providing the space, facilities, and staffing under clause (i).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id30D7D6B6A8AD44DC810C269C5F4C247D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Lower match requirement</header><text>Based on the available resources of an eligible entity, the Assistant Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with the eligible entity that provides that—</text><clause id="id6A68633C8C394C07B9628ED75A837D5B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the eligible entity shall match less than 20 percent of the amount of the funding provided by the Assistant Secretary under subparagraph (A)(ii); or</text></clause><clause id="idFED31069D0E442989EABBEC51CAD814B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>if the Assistant Secretary makes a determination, upon a demonstration by the eligible entity of substantial need, the eligible entity shall not be required to provide any match with respect to the funding provided by the Assistant Secretary under subparagraph (A)(ii).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4337F84DB79C4DDDACE62D92CB496844"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Eligible funds</header><text>An eligible entity may provide matching funds required under an MBDA Rural Business Center agreement with Federal funds received from other Federal programs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id129232c2ea88491c98c548ebf898ce0d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Term</header><text>The initial term of an MBDA Rural Business Center agreement shall be 3 years.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id89AEF2FC380E4052867E798FFD19AD5D"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>The Assistant Secretary and an eligible entity may agree to extend the term of an MBDA Rural Business Center agreement with respect to an MBDA Rural Business Center.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id91c8c5940d7f4250ab4c16327ff3c8ee"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>An MBDA Rural Business Center shall—</text><paragraph id="id5c2384d7061e4b7b91ecf98a2ad65e2d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>primarily serve clients that are—</text><subparagraph id="idA527580250294808B4F8E44914E38278"><enum>(A)</enum><text>rural minority business enterprises; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3D6958BB38E74DCE8043EDA755EEF0D4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>minority business enterprises that are located more than 50 miles from an MBDA Business Center (other than that MBDA Rural Business Center);</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0471ec5cd8fd4679ad3805ca53ea39be"><enum>(2)</enum><text>focus on— </text><subparagraph id="id4E4C0F9863C24D82AFD861C4AC88ECF4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>issues relating to—</text><clause id="idb23234fa603745fcb82e5f6315e58e95"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the adoption of broadband internet access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation), digital literacy skills, and e-commerce by rural minority business enterprises;</text></clause><clause id="id04f38e106a3541719b74ec5bf565af45"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>advanced manufacturing;</text></clause><clause id="id7C0E8F57617E47EB9A0C4EEC826E6366"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the promotion of manufacturing in the United States;</text></clause><clause id="id4DBEDA7158BC443CBB59198EBFC35071"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>ways in which rural minority business enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential goods and services for the United States;</text></clause><clause id="id90AB14751887444081ABAF063C8582AF"><enum>(v)</enum><text>improving the connectivity of rural minority business enterprises through transportation and logistics;</text></clause><clause id="id188715A18CCD41B3AEC9F93B866076D1"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>promoting trade and export opportunities by rural minority business enterprises;</text></clause><clause id="idFC08FFD971C94DC6B2903190D38624B2"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>securing financial capital;</text></clause><clause id="id604596334EAF4B14BEF7522086C2F978"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas; and</text></clause><clause id="id0BE831A523C34D99A4B3FDDF83055572"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>creating jobs in rural areas; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89E6D0B5FAA14202BA8D1307854D8FB9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any other issue relating to the unique challenges faced by rural minority business enterprises; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id970d24674393415d9897c7e643910238"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide education, training, and legal, financial, and technical assistance to minority business enterprises.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id22848562AC36409FA023DD845CFEC0D7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applications</header><paragraph id="id9150D14B70E247139BACAAC885E4728F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity requesting applications from eligible entities that desire to enter into MBDA Rural Business Center agreements.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD74D2B6618FB4E5DA322A347C5F52F48"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Criteria and priority</header><text>In selecting an eligible entity with which to enter into an MBDA Rural Business Center agreement, the Assistant Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="id70C0AFE979994225B3D9DC12B7339EB0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>select an eligible entity that demonstrates—</text><clause id="id26FC945715B841478943286BACFF3AB7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the ability to collaborate with governmental and private sector entities to leverage capabilities of minority business enterprises through public-private partnerships;</text></clause><clause id="idF685CA33543F459E80D7F2D894124E80"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the research and extension capacity to support minority business enterprises;</text></clause><clause id="idC9D335A9A4A7424EBFABFCF5E141457B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>knowledge