[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5220 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5220

 To reauthorize programs of the Small Business Administration, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 8, 2022

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To reauthorize programs of the Small Business Administration, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business 
Administration Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2022''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
       TITLE I--WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Amendments to Women's Business Center Program.
Sec. 103. Effect on existing grants.
Sec. 104. Regulations.
  TITLE II--SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Annual report on entrepreneurial development programs.
Sec. 203. Marketing of services.
Sec. 204. Data collection working group.
Sec. 205. Oversight; fees from private partnerships and cosponsorships; 
                            negotiation.
Sec. 206. Equity for small business development centers.
Sec. 207. Confidentiality requirements.
Sec. 208. Limitation on award of grants to small business development 
                            centers.
Sec. 209. Authorization of appropriations for formula grants received 
                            by States.
Sec. 210. Requirements relating to matching funds.
Sec. 211. Duties of the Associate Administrator for Small Business 
                            Development Centers.
Sec. 212. Determination of budgetary effects.
            TITLE III--SCORE FOR SMALL BUSINESS ACT OF 2022

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. SCORE Program provisions and requirements.
Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations for the SCORE program.
Sec. 304. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 305. Technical and conforming amendments.
           TITLE IV--FEDERAL CONTRACTING FAIRNESS ACT OF 2022

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Findings.
Sec. 403. Definitions.
Sec. 404. Duration of participation; ramp-up period; transition period.
Sec. 405. Administrative requirements for 8(a) firms.
Sec. 406. SBA representation on the Federal Acquisition Regulation 
                            Council.
Sec. 407. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization; 
                            Director.
Sec. 408. Sole source thresholds.
Sec. 409. Mentor-protege program.
Sec. 410. Certification process.
Sec. 411. Repeal of bonafide office rule.
Sec. 412. Reports.
Sec. 413. Authorization of appropriations.
    TITLE V--COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE LOAN PROGRAM PERMANENCY ACT OF 2022

Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Findings.
Sec. 503. Community Advantage Loan Program.
                 TITLE VI--STEP IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. State Trade Expansion Program.
                      TITLE VII--VETERANS PROGRAMS

Sec. 701. Veteran Federal procurement entrepreneurship training 
                            program.
Sec. 702. Boots to Business Program.
                    TITLE VIII--SURETY BOND PROGRAM

Sec. 801. Expanding surety bond program.
                TITLE IX--SBIC EMERGING MANAGERS PROGRAM

Sec. 901. Broadening investment by the SBIC program.
                     TITLE X--NEW START ACT OF 2022

Sec. 1001. Short title.
Sec. 1002. Findings.
Sec. 1003. Pilot program.
                      TITLE XI--UPLIFT ACT OF 2022

Sec. 1101. Short title.
Sec. 1102. Findings.
Sec. 1103. Purposes.
Sec. 1104. Innovation Centers Program.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administration; administrator.--The terms 
        ``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean the Small 
        Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, 
        respectively.
            (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Small Business and 
                Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (3) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
        concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

       TITLE I--WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Women's Business Centers 
Improvement Act of 2022''.