of the community that the eligible entity serves and the ability to conduct effective outreach to that community to advance the goals of an MBDA Rural Business Center;</text></clause><clause id="idFC3E70F89C614D6C8163051E4A8C725B"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the ability to provide innovative business solutions, including access to contracting opportunities, markets, and capital;</text></clause><clause id="id6C71E54B89464AFB86CFDB5952E3BD4F"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the ability to provide services that advance the development of science, technology, engineering, and math jobs within minority business enterprises;</text></clause><clause id="id18251BBBEC1B4163A8DDCA17B5AC6CA7"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the ability to leverage resources from within the eligible entity to advance an MBDA Rural Business Center;</text></clause><clause id="id0E77980CD94447B8932B1BFB40CE2401"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>that the mission of the eligible entity aligns with the mission of the Agency; </text></clause><clause id="id02EDBC6BCB4A4DBE9C5E8B207491D8EC"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>the ability to leverage relationships with rural minority business enterprises; and</text></clause><clause id="idEF12654EC8104FFBA956B38800957738"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>a referral relationship with not less than 1 community-based organization; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1E15871C19B54AB4B5C7D2EF7BAC935A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>give priority to an eligible entity located in a State or region that lacks an MBDA Business Center, as of the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id529FF2AFE1514FB4BA3D5CE265F3577A"><enum>303.</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEAB5C290C16348D1BAF26545B6B4EAE3"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a summary of the efforts of the Assistant Secretary to provide services to minority business enterprises located in States that lack an MBDA Business Center, as of the date of enactment of this Act, and especially in those States that have significant minority populations; and</text></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id89F2608DC9554DCA872CE29AB2569BDA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommendations for extending the outreach of the Agency to underserved areas.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id75ea8b44e19d4825a897860bd21f5822"><enum>304.</enum><header>Study and report</header><subsection id="id92e83b63dcae433e8d623be0a1aa8eb6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with relevant leadership of the Agency and relevant individuals outside of the Department of Commerce, shall conduct a study that addresses the ways in which minority business enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of the United States, with a particular focus on the supply chain of advanced manufacturing and essential goods and services.</text></subsection><subsection id="id71d914bf2c6c4f34aef5bdfef2acd397"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), which shall include recommendations regarding the ways in which minority business enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of the United States.</text></subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Minority business development grants</header><section display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idE2C9A123179249F69671AA310C906906"><enum>401.</enum><header>Grants to nonprofit organizations that support minority business enterprises</header><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id257F96B9A2B04E33B8DD1EEBB56907E4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this section, the term <term>covered entity</term> means a private nonprofit organization that—</text><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idFC7DB073659E434088A89B6FD9FB6C43"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is described in paragraph (3), (4), (5), or (6) of <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/501">section 501(c)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code; and</text></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idD0CC803482E34D5395F19B2C641E64AF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>can demonstrate that the primary mission of the organization is to provide services to minority business enterprises, whether through education, making grants or loans, or other similar activities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id497AE0F614CE415CB73F65D2A990BBE3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The purpose of this section is to make grants to covered entities to help those covered entities continue the necessary work of supporting minority business enterprises.</text></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idC24EA020CCFA40F5B4FEDD05347D4C84"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall establish within the Agency a grant program under which the Assistant Secretary shall make grants to covered entities in accordance with the requirements of this section.</text></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id00D6CDC512EA4F36A96417235E054E51"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application</header><text>A covered entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the Assistant Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require.</text></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id13BF768A9829426F89C15DF98A3EC18E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall, in carrying out this section, prioritize granting an application submitted by a covered entity—</text><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idD8B0DB02A8D3474599EB138BF71ADBAE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the primary mission of which is serving socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; or</text></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id7BA9B857A4A2475CA3A82E51C81B994E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>that is located in a federally recognized area of economic distress.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id6AC99B5A64184586AFBC3373B71C31A8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>A covered entity to which a grant is made under this section may use the grant funds to support the development and growth of minority business enterprises.