SEC. 102. AMENDMENTS TO WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

    Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 29. WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Assistant administrator.--The term `Assistant 
        Administrator' means the Assistant Administrator of the Office 
        of Women's Business Ownership established under subsection (j).
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) an organization described in section 501(c) 
                of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
                taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
                    ``(B) a State, regional, or local economic 
                development organization, if the organization certifies 
                that grant funds received under this section will not 
                be commingled with other funds;
                    ``(C) an institution of higher education, as 
                defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), unless the institution is 
                receiving a grant under section 21;
                    ``(D) a development, credit, or finance corporation 
                chartered by a State, if the corporation certifies that 
                grant funds received under this section will not be 
                commingled with other funds; or
                    ``(E) any combination of entities listed in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (D).
            ``(3) Program.--The term `Program' means the Women's 
        Business Center Program established under subsection (b).
            ``(4) Relevant organizations.--The term `relevant 
        organizations' means--
                    ``(A) organizations that advocate for or work with 
                women entrepreneurs, women's business ownership, or 
                women's business centers; and
                    ``(B) other organizations as the Administrator 
                determines appropriate.
            ``(5) Resource partners.--The term `resource partners' 
        means small business development centers, chapters of the 
        Service Corps of Retired Executives established under section 
        8(b)(1)(B), and Veteran Business Outreach Centers described in 
        section 32.
            ``(6) Women's business center.--The term `women's business 
        center' means the location at which counseling and training on 
        the management, operations (including manufacturing, services, 
        and retail), access to capital, international trade, government 
        procurement opportunities, and any other matter that is needed 
        to start, maintain, or expand a small business concern owned 
        and controlled by women.
            ``(7) Women's business center organization.--The term 
        `Women's Business Center Organization' means a membership 
        organization formed by women's business centers to pursue 
        matters of common concern.
    ``(b) Authority.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established a Women's 
        Business Center Program under which the Administrator may enter 
        into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity to provide 
        a grant to the eligible entity to operate 1 or more women's 
        business centers for the benefit of small business concerns 
        owned and controlled by women.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--A women's business center established 
        using funds made available under this section shall be designed 
        to provide entrepreneurial counseling and training that meets 
        the needs of the small business concerns owned and controlled 
        by women, especially concerns owned and controlled by women who 
        are both socially and economically disadvantaged, as defined in 
        section 8(a), and shall provide--
                    ``(A) financial assistance, including counseling 
                and training on how to--
                            ``(i) apply for and secure business credit 
                        and investment capital;
                            ``(ii) prepare and present financial 
                        statements; and
                            ``(iii) manage cash flow and other 
                        financial operations of a small business 
                        concern;
                    ``(B) management assistance, including counseling 
                and training on how to plan, organize, staff, direct, 
                and control each major activity and function of a small 
                business concern;
                    ``(C) marketing assistance, including counseling 
                and training on how to--
                            ``(i) identify and segment domestic and 
                        international market opportunities;
                            ``(ii) prepare and execute marketing plans;
                            ``(iii) develop pricing strategies;
                            ``(iv) locate contract opportunities;
                            ``(v) negotiate contracts; and
                            ``(vi) use various public relations and 
                        advertising techniques; and
                    ``(D) other services, as needed, in order to meet 
                the changing and evolving needs of the small business 
                community.
            ``(3) Types of grants.--
                    ``(A) Initial grant.--The amount of an initial 
                grant, which shall be for a 5-year term, provided under 
                this section to an eligible entity shall be not more 
                than $300,000 annually (as that amount is annually 
                adjusted by the Administrator to reflect the change in 
                inflation).
                    ``(B) Continuation grants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator may 
                        award a continuation grant, which shall be for 
                        a 5-year term, of not more than $300,000 
                        annually (as that amount is annually adjusted 
                        by the Administrator to reflect the change in 
                        inflation) to an eligible entity that received 
                        an initial grant under subparagraph (A).
                            ``(ii) No limitation.--There shall be no 
                        limitation on the number of continuation grants 
                        an eligible entity may receive under this 
                        section.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) Initial grants and continuation grants.--To receive 
        an initial grant or continuation grant under this section, an 
        eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
        Administrator in such form, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Administrator may require, including--
                    ``(A) a certification that the eligible entity--
                            ``(i) has designated an executive director 
                        or program manager, who may be compensated 
                        using grant funds awarded under this section or 
                        other sources, to manage each women's business 
                        center for which a grant under subsection (b) 
                        is sought; and
                            ``(ii) meets accounting and reporting 
                        requirements established by the Director of the 
                        Office of Management and Budget;
                    ``(B) information demonstrating the experience and 
                effectiveness of the eligible entity in--
                            ``(i) providing entrepreneurial counseling 
                        and training described in subsection (b)(2);
                            ``(ii) providing training and services to a 
                        representative number of women who are both 
                        socially and economically disadvantaged; and
                            ``(iii) working with resource partners, 
                        offices of the Administration, and other public 
                        and private entities engaging in 
                        entrepreneurial and small business development; 
                        and
                    ``(C) a 5-year plan that--
                            ``(i) includes information relating to the 
                        assistance to be provided by each women's 
                        business center in the area in which each 
                        center is located;
                            ``(ii) describes the ability of the 
                        eligible entity to meet the needs of the market 
                        to be served by each women's business center;
                            ``(iii) describes the ability of the 
                        eligible entity to obtain the matching funds 
                        required under subsection (e); and
                            ``(iv) describes the ability of the 
                        eligible entity to provide entrepreneurial 
                        counseling and training described in subsection 
                        (b)(2), including to a representative number of 
                        women who are both socially and economically 
                        disadvantaged.
            ``(2) Record retention.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall maintain 
                a copy of each application submitted under this 
                subsection for not less than 5 years.
                    ``(B) Paperwork reduction.--The Administrator shall 
                take steps to reduce, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, the paperwork burden associated with 
                carrying out subparagraph (A).
    ``(d) Selection of Eligible Entities.--
            ``(1) In general.--In selecting recipients of initial 
        grants under this section, the Administrator shall consider--
                    ``(A) the experience of the applicant in providing 
                entrepreneurial counseling and training;
                    ``(B) the amount of time needed for the applicant 
                to commence operation of a women's business center;
                    ``(C) the capacity of the applicant to meet the 
                accreditation standards established under subsection 
                (j)(4) in a timely manner and the likelihood that the 
                recipient will become accredited;
                    ``(D) the ability of the applicant to sustain 
                operations, including the applicant's ability to obtain 
                matching funds under subsection (e), for a 5-year 
                period;
                    ``(E) the proposed location of a women's business 
                center to be operated by the applicant and the 
                location's proximity to Veteran Business Outreach 
                Centers described in section 32 and to recipients of 
                grants under section 8(b)(1) or 21;
                    ``(F) the counsel of a Women's Business Center 
                Organization or another relevant organization on the 
                level of unmet need in the area where the women's 
                business center is to be located; and
                    ``(G) whether the applicant has received trainings 
                conducted by, utilized services provided by, or engaged 
                with a Women's Business Center Organization or another 
                relevant organization in the preparation of the 
                application.
            ``(2) Selection criteria.--
                    ``(A) Rulemaking.--The Administrator shall issue 
                regulations to specify the criteria for review and 
                selection of applicants under this subsection.
                    ``(B) Effect of regulations at time of 
                application.--Unless otherwise required by an Act of 
                Congress or an order of a Federal court, any 
                application for an opportunity to award a grant under 
                this section shall be governed by the regulations 
                issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) that are in effect 
                at the time of the public announcement of such 
                opportunity made by the Administrator pursuant to 
                subsection (k)(1).
                    ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph may be construed as prohibiting the 
                Administrator from modifying the regulations issued 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A) as the regulations apply 
                to an opportunity to be awarded a grant under this 
                section that the Administrator has not yet publicly 
                announced pursuant to subsection (k)(1).
    ``(e) Matching Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (5), upon approval 
        of an application submitted by an eligible entity under 
        subsection (c), the eligible entity shall agree to obtain 
        contributions from non-Federal sources--
                    ``(A) in the first and second year of the term of 
                an initial grant, if applicable, 1 non-Federal dollar 
                for every 2 Federal dollars; and
                    ``(B) in each subsequent year of the term of an 
                initial grant, if applicable, or for the term of a 
                continuation grant, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 
                Federal dollar.
            ``(2) Form of matching funds.--Not more than one-half of 
        non-Federal matching funds described in paragraph (1) may be in 
        the form of in-kind contributions that are budget line items 
        only, including office equipment and office space.
            ``(3) Solicitation.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, an eligible entity may--
                    ``(A) solicit cash and in-kind contributions from 
                private individuals and entities to be used to operate 
                a women's business center; and
                    ``(B) use amounts made available by the 
                Administrator under this section for the cost of 
                solicitation and management of the contributions 
                received, subject to the limitations set by the 
                Administrator.
            ``(4) Disbursement of funds.--The Administrator may 
        disburse an amount not greater than 25 percent of the total 
        amount of a grant awarded to an eligible entity before the 
        eligible entity obtains the matching funds described in 
        paragraph (1).
            ``(5) Failure to obtain matching funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If an eligible entity fails to 
                obtain the required matching funds described in 
                paragraph (1), the eligible entity may not be eligible 
                to receive advance disbursements pursuant to paragraph 
                (4) during the remainder of the term, if applicable, of 
                an initial grant awarded under this section.
                    ``(B) Continuation grant.--Before approving an 
                eligible entity for a continuation grant under this 
                section, the Administrator shall make a written 
                determination, including the reasons for the 
                determination, of whether the Administrator believes 
                that the eligible entity will be able to obtain the 
                requisite matching funding under paragraph (1) for the 
                continuation grant.
            ``(6) Waiver of non-federal share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Upon request by an eligible 
                entity and in accordance with this paragraph, the 
                Administrator may waive, in whole or in part, the 
                requirement to obtain matching funds under paragraph 
                (1) for a grant awarded under this section for the 
                eligible entity for a 1-year term of the grant.
                    ``(B) Considerations.--In determining whether to 
                issue a waiver under this paragraph, the Administrator 
                shall consider--
                            ``(i) the economic conditions affecting the 
                        eligible entity;
                            ``(ii) the demonstrated ability of the 
                        eligible entity to raise non-Federal funds; and
                            ``(iii) the performance of the eligible 
                        entity under the initial grant.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--The Administrator may not issue 
                a waiver under this paragraph if the Administrator 
                determines that granting the waiver would undermine the 
                credibility of the Program.
            ``(7) Excess non-federal dollars.--The amount of non-
        Federal dollars obtained by an eligible entity that is greater 
        than the amount that is required to be obtained by the eligible 
        entity under this subsection shall not be subject to the 
        requirements of part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal 
        Regulations, or any successor thereto, if the amount of non-
        Federal dollars--
                    ``(A) is not used as matching funds for purposes of 
                implementing the Program; and
                    ``(B) was not obtained by using funds granted under 
                the Program.
            ``(8) Carryover.--An eligible entity may use excess non-
        Federal dollars described in paragraph (7) to satisfy the 
        matching funds requirement under paragraph (1) for the 
        subsequent 1-year grant term, if applicable, except that the 
        amounts shall be subject to the requirements of part 200 of 
        title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto.
    ``(f) Other Requirements.--
            ``(1) Separation of funds.--An eligible entity shall--
                    ``(A) operate a women's business center under this 
                section separately from other projects, if any, of the 
                eligible entity; and
                    ``(B) separately maintain and account for any grant 
                funds received under this section.
            ``(2) Examination of eligible entities.--
                    ``(A) Required site visit.--Before receiving an 
                initial grant under this section, each applicant shall 
                have a site visit by an employee of the Administration 
                in order to ensure that the applicant has sufficient 
                resources to provide the services for which the grant 
                is being provided.
                    ``(B) Annual review.--An employee of the 
                Administration shall--
                            ``(i) conduct an annual programmatic and 
                        financial examination of each eligible entity, 
                        as described in subsection (g); and
                            ``(ii) provide the results of the 
                        examination to the eligible entity.
            ``(3) Remediation of problems.--
                    ``(A) Plan of action.--If an examination of an 
                eligible entity conducted under paragraph (2)(B) 
                identifies any problems, the eligible entity shall, not 
                later than 45 calendar days after receiving a copy of 
                the results of the examination, provide the Assistant 
                Administrator with a plan of action, including specific 
                milestones, for correcting those problems.
                    ``(B) Plan of action review by the assistant 
                administrator.--Not later than 30 days after receipt of 
                the plan of action, the Assistant Administrator shall 
                review the plan of action submitted under subparagraph 
                (A), and if the Assistant Administrator determines that 
                the plan--
                            ``(i) will bring the eligible entity into 
                        compliance with all the terms of a cooperative 
                        agreement described in subsection (b), the 
                        Assistant Administrator shall approve the plan; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) is inadequate to remedy the problems 
                        identified in the annual examination to which 
                        the plan of action relates, the Assistant 
                        Administrator shall set forth the reasons in 
                        writing and provide the determination to the 
                        eligible entity not later than 15 calendar days 
                        after the date of determination.
                    ``(C) Amendment to plan of action.--An eligible 
                entity receiving a determination under subparagraph 
                (B)(ii) shall have 30 calendar days from the receipt of 
                the determination to amend the plan of action to 
                satisfy the problems identified by the Assistant 
                Administrator and resubmit the plan to the Assistant 
                Administrator.
                    ``(D) Amended plan review by the assistant 
                administrator.--Not later than 15 calendar days after 
                receipt of an amended plan of action under subparagraph 
                (C), the Assistant Administrator shall approve or 
                reject the plan and provide the approval or rejection 
                in writing to the eligible entity.
                    ``(E) Appeal of assistant administrator 
                determination.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If the Assistant 
                        Administrator rejects an amended plan of action 
                        under subparagraph (D), the eligible entity 
                        shall have the opportunity to appeal the 
                        decision to the Administrator, who may delegate 
                        the appeal to an appropriate officer of the 
                        Administration.
                            ``(ii) Opportunity for explanation.--Any 
                        appeal described in clause (i) shall provide an 
                        opportunity for the eligible entity to provide, 
                        in writing, an explanation of why the amended 
                        plan of action of the eligible entity remedies 
                        the problems identified in the annual 
                        examination conducted under paragraph (2)(B).
                            ``(iii) Notice of determination.--The 
                        Administrator shall provide to the eligible 
                        entity a determination of the appeal, in 
                        writing, not later than 15 calendar days after 
                        the eligible entity files an appeal under this 
                        subparagraph.
                            ``(iv) Effect of failure to act.--If the 
                        Administrator fails to act on an appeal made 
                        under this subparagraph within the 15-day 
                        period specified under clause (iii), the 
                        amended plan of action of the eligible entity 
                        submitted under subparagraph (C) shall be 
                        deemed to be approved.
            ``(4) Termination of grant.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall 
                terminate a grant to an eligible entity under this 
                section if the eligible entity fails to comply with--
                            ``(i) a plan of action approved by the 
                        Assistant Administrator under paragraph 
                        (3)(B)(i); or
                            ``(ii) an amended plan of action approved 
                        by the Assistant Administrator under paragraph 
                        (3)(D) or approved on appeal under paragraph 
                        (3)(E).
                    ``(B) Appeal of termination.--An eligible entity 
                shall have the opportunity to challenge the termination 
                of a grant under subparagraph (A) on the record and 
                after an opportunity for a hearing.
                    ``(C) Final agency action.--A determination made 
                pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be considered final 
                agency action for the purposes of chapter 7 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
            ``(5) Engagement with majority women's business center 
        organization, women's business centers, and other relevant 
        organizations.--If, on the date of enactment of the Women's 
        Business Centers Improvement Act of 2022, a majority of women's 
        business centers that are operating pursuant to agreements with 
        the Administration are members of an individual Women's 
        Business Center Organization, the Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) recognize the existence and activities of the 
                Organization; and
                    ``(B) consult with the Organization, and to the 
                extent practicable, women's business centers and other 
                relevant organizations, on the development of documents 
                with respect to--
                            ``(i) announcing the annual scope of 
                        activities pursuant to this section;
                            ``(ii) requesting proposals to deliver 
                        assistance as provided in this section; and
                            ``(iii) the governance, general operations, 
                        and administration of the Program, including 
                        general best practices in the operation of the 
                        Program and the development of regulations and 
                        financial examinations under that Program.
            ``(6) Enforcement.--
                    ``(A) Grants.--The Assistant Administrator shall 
                develop policies and procedures to minimize the 
                possibility of awarding a grant to an eligible entity 
                that will operate a women's business center that likely 
                will not remain in compliance with program and 
                financial requirements.
                    ``(B) Individual cooperative agreements.--The 
                Assistant Administrator shall enforce the terms of any 
                individual cooperative agreement described in paragraph 
                (5)(B)(iii).
    ``(g) Program Examination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall--
                    ``(A) develop and implement an annual programmatic 
                and financial examination of each eligible entity 
                receiving a grant under this section, under which each 
                eligible entity shall provide to the Administration--
                            ``(i) an itemized cost breakdown of actual 
                        expenditures for costs incurred during the 
                        preceding year; and
                            ``(ii) documentation regarding the amount 
                        of matching assistance from non-Federal sources 
                        obtained and expended by the eligible entity 
                        during the preceding year in order to meet the 
                        requirements of subsection (e) and, with 
                        respect to any in-kind contributions described 
                        in subsection (e)(2) that were used to satisfy 
                        the requirements of subsection (e), 
                        verification of the existence and valuation of 
                        those contributions; and
                    ``(B) analyze the results of each examination and, 
                based on that analysis, make a determination regarding 
                the programmatic and financial viability of each 
                women's business center operated by the eligible 
                entity.
            ``(2) Conditions for continued funding.--In determining 
        whether to award a continuation grant to an eligible entity, 
        the Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) consider the results of the most recent 
                examination of the eligible entity under paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) determine if--
                            ``(i) the eligible entity has failed to 
                        provide, or provided inadequate, information 
                        under paragraph (1)(A); or
                            ``(ii) the eligible entity has failed to 
                        provide any information required to be provided 
                        by a women's business center for purposes of 
                        the management report under subsection (l)(1), 
                        or the information provided by the center is 
                        inadequate; and
                    ``(C) consider the accreditation status as 
                described in subsection (j)(4).
    ``(h) Contract Authority.--
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--An eligible entity that receives a 
        grant under this section may enter into a contract with a 
        Federal department or agency to provide specific assistance to 
        small business concerns owned and controlled by women and other 
        underserved small business concerns, if performance of that 
        contract does not hinder the ability of the eligible entity to 
        carry out the terms of a grant received under this section.
            ``(2) Administrator.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The authority of the 
                Administrator to enter into contracts shall be in 
                effect for each fiscal year only to the extent and in 
                the amounts as are provided in advance in 
                appropriations Acts.
                    ``(B) Adverse contract action.--After the 
                Administrator has entered into a contract, either as a 
                grant or a cooperative agreement, with any applicant 
                under this section, the Administrator shall not 
                suspend, terminate, or fail to renew or extend the 
                contract unless the Administrator provides the 
                applicant with written notification setting forth the 
                reasons therefore and affords the applicant an 
                opportunity for a hearing, appeal, or other 
                administrative proceeding under chapter 5 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
    ``(i) Privacy Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--A women's business center may not 
        disclose the name, address, email address, or telephone number 
        of any individual or small business concern receiving 
        assistance under this section without the consent of that 
        individual or small business concern, unless--
                    ``(A) the Administrator orders the disclosure after 
                the Administrator is ordered to make a disclosure by a 
                court in any civil or criminal enforcement action 
                initiated by a Federal or State agency; or
                    ``(B) the Administrator considers a disclosure to 
                be necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial 
                audit of a women's business center, except that the 
                disclosure shall be limited to the information 
                necessary for the audit.
            ``(2) Administration use of information.--This subsection 
        shall not--
                    ``(A) restrict the access of the Administration to 
                women's business center data; or
                    ``(B) prevent the Administration from using 
                information about individuals who use women's business 
                centers to conduct surveys of those individuals.
            ``(3) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue 
        regulations to establish standards for disclosures for purposes 
        of a financial audit described in paragraph (1)(B).
    ``(j) Office of Women's Business Ownership.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Administration an Office of Women's Business Ownership, which 
        shall be--
                    ``(A) responsible for the administration of the 
                Administration's programs for the development of 
                women's business enterprises, as defined in section 408 
                of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 
                U.S.C. 7108); and
                    ``(B) administered by an Assistant Administrator, 
                who shall be appointed by the Administrator.
            ``(2) Assistant administrator of the office of women's 
        business ownership.--
                    ``(A) Qualification.--The position of Assistant 
                Administrator of the Office of Women's Business 
                Ownership shall be--
                            ``(i) a Senior Executive Service position 
                        under section 3132(a)(2) of title 5, United 
                        States Code; and
                            ``(ii) a noncareer appointee, as defined in 
                        section 3132(a)(7) of that title.
                    ``(B) Duties.--The Assistant Administrator shall 
                administer the programs and services of the Office of 
                Women's Business Ownership and perform the following 
                functions:
                            ``(i) Recommend the annual administrative 
                        and program budgets of the Office of Women's 
                        Business Ownership and eligible entities 
                        receiving a grant under the Program.
                            ``(ii) Review the annual budgets submitted 
                        by each eligible entity receiving a grant under 
                        the Program.
                            ``(iii) Collaborate with other Federal 
                        departments and agencies, State and local 
                        governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-
                        profit organizations to maximize utilization of 
                        taxpayer dollars and reduce or eliminate any 
                        duplication among the programs overseen by the 
                        Office of Women's Business Ownership and those 
                        of other entities that provide similar services 
                        to women entrepreneurs.
                            ``(iv) Maintain a clearinghouse to provide 
                        for the dissemination and exchange of 
                        information between women's business centers.
                            ``(v) Serve as the vice chairperson of the 
                        Interagency Committee on Women's Business 
                        Enterprise and as the liaison for the National 
                        Women's Business Council.
            ``(3) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Women's 
        Business Ownership shall be to assist women entrepreneurs to 
        start, grow, and compete in global markets by providing quality 
        support with access to capital, access to markets, job 
        creation, growth, and counseling by--
                    ``(A) fostering participation of women 
                entrepreneurs in the economy by overseeing a network of 
                women's business centers throughout the United States;
                    ``(B) creating public-private partnerships to 
                support women entrepreneurs and conduct outreach and 
                education to small business concerns owned and 
                controlled by women; and
                    ``(C) working with other programs of the 
                Administration to--
                            ``(i) ensure women are well-represented in 
                        those programs and being served by those 
                        programs; and
                            ``(ii) identify gaps where participation by 
                        women in those programs could be increased.
            ``(4) Accreditation program.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--Not later than 270 days after 
                the date of enactment of the Women's Business Centers 
                Improvement Act of 2022, the Administrator shall 
                publish standards for a program to accredit eligible 
                entities that receive a grant under this section.
                    ``(B) Public comment; transition.--Before 
                publishing the standards under subparagraph (A), the 
                Administrator--
                            ``(i) shall provide a period of not less 
                        than 60 days for public comment on the 
                        standards; and
                            ``(ii) may not terminate a grant under this 
                        section absent evidence of fraud or other 
                        criminal misconduct by the recipient.
                    ``(C) Contracting authority.--The Administrator may 
                provide financial support, by contract or otherwise, to 
                a Women's Business Center Organization to provide 
                assistance in establishing the standards required under 
                subparagraph (A) or for carrying out an accreditation 
                program pursuant to those standards.
            ``(5) Continuation grant considerations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In determining whether to award 
                a continuation grant under this section, the 
                Administrator shall consider the results of the annual 
                programmatic and financial examination conducted under 
                subsection (g) and the accreditation program under 
                paragraph (4).
                    ``(B) Accreditation requirement.--On and after the 
                date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
                Women's Business Centers Improvement Act of 2022, the 
                Administration may not award a continuation grant under 
                this section unless the applicable eligible entity has 
                been approved under the accreditation program conducted 
                pursuant to paragraph (4), except that the Assistant 
                Administrator for the Office of Women's Business 
                Ownership may waive the accreditation requirement, in 
                the discretion of the Assistant Administrator, upon a 
                showing that the eligible entity is making a good faith 
                effort to obtain accreditation.
            ``(6) Annual conference.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each women's business center 
                shall participate in annual professional development at 
                an annual conference facilitated by the Administrator.
                    ``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator shall 
                collaborate with 1 or more Women's Business Center 
                Organizations, women's business centers, or other 
                relevant organizations in carrying out the 
                responsibilities of the Administrator under 
                subparagraph (A).
    ``(k) Notification Requirements Under the Program.--The 
Administrator shall provide the following:
            ``(1) A public announcement of any opportunity to be 
        awarded grants under this section, to include the selection 
        criteria under subsection (d) and any applicable regulations.
            ``(2) To any applicant for a grant under this section that 
        failed to obtain a grant, an opportunity to debrief with the 
        Administrator to review the reasons for the failure of the 
        applicant.
            ``(3) To an eligible entity that receives an initial grant 
        under this section, if a site visit or review of the eligible 
        entity is carried out by an officer or employee of the 
        Administration (other than the Inspector General), a copy of 
        the site visit report or evaluation, as applicable, not later 
        than 30 calendar days after the completion of the visit or 
        evaluation.
    ``(l) Annual Management Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall prepare and 
        submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
        of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House 
        of Representatives an annual report on the effectiveness of 
        women's business centers operated through a grant awarded under 
        this section.
            ``(2) Information for report.--Each women's business center 
        shall, annually and upon request, provide the Administrator 
        with sufficient information to complete the report required 
        under paragraph (1), including the information described in 
        paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall summarize--
                    ``(A) information concerning, with respect to each 
                women's business center established pursuant to a grant 
                awarded under this section, the most recent analysis of 
                the annual programmatic and financial examination of 
                the applicable eligible entity, as required under 
                subsection (g)(1)(B), and the subsequent determination 
                made by the Administration under that subsection;
                    ``(B) the total number of individuals and the 
                number of unique individuals counseled or trained 
                through the Program;
                    ``(C) the total number of hours of counseling and 
                training services provided through the Program;
                    ``(D) to the extent practicable, the demographics 
                of Program participants to include the gender, race, 
                ethnicity, and age of each participant;
                    ``(E) the number of Program participants who are 
                veterans;
                    ``(F) the number of new businesses started by 
                participants in the Program;
                    ``(G) to the extent practicable, the number of jobs 
                supported, created, or retained with assistance from 
                women's business centers;
                    ``(H) the total amount of capital secured by 
                participants in the Program, including through loans 
                and equity investment of the Administration;
                    ``(I) the number of participants in the Program 
                receiving financial assistance, including the type and 
                dollar amount, under a loan program of the 
                Administration;
                    ``(J) an estimate of gross receipts, including to 
                the extent practicable a description of any change in 
                revenue of small business concerns assisted through the 
                Program;
                    ``(K) the number of referrals of individuals to 
                other resources and programs of the Administration;
                    ``(L) the results of satisfaction surveys of 
                participants, including a summary of any comments 
                received from those participants; and
                    ``(M) any recommendations by the Administrator to 
                improve the delivery of services by women's business 
                centers.
    ``(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Administration to carry out this section, to remain 
        available until expended, $31,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2023 through 2026.
            ``(2) Use of amounts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), amounts made available under this 
                subsection for fiscal year 2023, and each fiscal year 
                thereafter, may only be used for grant awards and may 
                not be used for costs incurred by the Administration in 
                connection with the management and administration of 
                the program under this section.
                    ``(B) Exceptions.--Of the amount made available 
                under this subsection for a fiscal year, for the fiscal 
                year beginning after the date of enactment of the 
                Women's Business Centers Improvement Act of 2022 and 
                each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 2026, 
                2.6 percent shall be available for costs incurred by 
                the Administration in connection with the management 
                and administration of the program under this section.
                    ``(C) Accreditation and annual conference.--Of the 
                amounts made available in any fiscal year to carry out 
                this section, not more than $250,000 may be used by the 
                Administration to pay for expenses related to carrying 
                out paragraphs (4) and (6) of subsection (j).
            ``(3) Expedited acquisition.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, the Administrator may use expedited 
        acquisition methods as the Administrator determines to be 
        appropriate to carry out this section, except that the 
        Administrator shall ensure that all small business concerns are 
        provided a reasonable opportunity to submit proposals.''.

SEC. 103. EFFECT ON EXISTING GRANTS.

    (a) Terms and Conditions.--A nonprofit organization receiving a 
grant under section 29(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), 
as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall 
continue to receive the grant under the terms and conditions in effect 
for the grant on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, 
except that the nonprofit organization may not apply for a continuation 
of the grant under section 29(m)(5) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 656(m)(5)), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment 
of this Act.
    (b) Length of Continuation Grant.--The Administrator may award a 
grant under section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656), as 
amended by this title, to a nonprofit organization receiving a grant 
under section (m) of such section 29, as in effect on the day before 
the date of enactment of this Act, for the period--
            (1) beginning on the day after the last day of the grant 
        agreement under such section 29(m); and
            (2) ending at the end of the third fiscal year beginning 
        after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 104. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall issue rules as are necessary to carry out 
section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656), as amended by 
this title, and ensure that a period of public comment for those rules 
is not less than 60 days.

  TITLE II--SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Small Business Development Centers 
Improvement Act of 2022''.

SEC. 202. ANNUAL REPORT ON ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    Section 10 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 639) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Annual Report on Entrepreneurial Development Programs.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Covered program.--The term `covered program' 
                means a program authorized under section 7(j), 7(m), 
                8(a), 8(b)(1), 21, 22, 29, 32, or 34.
                    ``(B) Entrepreneurial development activity.--The 
                term `entrepreneurial development activity' means an 
                activity related to the delivery of entrepreneurial 
                development services, entrepreneurial education, or 
                support for the development and maintenance of business 
                training services carried out through a covered 
                program.
            ``(2) Report required.--The Administrator shall include in 
        the comprehensive annual report required under subsection (a) 
        the following data:
                    ``(A) A list of all entrepreneurial development 
                activities undertaken during the fiscal year preceding 
                the date of the report through a covered program, 
                including--
                            ``(i) a description and operating details 
                        for each such covered program and the 
                        activities performed under each such covered 
                        program;
                            ``(ii) operating circulars, manuals, and 
                        standard operating procedures for each such 
                        covered program;
                            ``(iii) a description of the process used 
                        to make awards relating to the provision of 
                        entrepreneurial development activities under 
                        each such covered program;
                            ``(iv) a list of all recipients of awards 
                        under each such covered program and the amount 
                        of each such award; and
                            ``(v) a list of contractors, including the 
                        name and location of such contractor, of an 
                        award recipient.
                    ``(B) The total amount of funding obligated for a 
                covered program and the entrepreneurial development 
                activities conducted under each such covered program 
                for the fiscal year preceding the date of the report.
                    ``(C) The names and titles of the individuals 
                responsible for carrying out a covered program.
                    ``(D) For entrepreneurial development activities 
                undertaken during the fiscal year preceding the date of 
                the report through the small business development 
                center program established under section 21 (in this 
                section referred to as the `Program')--
                            ``(i) the total number and number of 
                        individuals counseled or trained through the 
                        Program;
                            ``(ii) the total number of hours of 
                        counseling and training services provided 
                        through the Program;
                            ``(iii) to the extent practicable, the 
                        demographics of participants in the Program, 
                        which shall include the gender, race, 
                        ethnicity, and age of each such participant;
                            ``(iv) the number of participants in the 
                        Program who are veterans;
                            ``(v) the number of new businesses started 
                        by participants in the Program;
                            ``(vi) to the extent practicable, the 
                        number of jobs supported, created, and retained 
                        with assistance from the Program;
                            ``(vii) to the extent practicable, the 
                        total amount of capital secured by participants 
                        in the Program, including through loans and 
                        equity investment from the Administration;
                            ``(viii) the number of participants in the 
                        Program receiving financial assistance, 
                        including the type and dollar amount, under a 
                        loan program of the Administration;
                            ``(ix) an estimate of gross receipts, 
                        including, to the extent practicable, a 
                        description of any change in revenue, of small 
                        business concerns assisted through the Program;
                            ``(x) the number of referrals of 
                        individuals to other resources and programs of 
                        the Administration;
                            ``(xi) the results of satisfaction surveys 
                        of participants in the Program, including a 
                        summary of any comments received from those 
                        participants; and
                            ``(xii) any recommendations by the 
                        Administrator to improve the delivery of 
                        services by the Program.''.

SEC. 203. MARKETING OF SERVICES.

    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) No Prohibition of Marketing of Services.--An applicant 
receiving a grant under this section may use up to 10 percent of their 
budget to market and advertise the services of the applicant to 
individuals and small business concerns.''.

SEC. 204. DATA COLLECTION WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Establishment of Working Group To Improve Data Collection.--The 
Administrator shall establish a group to be known as the ``Data 
Collection Working Group'' consisting of entrepreneurial development 
grant recipients, the associations and organizations representing such 
recipients, and officials from the Administration, to carry out a study 
to determine the best methods for conducting data collection activities 
and create or revise existing systems dedicated to data collection.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Data Collection Working Group shall issue a report to the 
appropriate committees of Congress containing the findings and 
determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection 
(a), including--
            (1) recommendations for revising existing data collection 
        practices for the small business development center program 
        established under section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 648); and
            (2) a proposed plan for the Administrator to implement the 
        recommendations described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 205. OVERSIGHT; FEES FROM PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND COSPONSORSHIPS; 
              NEGOTIATION.

    Section 21(a)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
        ``, including financial oversight,'' after ``oversight'';
            (2) by moving subparagraphs (A) and (B) 2 ems to the right;
            (3) in subparagraph (C)--
                    (A) by striking ``Whereas'';
                    (B) by inserting ``Program'' after ``Center''; and
                    (C) by striking ``National'' and inserting 
                ``national''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D)(i) A small business development center that 
                participates in a private partnership or cosponsorship, 
                in which the Administrator or designee of the 
                Administrator also participates, may collect fees or 
                other income in order to hold events related to the 
                private partnership or cosponsorship.
                    ``(ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed as 
                the Administration endorsing a private partnership or 
                cosponsorship described in clause (i).
                    ``(E) An association formed under subparagraph (A) 
                shall, at the request of a small business development 
                center applicant or applicants, participate in the 
                negotiation of the cooperative agreement described in 
                this paragraph between the small business development 
                center applicant or applicants and the 
                Administration.''.