</text></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idC971F29E34994AB7A02178959A819957"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall establish procedures to discourage and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse by applicants for, and recipients of, grants made under this section.</text></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idE6B3CCDA16C44A058B9D1D7DAB530F73"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Inspector General audit</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary begins making grants under this section, the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce shall—</text><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id9ADBADDF84B746C3AF05A23D16E336BF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct an audit of grants made under this section, which shall seek to identify any discrepancies or irregularities with respect to those grants; and</text></paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idBD959FA3017D4228808BC195B47F87E8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to Congress a report regarding the audit conducted under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idD02563758F4F461B93596461BC2F5955"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Updates to Congress</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Assistant Secretary establishes the grant program under subsection (c), and once every 30 days thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that contains—</text><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id37CC66D9B37C4B98A0DD108F169F7BB3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number of grants made under this section during the period covered by the report; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCCDE360A08C44F0E9E070B294E796484" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to the grants described in paragraph (1), the geographic distribution of those grants by State and county.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idC83DE2B2E7224F59A29E17987268AC69"><enum>402.</enum><header>Minority business grants</header><subsection id="idb8185c3ac99648b19462a371e27797c5" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may award grants to minority business enterprises for the purpose of—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idA2DDBFEEF56E43029D767535698EF579"><enum>(1)</enum><text>growing a minority business enterprise; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id44EAD8D21E1042F2B36A71501362973B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>helping a minority business enterprise to remain in business.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id17D13F0844CE434E9ABC7A7D0811A8F6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of office</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall establish an office within the Agency that has adequate staffing to award and administer grants under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id22B47E62D96540D6ACD8DC92E1A7C964"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Updates to Congress</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and once every 30 days thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that contains—</text><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id557E4B9273D341BAA50100758425B65D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the number of grants made under this section during the period covered by the report; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4510058CDFA3406E8D464B9663253355" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to the grants described in paragraph (1)— </text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8BB631392D8B4294AEE979BEC15E3CDD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the geographic distribution of those grants by State and county; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id966FF5AAD2EA49B5A3090F02B6605775"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to each minority business enterprise to which such a grant is awarded—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCC425374CAEE4DB7B92F4D2D3A01465D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>demographic information with respect to the minority business enterprise; and</text></clause><clause display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="id9562DCD92BFA4DA982236987A6EA51AA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>information regarding the industry in which the minority business enterprise operates.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>Administrative and other powers of the Agency; miscellaneous provisions</header><section id="H0DA97DDDB1FC49FBB8EE1FB8465C664D"><enum>501.</enum><header>Administrative powers</header><subsection id="idE1D59A098C184408B026D54032C34A6E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this Act, the Assistant Secretary may—</text><paragraph id="HA5FBAB6D6C1E4A6AA10560B491015CCC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>adopt and use a seal for the Agency, which shall be judicially noticed;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9BE7484FA7174BA8AB8180725A5B178B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>hold hearings, sit and act, and take testimony as the Assistant Secretary may determine to be necessary or appropriate to carry out this Act;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF2290AD821FC4C80A125A3F841FE3BD5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>acquire, in any lawful manner, any property that the Assistant Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out this Act;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4753F5ED2D86430A9573CA09A9FB4471"><enum>(4)</enum><text>make advance payments under grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements awarded under this Act;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBCCFF9BCE203442697BECB1DC729394D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>with the consent of another Federal agency, enter into an agreement with that Federal agency to utilize, with or without reimbursement, any service, equipment, personnel, or facility of that Federal