SEC. 206. EQUITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

    Section 21(a)(4)(C)(v) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(4)(C)(v)) is amended to read as follows:
                            ``(v) Use of amounts.--Of the amounts made 
                        available in any fiscal year to carry out this 
                        section, not more than $600,000 may be used by 
                        the Administration to pay expenses enumerated 
                        in subparagraphs (B) through (D) of section 
                        20(a)(1).''.

SEC. 207. CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 21(a)(7)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(7)(A)) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i)--
            (1) by striking ``or telephone number'' and inserting ``, 
        telephone number, or email address''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, or the nature or content of such 
        assistance, to any State, local, or Federal agency, or to any 
        third party'' after ``receiving assistance under this 
        section''.

SEC. 208. LIMITATION ON AWARD OF GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 
              CENTERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648), as amended by section 203 of this title, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``any women's business center 
                operating pursuant to section 29,'';
                    (B) by striking ``or a women's business center 
                operating pursuant to section 29 as a Small Business 
                Development Center''; and
                    (C) by striking ``and women's business centers 
                operating pursuant to section 29''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(p) Limitation on Award of Grants.--Except for nonprofit 
institutions of higher education, and notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Administrator may not award a grant or contract 
to, or enter into a cooperative agreement with, an entity under this 
section unless that entity--
            ``(1) received a grant or contract from, or entered into a 
        cooperative agreement with, the Administrator under this 
        section before the date of enactment of this subsection; and
            ``(2) seeks to renew such a grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement after such date.''.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--The amendments made by this section may 
not be construed as prohibiting a women's business center described in 
section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) from receiving a 
subgrant from an entity receiving a grant under section 21 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648).

SEC. 209. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FORMULA GRANTS RECEIVED 
              BY STATES.

    Section 21(a)(4)(C) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(4)(C)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (vii), by striking ``subparagraph'' and all 
        that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
        ``subparagraph $175,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 
        through 2026.''; and
            (2) in clause (viii)--
                    (A) by striking ``shall reserve not less than 
                $1,000,000'' and inserting ``shall reserve not more 
                than $2,000,000''; and
                    (B) by striking ``$100,000'' and inserting 
                ``$200,000''.

SEC. 210. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MATCHING FUNDS.

    Section 21(a)(4)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)(4)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Such 
matching funds shall be evidenced by good faith assertions from the 
applicant, and the expenditure of matching funds shall not be made a 
prerequisite of the reimbursement of Federal funds, notwithstanding the 
final reconciliation payment for the close-out of each award.''.

SEC. 211. DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR SMALL BUSINESS 
              DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

    Section 21(h)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(h)(2)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Marketing.--The Associate Administrator for 
                Small Business Development Centers shall market and 
                advertise the Small Business Development Center Program 
                and participants in that Program as a resource 
                available to any Federal program providing assistance 
                to small business concerns, including the FAST program 
                established under section 34.''.

SEC. 212. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    The budgetary effects of this title, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

            TITLE III--SCORE FOR SMALL BUSINESS ACT OF 2022

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``SCORE for Small Business Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 302. SCORE PROGRAM PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.

    Section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(B)--
                    (A) by striking ``a Service Corps of Retired 
                Executives (SCORE)'' and inserting ``the SCORE 
                program''; and
                    (B) by striking ``SCORE may'' and inserting ``the 
                SCORE Association may''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) SCORE Program.--
            ``(1) Cooperative agreement.--The Administrator shall enter 
        into a cooperative agreement with the SCORE Association to 
        carry out the SCORE program, which shall include the following 
        requirements:
                    ``(A) Administrator duties.--The Administrator 
                shall--
                            ``(i) every 2 years, conduct a financial 
                        examination of the SCORE Association to ensure 
                        that any costs paid for with Federal funds are 
                        allowable, allocable, and reasonable;
                            ``(ii) review and approve contracts entered 
                        into by the SCORE Association to provide goods 
                        or services for the SCORE program of a value 
                        greater than an amount determined by the 
                        Administrator;
                            ``(iii) maintain a system through which the 
                        SCORE Association provides documentation 
                        relating to those contracts; and
                            ``(iv) not later than 30 days after the 
                        receipt of a quarterly report on the 
                        achievements of the SCORE program submitted by 
                        the SCORE Association, reconcile differences 
                        between that report and the performance results 
                        of the SCORE program reported in a management 
                        information system of the Office of 
                        Entrepreneurial Development.
                    ``(B) SCORE association duties.--The SCORE 
                Association shall--
                            ``(i) manage nationwide chapters of the 
                        SCORE program;
                            ``(ii) provide annual training to employees 
                        of the SCORE Association on generating and 
                        using program income from the SCORE program;
                            ``(iii) submit documentation to the 
                        Administrator verifying the annual training is 
                        completed;
                            ``(iv) maintain separation of funds donated 
                        to the SCORE Association from program income 
                        and funds received pursuant to a cooperative 
                        agreement; and
                            ``(v) maintain and enforce requirements for 
                        volunteers participating in the SCORE program, 
                        including requirements that each volunteer 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) based on the business 
                                experience and knowledge of the 
                                volunteer--
                                            ``(aa) provide personal 
                                        counseling, mentoring, and 
                                        coaching on the process of 
                                        starting, expanding, managing, 
                                        buying, and selling a business 
                                        at no cost to individuals who 
                                        own, or aspire to own, small 
                                        business concerns; and
                                            ``(bb) facilitate free or 
                                        low-cost education workshops 
                                        for individuals who own, or 
                                        aspire to own, small business 
                                        concerns; and
                                    ``(II) as appropriate, use tools, 
                                resources, and expertise of other 
                                organizations to carry out the SCORE 
                                program.
                    ``(C) Joint duties.--The Administrator, in 
                consultation with the SCORE Association, shall ensure 
                that the SCORE program and each chapter of the SCORE 
                program--
                            ``(i) develop and implement plans and goals 
                        to effectively and efficiently provide services 
                        to individuals in rural areas, economically 
                        disadvantaged communities, or other 
                        traditionally underserved communities, 
                        including plans for virtual, remote, and web-
                        based initiatives, chapter expansion, 
                        partnerships, and the development of new skills 
                        by volunteers participating in the SCORE 
                        program; and
                            ``(ii) reinforce an inclusive culture by 
                        recruiting diverse volunteers for the chapters 
                        of the SCORE program.
            ``(2) Online component.--In addition to providing in-person 
        services, the SCORE Association shall maintain and expand 
        online counseling services including webinars, electronic 
        mentoring platforms, and online toolkits to further support 
        entrepreneurs.
            ``(3) Accounting.--The SCORE Association shall--
                    ``(A) maintain a centralized accounting and 
                financing system for each chapter of the SCORE program;
                    ``(B) maintain a uniform policy and procedures to 
                manage Federal funds received pursuant to a cooperative 
                agreement described in paragraph (1); and
                    ``(C) maintain an employee of the SCORE Association 
                to serve as a compliance officer to ensure expenditures 
                of the SCORE program are fully compliant with any law, 
                regulation, or cooperative agreement relating to the 
                SCORE program.
            ``(4) Compensation.--The SCORE Association shall--
                    ``(A) maintain a documented compensation policy 
                that--
                            ``(i) specifies the maximum rate of pay 
                        allowable for any individual in the SCORE 
                        Association;
                            ``(ii) specifies the maximum percent of the 
                        aggregate salaries of employees of the SCORE 
                        Association that may be spent on individual 
                        performance awards to employees of the SCORE 
                        Association; and
                            ``(iii) shall be reviewed annually by the 
                        SCORE Association and the Administrator;
                    ``(B) prohibit payment of salaries or performance 
                awards that exceed the limits set by the SCORE 
                Association compensation policy; and
                    ``(C) prohibit members of the Board of Directors of 
                the SCORE Association or any employees of the SCORE 
                Association from simultaneously serving on the Board of 
                Directors of, or receiving compensation from, the SCORE 
                Foundation without written approval from the 
                Administrator.
            ``(5) Whistleblower protection requirements.--The SCORE 
        Association shall--
                    ``(A) annually update all manuals or other 
                documents applicable to employees and volunteers of the 
                SCORE Association or the SCORE program to include 
                requirements relating to reporting procedures and 
                protections for whistleblowers; and
                    ``(B) conduct an annual training for employees and 
                volunteers of the SCORE Association or the SCORE 
                program on the requirements described in subparagraph 
                (A) and encourage the use of the hotline established by 
                the Office of the Inspector General of the 
                Administration to submit whistleblower reports.
            ``(6) Published materials.--The SCORE Association shall 
        ensure all published materials include written acknowledgment 
        of Administration support of the SCORE program if those 
        materials are paid for in whole or in part by Federal funds.
            ``(7) Privacy requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Neither the Administrator nor 
                the SCORE Association may disclose the name, email 
                address, address, or telephone number of any individual 
                or small business concern receiving assistance from the 
                SCORE Association without the consent of the individual 
                or small business concern, unless--
                            ``(i) the Administrator is ordered to make 
                        a disclosure by a court in any civil or 
                        criminal enforcement action initiated by a 
                        Federal or State agency; or
                            ``(ii) the Administrator determines that a 
                        disclosure is necessary for the purpose of 
                        conducting a financial audit of the SCORE 
                        program, in which case disclosure shall be 
                        limited to the information necessary for the 
                        audit.
                    ``(B) Administrator use of information.--This 
                paragraph shall not--
                            ``(i) restrict the access of the 
                        Administrator to SCORE program activity data; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) prevent the Administrator from using 
                        SCORE program client information to conduct 
                        client surveys.
                    ``(C) Standards.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall, 
                        after opportunity for notice and comment, 
                        establish standards for--
                                    ``(I) disclosures with respect to 
                                financial audits described in 
                                subparagraph (A)(ii); and
                                    ``(II) conducting client surveys, 
                                including standards for oversight of 
                                the surveys and for dissemination and 
                                use of client information.
                            ``(ii) Maximum privacy protection.--The 
                        standards issued under this subparagraph shall, 
                        to the extent practicable, provide for the 
                        maximum amount of privacy protection.
            ``(8) Annual report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022 
        and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the 
        Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate 
        and the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness 
        of the SCORE program, which may be included as part of another 
        report submitted to those committees by the Administrator, and 
        which shall include--
                    ``(A) the total number and the number of unique 
                clients counseled or trained under the SCORE program;
                    ``(B) the total number of hours of counseling or 
                training provided under the SCORE program;
                    ``(C) the total number of local workshops provided 
                under the SCORE program;
                    ``(D) the total number of clients attending online 
                and local workshops provided under the SCORE program;
                    ``(E) to the extent practicable, the demographics 
                of SCORE program clients and volunteers, which shall 
                include the gender, race, ethnicity, and age of each 
                client or volunteer;
                    ``(F) the number of SCORE program clients and 
                volunteers who are veterans;
                    ``(G) with respect to businesses assisted under the 
                SCORE program, the cost to create a job, the cost to 
                create a business, and the return on investment;
                    ``(H) the number of referrals of SCORE program 
                clients to other resources and programs of the 
                Administration;
                    ``(I) the results of SCORE program client 
                satisfactory surveys, including a summary of any 
                comments received from those clients;
                    ``(J) the number of new businesses started by SCORE 
                program clients;
                    ``(K) the percentage of businesses assisted by the 
                SCORE program realizing revenue growth;
                    ``(L) to the extent practicable, the number of jobs 
                created with assistance from the SCORE program;
                    ``(M) the total cost of the SCORE program;
                    ``(N) any recommendations of the Administrator to 
                improve the SCORE program;
                    ``(O) an explanation of how the SCORE program has 
                been integrated with--
                            ``(i) small business development centers;
                            ``(ii) women's business centers described 
                        in section 29;
                            ``(iii) Veteran Business Outreach Centers 
                        described in section 32;
                            ``(iv) other offices of the Administration; 
                        and
                            ``(v) other public and private entities 
                        engaging in entrepreneurial and small business 
                        development;
                    ``(P) the SCORE compensation policy for the 
                relevant fiscal year, including--
                            ``(i) a list of any changes to the 
                        compensation policy since the previous fiscal 
                        year; and
                            ``(ii) justification if the maximum rate of 
                        pay allowable for any individual in the SCORE 
                        Association exceeds the maximum rate of pay 
                        allowable for an individual in the career 
                        Senior Executive Service employed at the 
                        Administration;
                    ``(Q) the names, positions, and salaries of any 
                employees of the SCORE Association whose salaries 
                exceed the maximum rate of pay allowable per the SCORE 
                compensation policy;
                    ``(R) the percent of the aggregate salaries of 
                employees of the SCORE Association spent on individual 
                performance awards to employees of the SCORE 
                Association, with a justification if this amount 
                exceeds 10 percent;
                    ``(S) the total amount of performance awards that 
                have been disbursed or will be disbursed after the last 
                day of the fiscal year in which the awards were earned 
                and a justification for any awards that have been 
                disbursed or will be disbursed outside the fiscal year 
                in which the awards were earned; and
                    ``(T) the names, positions, and salaries of any 
                members of the Board of Directors of the SCORE 
                Association or any employees of the SCORE Association 
                that simultaneously serve on the Board of Directors of, 
                or receive compensation from, the SCORE Foundation 
                without written approval of the Administrator.''.

SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SCORE PROGRAM.

    Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) SCORE Program.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Administrator to carry out the SCORE program such sums as are 
necessary for the Administrator to make grants or enter into 
cooperative agreements in a total amount that does not exceed 
$18,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024.''.

SEC. 304. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``SCORE Association'' 
and ``SCORE program'' have the meanings given those terms in subsection 
(gg) of section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632), as added 
by section 305 of this title.
    (b) Study and Report on the Future Role of the SCORE Program.--
            (1) Study.--The SCORE Association shall carry out a study 
        on the future role of the SCORE program and develop a strategic 
        plan for how the SCORE program will meet the needs of small 
        business concerns during the 5-year period beginning on the 
        date of enactment of this Act, with specific objectives for the 
        first, third, and fifth years of the 5-year period.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the SCORE Association shall submit to 
        the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing--
                    (A) all findings and determinations made in 
                carrying out the study required under paragraph (1);
                    (B) the strategic plan developed under paragraph 
                (1); and
                    (C) an explanation of how the SCORE Association 
                plans to achieve the strategic plan, assuming both 
                stagnant and increased funding levels.
    (c) Administrator Report on Leased Space.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing an 
assessment of the cost of leased space that is donated to the SCORE 
Association.
    (d) Online Component Report.--Not later than 3 months after the 
last day of the first full fiscal year following the date of enactment 
of this Act, the SCORE Association shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the effectiveness of the online 
counseling services required under paragraph (2) of section 8(c) of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(c)), as added by section 302 of this 
title, including a description of--
            (1) how the SCORE Association determines electronic 
        mentoring and webinar needs, develops training for electronic 
        mentoring, establishes webinar criteria curricula, and 
        evaluates webinar and electronic mentoring results;
            (2) the internal controls that are used and a summary of 
        the topics covered by the webinars; and
            (3) performance metrics, including the number of small 
        business concerns counseled by, the number of small business 
        concerns created by, the number of jobs created and retained 
        by, and the funding amounts directed towards those online 
        counseling services.

SEC. 305. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Small Business Act.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 3 (15 U.S.C. 632), by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(gg) SCORE Program Definitions.--In this Act:
            ``(1) SCORE program.--The term `SCORE program' means the 
        Service Corps of Retired Executives program described in 
        section 8(c).
            ``(2) SCORE association.--The term `SCORE Association' 
        means the Service Corps of Retired Executives Association or 
        any successor or other organization that enters into a 
        cooperative agreement described in section 8(c)(1) with the 
        Administrator to operate the SCORE program.
            ``(3) SCORE foundation.--The term `SCORE Foundation' means 
        an organization with a mission to support the SCORE Association 
        and volunteers of the SCORE program.'';
            (2) in section 7 (15 U.S.C. 636)--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(12)--
                            (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                        ``score'' and inserting ``SCORE program''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and 
                        inserting ``SCORE program''; and
                    (B) in subsection (m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII), by striking 
                ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting 
                ``SCORE program'';
            (3) in section 20(d)(1)(E) (15 U.S.C. 631 note), by 
        striking ``Service Corps of Retired Executives program'' and 
        inserting ``SCORE program''; and
            (4) in section 22 (15 U.S.C. 649)--
                    (A) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Service 
                        Corps of Retired Executives authorized by 
                        section (8)(b)(1)'' and inserting ``SCORE 
                        program''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking 
                        ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and 
                        inserting ``SCORE program''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c)(12), by striking ``Service 
                Corps of Retired Executives authorized by section 
                8(b)(1)'' and inserting ``SCORE program''.
    (b) Other Laws.--
            (1) Small business reauthorization act of 1997.--Section 
        707 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 (15 
        U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by striking ``Service Corps of 
        Retired Executives (SCORE) program'' and inserting ``SCORE 
        program described in section 8(c) of the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 637(c))''.
            (2) Veterans entrepreneurship and small business 
        development act of 1999.--Section 301 of the Veterans 
        Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (15 
        U.S.C. 657b note) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
                        by striking ``Service Core of Retired 
                        Executives (described in section 8(b)(1)(B) of 
                        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)) 
                        and in this section referred to as `SCORE')'' 
                        and inserting ``SCORE program described in 
                        section 8(c) of the Small Business Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 637(c)) (in this section referred to as 
                        the `SCORE program')'';
                            (ii) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), by 
                        striking ``SCORE'' each place the term appears 
                        and inserting ``the SCORE program''; and
                            (iii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the'' 
                        before ``establishing''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``SCORE'' each 
                place the term appears and inserting ``the SCORE 
                program''.
            (3) Military reservist and veteran small business 
        reauthorization and opportunity act of 2008.--The Military 
        Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and 
        Opportunity Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 636 note) is amended--
                    (A) in section 3, by striking paragraph (5) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(5) the term `SCORE program' means the SCORE program 
        described in section 8(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        637(c));''; and
                    (B) in section 201(c)(2)(B)(i), by striking 
                ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting 
                ``SCORE program''.
            (4) Children's health insurance program reauthorization act 
        of 2009.--Section 621 of the Children's Health Insurance 
        Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 657p) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) 
                and inserting the following:
            ``(4) the term `SCORE program' means the SCORE program 
        described in section 8(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        637(c));''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking 
                ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting 
                ``SCORE program''.
            (5) Energy policy and conservation act.--Section 
        337(d)(2)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
        U.S.C. 6307(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``Service Corps of 
        Retired Executives (SCORE)'' and inserting ``SCORE program''.

           TITLE IV--FEDERAL CONTRACTING FAIRNESS ACT OF 2022

SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Federal Contracting Fairness Act 
of 2022''.

SEC. 402. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) There remain disparities in education, employment, and 
        business history, which includes unequal contracting 
        opportunities, unequal access to credit or capital, and 
        acquisition of credit or capital under commercially unfavorable 
        circumstances, between individuals defined as socially and 
        economically disadvantaged under the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 631 et seq.) and other individuals.
            (2) The following statistics reiterate the disparities 
        described in paragraph (1):
                    (A) Of the 16,300,000 students enrolled in 4-year 
                undergraduate university in the fall of 2016, 9,100,000 
                were White, 3,200,000 were Hispanic, 2,200,000 were 
                Black, and 1,100,000 million were Asian. In 2018, 41 
                percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds were enrolled in 
                college. However, 37 percent of Black 18- to 24-year-
                olds and 26 percent of Hispanic 18- to 24-year-olds 
                were enrolled in college. Additionally, in 2019, 29 
                percent of Black adults had a bachelor's degree or 
                higher, 21 percent of Latino or Hispanic adults had a 
                bachelor's degree or higher, and 22 percent of Pacific 
                Islander adults had a bachelor's degree or higher, as 
                compared to 45 percent of White adults.
                    (B) In 2020, 24 percent of Black employees and 24 
                percent of Hispanic employees report having been 
                discriminated against at work, compared to 15 percent 
                of White employees reporting discrimination at work. In 
                the first quarter of 2022, the unemployment rate in the 
                United States among White workers was 3.6 percent 
                compared to 6.8 percent among Black workers and 4.9 
                percent among Hispanic workers.
                    (C) With regards to contracting, in 2021, 2.78 
                percent of Federal contracts were awarded to Asian-
                owned small businesses, 1.67 percent went to Black-
                owned small businesses, 1.78 percent went to Hispanic-
                owned small businesses, and 2.69 percent went to Native 
                American-owned small businesses compared to 15.64 
                percent of Federal contracts awarded to White-owned 
                small businesses. In total, 9.4 percent of contracting 
                dollars went to minority-owned businesses when 19 
                percent of United States employer businesses are 
                minority-owned.
                    (D) In terms of access to capital, in 2021, 15 
                percent of Asian-owned small businesses received all 
                the financing they sought, 16 percent of Black-owned 
                small businesses received all the non-emergency 
                financing they sought, and 19 percent of Hispanic-owned 
                small businesses received all the non-emergency 
                financing they sought, as compared to 35 percent of 
                White-owned small businesses.
            (3) Given these disparities, the program established under 
        section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) 
        remains a vital part in increasing access to Federal 
        contracting opportunities for business owners considered 
        socially and economically disadvantaged, as defined in such 
        Act, and is a critical business development program for 
        ensuring these individuals can start and grow their businesses 
        to compete for Federal contracts.

SEC. 403. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title, the terms ``qualified HUBZone small business 
concern'', ``small business concern owned and controlled by service-
disabled veterans'', and ``small business concern owned and controlled 
by women'' have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

SEC. 404. DURATION OF PARTICIPATION; RAMP-UP PERIOD; TRANSITION PERIOD.

    (a) Extension of Program Participation Period.--Section 7(j)(15) of 
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(j)(15)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``nine years'' and inserting ``10 years'';
            (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``four years'' and 
        inserting ``5 years''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``five years'' and 
        inserting ``5 years''.
    (b) Ramp-up Period.--
            (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``covered 
        small business concern'' means a small business concern that, 
        as of the date of enactment of this Act--
                    (A) is in the first 3 years as a participant in the 
                program established under section 8(a) of the Small 
                Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a));
                    (B) is an individually owned entity; and
                    (C) has not been awarded a contract under such 
                section 8(a), excluding contracts that meet the 
                simplified acquisition threshold described in section 
                134 of title 41, United States Code.
            (2) Election.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), a 
                covered small business concern may elect at the time of 
                certification to begin the 10-year program 
                participation period under section 7(j)(15) of the 
                Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(j)(15)), as amended 
                by subsection (a), on the earlier of--
                            (i) the date on which the covered small 
                        business concern is awarded a contract under 
                        section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 637(a)); or
                            (ii) 3 years after the date on which the 
                        covered small business concern was certified to 
                        participate in the program established under 
                        such section 8(a).
                    (B) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), 
                the program participation period for a covered small 
                business concern under section 7(j)(15) of the Small 
                Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(j)(15)) shall not exceed 13 
                years.
            (3) Training.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), if a covered small business concern makes an 
                election under paragraph (2), the covered small 
                business concern shall--
                            (i) participate in 12 hours per year of 
                        marketing, business development training, and 
                        engagement to show intent in building capacity 
                        to participate in the Federal contracting 
                        market, which shall be satisfied through 
                        training provided by the Administration, the 
                        Minority Business Development Agency, resource 
                        partners of the Administration, Procurement 
                        Technical Assistance Centers, or national 
                        organizations with expertise in Federal 
                        contracting or that provide contracting 
                        certifications; and
                            (ii) log the progress of the covered small 
                        business concern on the training carried out 
                        under clause (i) in the annual review submitted 
                        by the covered small business concern.
                    (B) Exception.--
                            (i) In general.--The requirements under 
                        subparagraph (A)(i) shall be waived for a 
                        covered small business concern if, before 
                        reaching 36 hours of training under 
                        subparagraph (A)(i), the covered small business 
                        concern is awarded a contract under section 
                        8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
                        637(a)).
                            (ii) Requirement to log.--Notwithstanding 
                        clause (i), a covered small business concern 
                        that receives a waiver under clause (i) is 
                        required to log the training in which the small 
                        business concern participates under 
                        subparagraph (A) in accordance with clause (ii) 
                        of such subparagraph.
    (c) Transition Period.--
            (1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    (A) the term ``covered small business concern'' 
                means a small business concern that is in the final 3 
                years of participation in the program established under 
                section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
                637(a)); and
                    (B) the term ``economically disadvantaged 
                individual'' means an individual described in section 
                8(a)(6)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
                637(a)(6)(A)).
            (2) Increased amounts.--The Administrator may permit the 
        owner of a covered small business concern to have an adjusted 
        gross income and personal net worth that is not more than 3 
        times higher than the amount allowed for the covered small 
        business program under the program established under section 
        8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), and continue 
        to be considered economically disadvantaged for the purposes of 
        that program, if the owner demonstrates--
                    (A) an investment in the covered small business 
                concern to continue to compete in the Federal 
                contracting market, such as investment in company 
                infrastructure;
                    (B) a plan for how the covered small business 
                concern is being prepared to compete for Federal 
                contracts after exiting the program established under 
                section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
                637(a)); and
                    (C) any other metrics as determined by the 
                Administrator.

SEC. 405. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR 8(A) FIRMS.

    Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall issue or revise regulations to--
            (1) make the review process for small business concerns 
        already certified under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) less burdensome by modifying the annual 
        review of each such small business concern, including by--
                    (A) providing that, with respect to such an annual 
                review, each such small business concern--
                            (i) shall submit to the Administrator a new 
                        business plan, including a contract forecast, a 
                        transitional management plan, and an annual 
                        performance of contracts, and a business 
                        capture strategy approach only if the plan or 
                        approach, as applicable, has changed, as 
                        compared with the previous year; and
                            (ii) may indicate to the Administrator that 
                        there has been no change to the business plan 
                        or business capture strategy approach described 
                        in clause (i) during the previous year; and
                    (B) making such other reductions in the number of 
                forms and documents submitted by each such small 
                business concern that the Administrator determines 
                necessary, while still ensuring that each such small 
                business concern maintains good standing with respect 
                to the program carried out under such section 8(a);
            (2) determine a new process for how the Administrator 
        processes the annual review of each such small business concern 
        that, at a minimum, requires the Administrator to conduct a 
        review, which shall be expedited, of the small business concern 
        when the small business concern is awarded a contract under 
        such section 8(a); and
            (3) coordinate with the General Services Administration to 
        streamline the Past Performance Questionnaire form for small 
        business concerns and Federal agencies participating in the 
        programs established under sections 8(a), 8(m), 31, and 36 of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a), 637(m), 657a, 657f).

SEC. 406. SBA REPRESENTATION ON THE FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION 
              COUNCIL.

    Section 1302(b) of title 41, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) the Administrator of the Small Business 
                Administration.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``subparagraphs (B) to 
        (D)'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) through (E)''.

SEC. 407. OFFICE OF SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION; 
              DIRECTOR.

    Section 15(k)(3) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)(3)) is 
amended by inserting ``be at a level that is not less senior than the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy or the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Acquisition and Sustainment,'' after ``appraisals),''.

SEC. 408. SOLE SOURCE THRESHOLDS.

    The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 8 (15 U.S.C. 637)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(1)(D)(i), by striking 
                subclause (II) and inserting the following:
                                    ``(II) the anticipated award price 
                                of the contract (including options and 
                                options periods) will exceed--
                                            ``(aa) $12,000,000 in the 
                                        case of a contract opportunity 
                                        assigned a North American 
                                        Industry Classification System 
                                        code for research and 
                                        development, except that such 
                                        amount shall be $14,000,000 if 
                                        the small business concern is a 
                                        participating or graduated 
                                        mentor in, or a joint venture 
                                        established under, the mentor-
                                        protege program under section 
                                        45;
                                            ``(bb) $14,000,000 (or 
                                        $16,000,000, if the small 
                                        business concern is a 
                                        participating or graduated 
                                        mentor in, or a joint venture 
                                        established under, the mentor-
                                        protege program under section 
                                        45) in the case of a contract 
                                        opportunity described in item 
                                        (aa), if the small business 
                                        concern subcontracts with an 
                                        institution of higher education 
                                        described in section 371(a) of 
                                        the Higher Education Act of 
                                        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)), for 
                                        which the limitations on 
                                        subcontracting under section 46 
                                        shall not apply;
                                            ``(cc) $14,000,000 in the 
                                        case of a contract opportunity 
                                        assigned a North American 
                                        Industry Classification System 
                                        code for manufacturing, except 
                                        that such amount shall be 
                                        $16,000,000 if the small 
                                        business concern is a 
                                        participating or graduated 
                                        mentor in, or a joint venture 
                                        established under, the mentor-
                                        protege program under section 
                                        45; or
                                            ``(dd) $10,000,000 in the 
                                        case of any other contract 
                                        opportunity, except that such 
                                        amount shall be $12,000,000 if 
                                        the small business concern is a 
                                        participating or graduated 
                                        mentor in, or a joint venture 
                                        established under, the mentor-
                                        protege program under section 
                                        45.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (m)--
                            (i) in paragraph (7)(B), by striking 
                        clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting the 
                        following:
                            ``(i) $12,000,000 in the case of a contract 
                        opportunity assigned a North American Industry 
                        Classification System code for research and 
                        development;
                            ``(ii) $14,000,000 in the case of a 
                        contract opportunity described in item (aa), if 
                        the small business concern partners with an 
                        institution of higher education described in 
                        section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
                        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a));
                            ``(iii) $14,000,000 in the case of a 
                        contract opportunity assigned a North American 
                        Industry Classification System code for 
                        manufacturing; or
                            ``(iv) $10,000,000 in the case of any other 
                        contract opportunity; and''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (8)(B), by striking 
                        clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting the 
                        following:
                            ``(i) $12,000,000 in the case of a contract 
                        opportunity assigned a North American Industry 
                        Classification System code for research and 
                        development;
                            ``(ii) $14,000,000 in the case of a 
                        contract opportunity described in item (aa), if 
                        the small business concern partners with an 
                        institution of higher education described in 
                        section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
                        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a));
                            ``(iii) $14,000,000 in the case of a 
                        contract opportunity assigned a North American 
                        Industry Classification System code for 
                        manufacturing; or
                            ``(iv) $10,000,000 in the case of any other 
                        contract opportunity; and'';
            (2) in section 31(c)(2)(A)(ii) (15 U.S.C. 
        657a(c)(2)(A)(ii)), by striking subclauses (I) and (II) and 
        inserting the following:
                                    ``(I) $12,000,000 in the case of a 
                                contract opportunity assigned a North 
                                American Industry Classification System 
                                code for research and development;
                                    ``(II) $14,000,000 in the case of a 
                                contract opportunity described in item 
                                (aa), if the qualified HUBZone small 
                                business concern partners with an 
                                institution of higher education 
                                described in section 371(a) of the 
                                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                                1067q(a));
                                    ``(III) $14,000,000 in the case of 
                                a contract opportunity assigned a North 
                                American Industry Classification System 
                                code for manufacturing; or
                                    ``(IV) $10,000,000 in the case of 
                                any other contract opportunity; and''; 
                                and
            (3) in section 36(c)(2) (15 U.S.C. 657f(c)(2)), by striking 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) $12,000,000 in the case of a contract 
                opportunity assigned a North American Industry 
                Classification System code for research and 
                development;
                    ``(B) $14,000,000 in the case of a contract 
                opportunity described in item (aa), if the small 
                business concern partners with an institution of higher 
                education described in section 371(a) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a));
                    ``(C) $14,000,000 in the case of a contract 
                opportunity assigned a North American Industry 
                Classification System code for manufacturing; or
                    ``(D) $10,000,000 in the case of any other contract 
                opportunity; and''.

SEC. 409. MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAM.

    (a) Removal of Restriction on Number of Mentors.--
            (1) In general.--Section 45(b)(3)(A) of the Small Business 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 657r(b)(3)(A)) is amended by striking ``, 
        including any restrictions'' and all that follows through the 
        end of the subparagraph and inserting a period.
            (2) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue regulations 
        to provide that there is no restriction on the number of 
        mentors under section 45 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        657r) that a small business concern participating in the 
        program established under section 8(a) of the Small Business 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) may have while participating in the 
        program, if the mentor-protege relationships do not conflict or 
        compete with each other.
    (b) Database.--The Administrator shall create an online centralized 
database for mentors and proteges (as defined in section 45 of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657r)) to foster connection and support 
business development between the 2 groups.
    (c) Streamlined Process.--The Administrator shall issue regulations 
to streamline the process for applying to the mentor-protege program 
established under section 45 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
657r).

SEC. 410. CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

    (a) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall issue regulations to streamline 
the certification process for small business concerns seeking to become 
certified as--
            (1) a participant in the program established under section 
        8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a));
            (2) a small business concern owned and controlled by women;
            (3) a qualified HUBZone small business concern; or
            (4) a small business concern owned and controlled by 
        service-disabled veterans.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress a report that outlines how the Administrator plans to 
streamline the certification process described in subsection (a).

SEC. 411. REPEAL OF BONAFIDE OFFICE RULE.

    Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) is 
amended by repealing paragraph (11).

SEC. 412. REPORTS.

    (a) Demographic Data.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator 
shall--
            (1) make publicly available on the website of the 
        Administration--
                    (A) disaggregated data on the size and number of 
                contracts in total by the Federal Government and by 
                each Federal agency to small business concerns by 
                demographics, including, at a minimum, the gender, 
                race, and ethnicity categories published by the 
                Administration in the disaggregated Federal contracting 
                data in December 2021, and the size of the small 
                business concern; and
                    (B) data on the number of small business concerns 
                owned and controlled by disabled individuals that are 
                participating in the program established under section 
                8(a); and
            (2) with consultation with the Administrator of General 
        Services, include on SAM.gov the ability for small business 
        concerns to report the data described in paragraph (1)(B).
    (b) Review of Size Standards.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall conduct a review 
of and submit to Congress a report on the size standards applicable to 
participants in the program established under section 8(a) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), and outline ways in which the 
Administration can modify size standards to allow program participants 
to grow and continue to exist after exiting the program.
    (c) Ability To Obtain Set-Aside and Sole Source Contracts.--Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on--
            (1) the ability of small business concerns participating in 
        the program established under 8(a) of the Small Business Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) that are not owned by Alaska Native 
        Corporations or Native Hawaiian Organizations to compete for 
        and successfully obtain set-aside contracts, including by 
        reporting data comparing the distribution of awarded set-aside 
        contracts among--
                    (A) small business concerns participating in that 
                program that are not owned by Alaska Native 
                Corporations or Native Hawaiian Organizations; and
                    (B) small business concerns participating in that 
                program that are owned by Alaska Native Corporations or 
                Native Hawaiian Organizations; and
            (2) the best sole source thresholds to enable small 
        business concerns participating in the program established 
        under 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) to 
        secure available sole source contracts.
    (d) Changes to 8(a) Program.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
Congress a report on a plan to implement the changes to the program 
established under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
637(a)) required under this title and the amendments made by this 
title.

SEC. 413. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administration--
            (1) for fiscal year 2023 and every fiscal year thereafter--
                    (A) $20,000,000 to increase the number of 
                procurement center representatives under section 15(l) 
                of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(l)) and 
                commercial marketing representatives, of which 
                $2,000,000 of those amounts shall be used to provide 
                those individuals with increased training on the 
                process to be awarded a sole-source contract;
                    (B) $20,000,000 to increase the number of district 
                office business specialists available under the program 
                established under section 8(a) of the Small Business 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a));
                    (C) $5,000,000 for costs related to certifying 
                small business concerns as small business concerns 
                owned and controlled by women; and
                    (D) $400,000 for costs related to processing 
                applications to participate in the mentor-protege 
                program established under section 45 of the Small 
                Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657r); and
            (2) for fiscal year 2023, to remain available until 
        expended, $2,500,000 to replace the dynamic small business 
        search database of the Administration.

    TITLE V--COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE LOAN PROGRAM PERMANENCY ACT OF 2022

SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Community Advantage Loan Program 
Permanency Act of 2022''.

SEC. 502. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) capital access remains one of the largest barriers to 
        overcome for socially and economically disadvantaged business 
        owners as well as for the smallest small businesses;
            (2) according to the Double Jeopardy: COVID-19's 
        Concentrated Health and Wealth Effects in Black Communities 
        study conducted by the Federal Reserve banks, in 2020--
                    (A) firms owned by people of color are more likely 
                to have weak capitalizations, limited bank 
                relationships, and little in cash reserves; and
                    (B) 51 percent of Black-owned businesses have less 
                than 3 months of cash reserves in case of an emergency, 
                which is nearly 7 percentage points higher than their 
                peers;
            (3) according to the Small Business Credit Survey conducted 
        by the Federal Reserve banks, in 2021--
                    (A) 31 percent of firms that sought financing 
                received the full financing sought by the firm;
                    (B) firms owned by people of color were least 
                likely to receive the full amount of financing sought 
                by the firm, with 15 percent of Asian-owned businesses, 
                16 percent of Black-owned businesses, and 19 percent of 
                Hispanic-owned businesses receiving full financing, as 
                opposed to 35 percent of non-Hispanic White-owned 
                businesses receiving full financing; and
                    (C) firms with fewer employees were also least 
                likely to receive the full financing sought by the 
                firm, with 23 percent of businesses with 1 to 4 
                employees and 37 percent of businesses with 5 to 49 
                employees receiving full financing, as opposed to 55 
                percent of businesses with 50 to 499 employees 
                receiving full financing;
            (4) the Community Advantage Pilot Program of the 
        Administration has helped increase lending backed by the 
        Administration to firms owned by people of color, women, and 
        veterans and firms classified as startups;
            (5) from fiscal year 2018 to fiscal year 2022--
                    (A) 13 percent of loans under the Community 
                Advantage Pilot Program went to Black business owners, 
                while 4 percent of loans under the loan program under 
                section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
                636(a)) (in this section referred to as the ``7(a) loan 
                program'') went to Black business owners;
                    (B) 15 percent of loans under the Community 
                Advantage Pilot Program went to Hispanic business 
                owners, while 8 percent of loans under the 7(a) loan 
                program went to Hispanic business owners;
                    (C) 20 percent of loans under the Community 
                Advantage Pilot Program went to women business owners, 
                while 17 percent of loans under the 7(a) loan program 
                went to women business owners; and
                    (D) 9 percent of loans under the Community 
                Advantage Pilot Program went to veteran business 
                owners, while 5 percent of loans under the 7(a) loan 
                program went to veteran business owners; and
            (6) from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021, 14 percent 
        of loans under the Community Advantage Pilot Program went to 
        startup business owners, while 7 percent of loans under the 
        7(a) loan program went to startup business owners.