agency;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbe390959fda3498da6c8f95476852b43"><enum>(6)</enum><text>coordinate with the heads of the Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of Federal agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id857eb3ed2493430f89c9fad02b036630"><enum>(7)</enum><text>require a coordinated review of all training and technical assistance activities that are proposed to be carried out by Federal agencies in direct support of the development of minority business enterprises to—</text><subparagraph id="id17085609e64e464ba96378b977c837de"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ensure consistency with the purposes of this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide9c5fda07b0848c0a6a61d050ebfeb7b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>avoid duplication of existing efforts; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBB7F79DB1F3D4708B1DDED6178DFAD62"><enum>(8)</enum><text>prescribe such rules, regulations, and procedures as the Assistant Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id588DA21B87C147D9AD4D2CE15B608128"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Employment of certain experts and consultants</header><paragraph id="id769AE6F67CF042158A702E4F77C92B84"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In carrying out this Act, the Assistant Secretary may employ experts and consultants or organizations that are composed of experts or consultants, as authorized under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7B41AC8820404FC9ADFE7DA753B8E134"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Renewal of contracts</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may annually renew a contract for employment of an individual employed under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idAF2A24E4DB0640F082D9DB136BE1D3D7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Donation of property</header><paragraph id="idB23941A4A1C24B99AC378B79BE56D125"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), in carrying out this Act, the Assistant Secretary may, without cost (except for costs of care and handling), donate for use by any public sector entity, or by any recipient nonprofit organization, for the purpose of the development of minority business enterprises, any real or tangible personal property acquired by the Agency in carrying out this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id29A825662DBA46278083A079705CCD03"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Terms, conditions, reservations, and restrictions</header><text>The Assistant Secretary may impose reasonable terms, conditions, reservations, and restrictions upon the use of any property donated under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idF29268EA93874B008D3AFC4B2264C486"><enum>502.</enum><header>Federal assistance</header><subsection id="idCED736A3BECA44B98937F6238ACBC4E8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><paragraph id="id705911671D9D46BB87082EF887643BC4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Provision of Federal assistance</header><text>To carry out sections 101, 102, and 103(a), the Assistant Secretary may provide Federal assistance to public sector entities and private sector entities in the form of grants or cooperative agreements.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1C1809F5708F414CAB746B338965BCAF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notice</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date on which amounts are appropriated to carry out this section, the Assistant Secretary shall, in accordance with subsection (b), broadly publish a statement regarding Federal assistance that will, or may, be provided under paragraph (1) during the fiscal year for which those amounts are appropriated, including—</text><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA5881CD42A0F41BEBBF656A8E5397DD3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the actual, or anticipated, amount of Federal assistance that will, or may, be made available;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBF503EAC477C43AEB405ADA28406320D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the types of Federal assistance that will, or may, be made available;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEC2A78DEF9144F6EA6FC617DF4A08E90"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the manner in which Federal assistance will be allocated among public sector entities and private sector entities, as applicable; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id51D513E23CD34091AEF0535202B8BD15"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the methodology used by the Assistant Secretary to make allocations under subparagraph (C).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idAA333A12ADF64924B6FB66615900FD78"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The Assistant Secretary shall consult with public sector entities and private sector entities, as applicable, in deciding the amounts and types of Federal assistance to make available under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idF241CF5D25B4450A93A27B14D1E17CEC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Publicity</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Assistant Secretary shall broadly publicize all opportunities for Federal assistance available under this section, including through the means required under section 115.</text></subsection></section><section id="HC91444FDBC2E408DAD1E8ADF590F15E1"><enum>503.</enum><header>Audits</header><subsection id="H4F3D5E876749449BBDD8F07CF739C448"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Recordkeeping requirement</header><text>Each recipient of assistance under this Act shall keep such records as the Assistant Secretary shall prescribe, including records that fully disclose, with respect to the assistance received by the recipient under this Act—</text><paragraph id="id413E530FF8694E8F949297C4CDBDA2FC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the amount and nature of that assistance;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3E354DD71C654EFBAE1B97AAA962BC2E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the disposition by the recipient of the proceeds of that assistance;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id46F3B1FF0FE44BD0BD64E32D7F8C02BA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the total cost of the undertaking for which the assistance is given or used;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCEF2BBBA360F4300A6364D07A9ADDA6B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the amount and nature of the portion of the cost of the undertaking described in paragraph (3) that is supplied by a source other than the Agency; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC291332DEB4949BFA3246FBC2E77F495"><enum>(5)</enum><text>any other record that will facilitate an effective audit with respect to the assistance.