SEC. 503. COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE LOAN PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
636(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(38) Community advantage loan program.--
                    ``(A) Purposes.--The purposes of the Community 
                Advantage Loan Program are--
                            ``(i) to create a mission-oriented loan 
                        guarantee program that builds on the 
                        demonstrated success of the Community Advantage 
                        Pilot Program of the Administration, as 
                        established in 2011, to reach more underserved 
                        small business concerns;
                            ``(ii) to increase lending to small 
                        business concerns in underserved and rural 
                        markets, including veterans and members of the 
                        military community, socially and economically 
                        disadvantaged individuals, as described in 
                        paragraphs (5) and (6)(A) of section 8(a), 
                        respectively, women, and new businesses;
                            ``(iii) to ensure that the program under 
                        this subsection expands inclusion and more 
                        broadly meets congressional intent to reach 
                        borrowers who are unable to get credit 
                        elsewhere on reasonable terms and conditions;
                            ``(iv) to help underserved small business 
                        concerns become bankable by utilizing the small 
                        dollar financing and business support 
                        experience of mission-oriented lenders;
                            ``(v) to allow certain mission-oriented 
                        lenders, primarily financial intermediaries 
                        focused on economic development in underserved 
                        markets, access to guarantees for loans under 
                        this subsection (in this paragraph referred to 
                        as `7(a) loans') of not more than $350,000 and 
                        provide management and technical assistance to 
                        small business concerns as needed;
                            ``(vi) to provide certainty for the lending 
                        partners that make loans under this subsection 
                        and to attract new lenders;
                            ``(vii) to encourage collaboration between 
                        mission-oriented and conventional lenders under 
                        this subsection in order to support underserved 
                        small business concerns; and
                            ``(viii) to assist covered institutions 
                        with providing business support services and 
                        technical assistance to small business 
                        concerns, when needed.
                    ``(B) Definitions.--In this paragraph--
                            ``(i) the term `Community Advantage Network 
                        Partner'--
                                    ``(I) means a nonprofit, mission-
                                oriented organization that acts as a 
                                Referral Agent to covered institutions 
                                in order to expand the reach of the 
                                program to small businesses in 
                                underserved markets; and
                                    ``(II) does not include a covered 
                                institution making loans under the 
                                program;
                            ``(ii) the term `covered institution' means 
                        an entity that--
                                    ``(I) is--
                                            ``(aa) a development 
                                        company, as defined in section 
                                        103 of the Small Business 
                                        Investment Act of 1958 (15 
                                        U.S.C. 662), participating in 
                                        the 504 Loan Guaranty program 
                                        established under title V of 
                                        that Act (15 U.S.C. 695 et 
                                        seq.);
                                            ``(bb) a nonprofit 
                                        intermediary, as defined in 
                                        subsection (m)(11), 
                                        participating in the microloan 
                                        program under subsection (m);
                                            ``(cc) a non-federally 
                                        regulated entity or a lending 
                                        institution certified as a 
                                        community development financial 
                                        institution by the Community 
                                        Development Financial 
                                        Institutions Fund established 
                                        under section 104(a) of the 
                                        Riegle Community Development 
                                        and Regulatory Improvement Act 
                                        of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4703(a)); or
                                            ``(dd) an eligible 
                                        intermediary, as defined in 
                                        subsection (l)(1), 
                                        participating in the 
                                        Intermediary Lending Program 
                                        established under subsection 
                                        (l)(2); and
                                    ``(II) has approved and disbursed 
                                10 similarly sized loans in the 
                                preceding 24-month period and is 
                                servicing not less than 10 similarly 
                                sized loans to small business concerns 
                                in the portfolio of the entity;
                            ``(iii) the term `existing business' means 
                        a small business concern that has been in 
                        existence for not less than 2 years on the date 
                        on which a loan is made to the small business 
                        concern under the program;
                            ``(iv) the term `new business' means a 
                        small business concern that has been in 
                        existence for not more than 2 years on the date 
                        on which a loan is made to the small business 
                        concern under the program;
                            ``(v) the term `program' means the 
                        Community Advantage Loan Program established 
                        under subparagraph (C);
                            ``(vi) the term `Referral Agent' has the 
                        meaning given the term in section 103.1(f) of 
                        title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
                        successor regulation;
                            ``(vii) the term `rural area' means any 
                        county that the Bureau of the Census has 
                        defined as mostly rural or completely rural in 
                        the most recent decennial census; and
                            ``(viii) the term `small business concern 
                        in an underserved market' means a small 
                        business concern--
                                    ``(I) that is located in--
                                            ``(aa) a low- to moderate-
                                        income community;
                                            ``(bb) a HUBZone, as that 
                                        term is defined in section 
                                        31(b);
                                            ``(cc) a rural area; or
                                            ``(dd) any area for which a 
                                        disaster declaration or 
                                        determination described in 
                                        subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or 
                                        (E) of subsection (b)(2) has 
                                        been made that has not 
                                        terminated more than 2 years 
                                        before the date (or later, as 
                                        determined by the 
                                        Administrator) on which a loan 
                                        is made to the small business 
                                        concern under the program, 
                                        except that, in the case of a 
                                        major disaster described in 
                                        subsection (b)(2)(A), that 
                                        period shall be 5 years;
                                    ``(II) for which more than 50 
                                percent of the employees reside in a 
                                low- or moderate-income community;
                                    ``(III) that is a new business;
                                    ``(IV) owned and controlled by 
                                socially and economically disadvantaged 
                                individuals, as described in paragraphs 
                                (5) and (6)(A) of section 8(a), 
                                respectively, which the Administrator, 
                                in carrying out the program, shall 
                                presume includes Black Americans, 
                                Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, 
                                Asian Pacific Americans, and other 
                                minorities;
                                    ``(V) owned and controlled by 
                                women;
                                    ``(VI) owned and controlled by 
                                veterans or spouses of veterans;
                                    ``(VII) owned and controlled by a 
                                member of an Indian Tribe individually 
                                identified (including parenthetically) 
                                in the most recent list published 
                                pursuant to section 104 of the 
                                Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List 
                                Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131);
                                    ``(VIII) owned and controlled by an 
                                individual who has completed a term of 
                                imprisonment in a Federal, State, or 
                                local jail or prison;
                                    ``(IX) owned and controlled by an 
                                individual with a disability, as that 
                                term is defined in section 3 of the 
                                Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
                                (42 U.S.C. 12102); or
                                    ``(X) as otherwise determined by 
                                the Administrator.
                    ``(C) Establishment.--There is established a 
                Community Advantage Loan Program under which the 
                Administration may guarantee loans made by covered 
                institutions under this subsection, with an emphasis on 
                loans made to small business concerns in underserved 
                markets.
                    ``(D) Program levels.--In fiscal year 2023 and each 
                fiscal year thereafter, not more than 10 percent of the 
                number of loans guaranteed under this subsection may be 
                guaranteed under the program.
                    ``(E) Grandfathering of existing lenders.--Any 
                covered institution that actively participated in the 
                Community Advantage Pilot Program of the Administration 
                and is in good standing, as determined by the 
                Administration, on the day before the date of enactment 
                of this paragraph--
                            ``(i) shall retain designation in the 
                        program;
                            ``(ii) shall not be required to submit an 
                        application to participate in the program; and
                            ``(iii) for the purpose of determining the 
                        loan loss reserve amount of the covered 
                        institution, shall have participation in the 
                        Community Advantage Pilot Program included in 
                        the calculation under subparagraph (J).
                    ``(F) Requirement to make loans to underserved 
                markets.--Not less than 70 percent of loans made by a 
                covered institution under the program shall consist of 
                loans made to small business concerns in underserved 
                markets.
                    ``(G) Maximum loan amount.--The maximum loan amount 
                for a loan guaranteed under the program is $350,000.
                    ``(H) Interest rates.--The maximum allowable 
                interest rate prescribed by the Administration on any 
                financing made on a deferred basis pursuant to the 
                program shall not exceed the maximum allowable interest 
                rate under sections 120.213 and 120.214 of title 13, 
                Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor 
                regulations.
                    ``(I) Refinancing of community advantage program 
                loans.--A loan guaranteed under the program or 
                guaranteed under the Community Advantage Pilot Program 
                of the Administration may be refinanced into another 
                7(a) loan made by lender that does not participate in 
                the program.
                    ``(J) Loan loss reserve requirements.--
                            ``(i) Loan loss reserve account for covered 
                        institutions.--A covered institution--
                                    ``(I) with not more than 5 years of 
                                participation in the program shall 
                                maintain a loan loss reserve account 
                                with an amount equal to 5 percent of 
                                the outstanding amount of the 
                                unguaranteed portion of the loan 
                                portfolio of the covered institution 
                                under the program; and
                                    ``(II) with more than 5 years of 
                                participation in the program shall 
                                maintain a loan loss reserve account 
                                with an amount equal to the average 
                                repurchase rate of the covered 
                                institution over the preceding 36-month 
                                period.
                            ``(ii) Additional loan loss reserve amount 
                        for selling loans on the secondary market.--In 
                        addition to the amount required in the loan 
                        loss reserve account under clause (i), a 
                        covered institution that sells a program loan 
                        on the secondary market shall be required to 
                        maintain the following additional amounts in 
                        the loan loss reserve account:
                                    ``(I) An amount equal to 2 percent 
                                of the guaranteed portion of each 
                                program loan sold on the secondary 
                                market for lenders with less than 5 
                                years experience selling program loans 
                                on the secondary market.
                                    ``(II) An amount equal to the 
                                average repurchase rate for loans sold 
                                by the lender on the secondary market 
                                over the preceding 36 months for 
                                lenders with more than 5 years 
                                experience selling program loans on the 
                                secondary market.
                            ``(iii) Recalculation.--The loan loss 
                        reserve required under clauses (i) and (ii) 
                        shall be recalculated on October 1 of each 
                        year.
                    ``(K) Training.--The Administration--
                            ``(i) shall provide accessible upfront and 
                        ongoing training for covered institutions 
                        making loans under the program to support 
                        program compliance and improve the interface 
                        between the covered institutions and the 
                        Administration, which shall include--
                                    ``(I) guidance for following the 
                                regulations of the Administration; and
                                    ``(II) guidance specific to 
                                mission-oriented lending that is 
                                intended to help lenders effectively 
                                reach and support underserved small 
                                business concerns, including management 
                                and technical assistance delivery;
                            ``(ii) shall ensure that the training 
                        described in clause (i) is provided for free or 
                        at a low cost;
                            ``(iii) may enter into a contract to 
                        provide the training described in clause (i) 
                        with an organization with expertise in lending 
                        under this subsection and primarily 
                        specializing in mission-oriented lending, and 
                        lending to underserved markets; and
                            ``(iv) shall provide training for the 
                        employees and contractors of the Administration 
                        that regularly engage with covered institutions 
                        or borrowers in the program.
                    ``(L) Community advantage outreach and education.--
                The Administrator--
                            ``(i) shall develop and implement a program 
                        to promote to, conduct outreach to, and educate 
                        prospective covered institutions about the 
                        program, with a focus on women- and minority-
                        owned covered institutions; and
                            ``(ii) may enter into a contract with 1 or 
                        more nonprofit organizations experienced in 
                        working with and training mission-driven 
                        lenders to provide the outreach and education 
                        described in clause (i).
                    ``(M) Community advantage network partner 
                participation.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A covered institution 
                        that uses a Community Advantage Network Partner 
                        shall abide by policies and procedures of the 
                        Administration concerning the use of Referral 
                        Agent fees permitted by the Administration and 
                        disclosure of those fees.
                            ``(ii) Payment of fees.--Notwithstanding 
                        any other provision of law, all fees described 
                        in clause (i) shall be paid by the covered 
                        institution to the Community Advantage Network 
                        Partner upon disbursement of the applicable 
                        program loan.
                    ``(N) Delegated authority.--A covered institution 
                is not eligible to receive delegated authority from the 
                Administration under the program until the covered 
                institution has approved and fully disbursed not less 
                than 10 loans under the program and the Administration 
                had evaluated the ability of the covered institution to 
                fulfill program requirements.
                    ``(O) Reporting.--
                            ``(i) Weekly reports.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The 
                                Administration shall report on the 
                                website of the Administration, as part 
                                of the weekly reports on lending 
                                approvals under this subsection--
                                            ``(aa) on and after the 
                                        date of enactment of this 
                                        paragraph, the number and 
                                        dollar amount of loans 
                                        guaranteed under the Community 
                                        Advantage Pilot Program of the 
                                        Administration; and
                                            ``(bb) on and after the 
                                        date on which the 
                                        Administration begins to 
                                        approve loans under the 
                                        program, the number and dollar 
                                        amount of loans guaranteed 
                                        under the program.
                                    ``(II) Separate accounting.--The 
                                number and dollar amount of loans 
                                reported in a weekly report under 
                                subclause (I) for loans guaranteed 
                                under the Community Advantage Pilot 
                                Program of the Administration and under 
                                the program shall include a breakdown 
                                by the categories of race, ethnicity, 
                                and gender of the owners of the small 
                                business concerns, by whether the small 
                                business concern is a new or existing 
                                small business concern, and by whether 
                                the small business concern is located 
                                in an urban or rural area, and broken 
                                down by--
                                            ``(aa) loans of not more 
                                        than $50,000;
                                            ``(bb) loans of more than 
                                        $50,000 and not more than 
                                        $150,000;
                                            ``(cc) loans of more than 
                                        $150,000 and not more than 
                                        $250,000; and
                                            ``(dd) loans of more than 
                                        $250,000 and not more than 
                                        $350,000.
                            ``(ii) Annual reports.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--For each fiscal 
                                year in which the program is in effect, 
                                the Administration shall submit to the 
                                Committee on Small Business and 
                                Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the 
                                Committee on Small Business of the 
                                House of Representatives, and make 
                                publicly available on the internet, 
                                information about loans provided under 
                                the program and under the Community 
                                Advantage Pilot Program of the 
                                Administration.
                                    ``(II) Contents.--Each report 
                                submitted and made publicly available 
                                under subclause (I) shall include--
                                            ``(aa) the number and 
                                        dollar amounts of loans 
                                        provided to small business 
                                        concerns under the program, 
                                        including a breakdown by--