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5011512992764A0C8322169BA2009A46"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Access by Government officials</header><text>The Assistant Secretary, the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce, and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any duly authorized representative of any such individual, shall have access, for the purpose of audit, investigation, and examination, to any book, document, paper, record, or other material of a recipient of assistance under this Act that pertains to the assistance received by the recipient under this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="H6F97C1F20352479DACA6D78CB8C23D20"><enum>504.</enum><header>Review and report by Comptroller General</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—</text><paragraph id="idEF7EA7D1B67E42609678E2F4058E5983"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a thorough review of the programs carried out under this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id49B007AE5FFD4B089D89D5C7ACC70E01"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to Congress a detailed report of the findings of the Comptroller General of the United States under the review carried out under paragraph (1), which shall include—</text><subparagraph id="idBA97BACC005A4076A58ED52AC312B8CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs in achieving the purposes of this Act;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idABF3924F4C3C448D96B460A4FFE5E875"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a description of any failure by any recipient of assistance under this Act to comply with the requirements under this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idACE2CABB5AD04B2C919B08E4AA18049D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>recommendations for any legislative or administrative action that should be taken to improve the achievement of the purposes of this Act.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H9378D7B7137D4D30939213394AB036AD"><enum>505.</enum><header>Annual reports; recommendations</header><subsection id="id16DC92BCDF8A4ECC9584286974A4BA83"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the last day of each fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to Congress, and publish on the website of the Agency, a report of each activity of the Agency carried out under this Act during the fiscal year preceding the date on which the report is submitted.</text></subsection><subsection id="idBBED4665D4F84947B5FE1DE0C241A103"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary shall periodically submit to Congress and the President recommendations for legislation or other actions that the Assistant Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to promote the purposes of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="H03766D62D6034029B4360899F1462919"><enum>506.</enum><header>Separability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">If a provision of this Act, or the application of a provision of this Act to any person or circumstance, is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment—</text><paragraph id="idBD5E06C647204130A9E112633889DAC3"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall not affect, impair, or invalidate—</text><subparagraph id="idE950AB1FCCB64F2DB46C3C5D4DAF9F69"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other provision of this Act; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC1EC3749F52F475B8D283E413358FA87"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the application of this Act to any other person or circumstance; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5817C5ECF4B641018412CC27327E8910"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall be confined in its operation to—</text><subparagraph id="id577C6D33714B4F40B13B996FFE1D55E0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the provision of this Act with respect to which the judgment is rendered; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idACEA190C038E45ACA1678FBE06C6D7EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the application of the provision of this Act to each person or circumstance directly involved in the controversy in which the judgment is rendered.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="HECBB754E40654D06AE6E072EB16A2AFB"><enum>507.</enum><header>Executive Order 11625</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The powers and duties of the Agency shall be determined— </text><paragraph id="idBA1263088AC8491D89DC1D587EEDF6BA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in accordance with this Act and the requirements of this Act; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id40FB1067AD944954B530D42BA82A93DA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">without regard to Executive Order 11625 (36 Fed. Reg. 19967; relating to prescribing additional arrangements for developing and coordinating a national program for minority business enterprise).</text></paragraph></section><section id="id33668BC1C42F4E1EAA26FC6AEAD3FEB9"><enum>508.</enum><header>Amendment to the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7104(c) of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/644a">15 U.S.C. 644a(c)</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id26CCB63F46BC44C4BAED9CFA2346C59B"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC0BA7B17DDA642BC93C08159EB7D75C7"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" commented="no" id="idE34A203A06754BD78EA5BA617B1D4D37"><enum>509.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary not less than $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, and each fiscal year thereafter, to carry out this Act.</text></section>