                                                    ``(AA) the gender 
                                                of the owners of the 
                                                small business concern;

                                                    ``(BB) the race and 
                                                ethnicity of the owners 
                                                of the small business 
                                                concern, disaggregated 
                                                in a manner that 
                                                captures all the racial 
                                                groups specified in the 
                                                American Community 
                                                Survey conducted by the 
                                                Bureau of the Census;

                                                    ``(CC) whether the 
                                                small business concern 
                                                is located in an urban 
                                                or rural area; and

                                                    ``(DD) whether the 
                                                small business concern 
                                                is an existing business 
                                                or a new business, as 
                                                provided in the weekly 
                                                reports on lending 
                                                approvals under this 
                                                subsection;

                                            ``(bb) the proportion of 
                                        loans described in item (aa) 
                                        compared to--

                                                    ``(AA) other 7(a) 
                                                loans of any amount;

                                                    ``(BB) other 7(a) 
                                                loans of similar 
                                                amounts;

                                                    ``(CC) express 
                                                loans provided under 
                                                paragraph (31) of 
                                                similar amounts; and

                                                    ``(DD) other 7(a) 
                                                loans of similar 
                                                amounts provided to 
                                                small business concerns 
                                                in underserved markets;

                                            ``(cc) a comparison of the 
                                        number and dollar amounts of 
                                        loans provided to small 
                                        business concerns under the 
                                        program and under each category 
                                        of loans described in item 
                                        (aa), broken down by--

                                                    ``(AA) loans of not 
                                                more than $50,000;

                                                    ``(BB) loans of 
                                                more than $50,000 and 
                                                not more than $150,000;

                                                    ``(CC) loans of 
                                                more than $150,000 and 
                                                not more than $250,000; 
                                                and

                                                    ``(DD) loans of 
                                                more than $250,000 and 
                                                not more than $350,000;

                                            ``(dd) the number and 
                                        dollar amounts of loans 
                                        provided to small business 
                                        concerns under the program by 
                                        State, and the jobs created or 
                                        retained within each State;
                                            ``(ee) a list of covered 
                                        institutions participating in 
                                        the program and the Community 
                                        Advantage Pilot Program of the 
                                        Administration, including--

                                                    ``(AA) the name, 
                                                location, and contact 
                                                information, such as 
                                                the website and 
                                                telephone number, of 
                                                each covered 
                                                institution; and

                                                    ``(BB) a breakdown 
                                                by the number and 
                                                dollar amount of the 
                                                loans approved for 
                                                small business 
                                                concerns; and

                                            ``(ff) the benchmarks 
                                        established by the Community 
                                        Advantage Working Group under 
                                        subparagraph (O)(i).
                                    ``(III) Timing.--An annual report 
                                required under this clause shall--
                                            ``(aa) be submitted and 
                                        made publicly available not 
                                        later than December 1 of each 
                                        year; and
                                            ``(bb) cover the lending 
                                        activity for the fiscal year 
                                        that ended on September 30 of 
                                        that same year.
                    ``(P) GAO report.--Not later than 5 years after the 
                date of enactment of this paragraph, the Comptroller 
                General of the United States shall submit to the 
                Administrator, the Committee on Small Business and 
                Entrepreneurship of the Senate, and the Committee on 
                Small Business of the House of Representatives a 
                report--
                            ``(i) assessing--
                                    ``(I) the extent to which the 
                                program fulfills the requirements of 
                                this paragraph; and
                                    ``(II) the performance of covered 
                                institutions participating in the 
                                program; and
                            ``(ii) providing recommendations on the 
                        administration of the program and the findings 
                        under subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i).
                    ``(Q) Community advantage working group.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 90 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
                        the Administrator shall establish a Community 
                        Advantage Working Group, which shall--
                                    ``(I) include--
                                            ``(aa) a geographically 
                                        diverse representation of 
                                        members from among covered 
                                        institutions participating in 
                                        the program; and
                                            ``(bb) representatives from 
                                        the Office of Capital Access of 
                                        the Administration, including 
                                        the Office of Credit Risk 
                                        Management, the Office of 
                                        Financial Assistance, and the 
                                        Office of Economic Opportunity;
                                    ``(II) develop recommendations on 
                                how the Administration can effectively 
                                manage, support, and promote the 
                                program and the mission of the program;
                                    ``(III) establish metrics of 
                                success and benchmarks that reflect the 
                                mission and population served by 
                                covered institutions under the program, 
                                which the Administration shall use to 
                                evaluate the performance of those 
                                covered institutions;
                                    ``(IV) establish criteria assessing 
                                the business support services and 
                                technical assistance needs of borrowers 
                                and methods to assess lender expertise 
                                to provide necessary services and 
                                assistance; and
                                    ``(V) institute regular and 
                                sustainable systems of communication 
                                between the Administration and covered 
                                institutions participating in the 
                                program.
                            ``(ii) Report.--Not later than 1 year after 
                        the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
                        Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
                        Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the 
                        Senate and the Committee on Small Business of 
                        the House of Representatives a report that 
                        includes--
                                    ``(I) the recommendations of the 
                                Community Advantage Working Group 
                                established under clause (i); and
                                    ``(II) a recommended plan and 
                                timeline for implementation of those 
                                recommendations.
                    ``(R) Regulations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days 
                        after the date of enactment of this paragraph, 
                        the Administrator shall promulgate regulations 
                        governing the program, including metrics for 
                        lender performance, metrics of success and 
                        benchmarks of the program, and criteria for 
                        appropriate management and technical 
                        assistance.
                            ``(ii) Updates.--The Administrator shall 
                        consult the report issued under subparagraph 
                        (P) and, not later than 180 days after 
                        submission of the report, promulgate any 
                        necessary changes to existing regulations of 
                        the Administration based on the recommendations 
                        contained in the report.
                    ``(S) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
                authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
                necessary to conduct outreach and education described 
                in subparagraph (L).''.
    (b) Participation.--Section 7(a)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 636(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause 
        (i), by striking ``and (F)'' and inserting ``(F), and (G)''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) Participation in the community advantage loan 
                program.--In an agreement to participate in a loan on a 
                deferred basis under paragraph (38), the participation 
                by the Administration shall be--
                            ``(i) 80 percent of the balance of the 
                        financing outstanding at the time of the 
                        disbursement of the loan, if that balance is 
                        more than $150,000 and not more than $350,000; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) 90 percent of the balance of the 
                        financing outstanding at the time of the 
                        disbursement of the loan, if that balance is 
                        not more than $150,000.''.

                 TITLE VI--STEP IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``STEP Improvement Act of 2022''.

SEC. 602. STATE TRADE EXPANSION PROGRAM.

    (a) Application Requirements.--Section 22(l)(3) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(l)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``, including a 
                budget plan for use of funds awarded under this 
                subsection'' before the period at the end; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) Timing.--The Associate 
                        Administrator shall--
                                    ``(I) publish information on how to 
                                apply for a grant under this 
                                subsection, including specific 
                                calculations and other determinations 
                                used to award such a grant, not later 
                                than March 31 of each year;
                                    ``(II) establish a deadline for the 
                                submission of applications that is not 
                                earlier than 60 days after the date on 
                                which the information is published 
                                under subclause (I) and that is not 
                                later than May 31; and
                                    ``(III) announce grant recipients 
                                not later than August 31 of each 
                                year.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) Application information.--The Associate 
                Administrator shall clearly communicate to applicants 
                and grant recipients any information about State Trade 
                Expansion Program, including--
                            ``(i) for each unsuccessful applicant for a 
                        grant awarded under this subsection, 
                        recommendations to improve a subsequent 
                        application for such a grant; and
                            ``(ii) for each successful applicant for 
                        such a grant, an explanation for the amount 
                        awarded, if different from the amount requested 
                        in the application.
                    ``(F) Budget plan revisions.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A State receiving a 
                        grant under this subsection may revise the 
                        budget plan of the State submitted under 
                        subparagraph (D) after the disbursal of grant 
                        funds if--
                                    ``(I) the revision complies with 
                                allowable uses of grant funds under 
                                this subsection; and
                                    ``(II) such State submits 
                                notification of the revision to the 
                                Associate Administrator.
                            ``(ii) Exception.--If a revision under 
                        clause (i) reallocates 10 percent or more of 
                        the amounts described in the budget plan of the 
                        State submitted under subparagraph (D), the 
                        State may not implement the revised budget plan 
                        without the approval of the Associate 
                        Administrator, unless the Associate 
                        Administrator fails to approve or deny the 
                        revised plan within 20 days after receipt of 
                        such revised plan.''.
    (b) Survey.--Section 22(l) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
649(l)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) Survey.--The Associate Administrator shall conduct an 
        annual survey of each State that received a grant under this 
        subsection during the preceding year to solicit feedback on the 
        program and develop best practices for grantees.''.
    (c) Annual Report.--Paragraph (8)(B) of section 22(l) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(l)), as redesignated by subsection (b), is 
amended--
            (1) in clause (i)--
                    (A) in subclause (III), by inserting ``, including 
                the total number of eligible small business concerns 
                assisted by the program (disaggregated by socially and 
                economically disadvantaged small business concerns, 
                small business concerns owned and controlled by women, 
                and rural small business concerns)'' before the 
                semicolon at the end;
                    (B) in subclause (IV), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (C) in subclause (V)--
                            (i) by striking ``description of best 
                        practices'' and inserting ``detailed 
                        description of best practices''; and
                            (ii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting a semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(VI) an analysis of the 
                                performance metrics described in clause 
                                (iii), including a determination of 
                                whether or not any goals relating to 
                                such performance metrics were met, and 
                                an analysis of the survey described in 
                                paragraph (7); and
                                    ``(VII) a description of lessons 
                                learned by grant recipients under this 
                                subsection that may apply to other 
                                assistance provided by the 
                                Administration.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) Performance metrics.--Annually, the 
                        Associate Administrator shall collect data on 
                        eligible small business concerns assisted by 
                        the program for the following performance 
                        metrics:
                                    ``(I) Total number of such 
                                concerns, disaggregated by socially and 
                                economically disadvantaged small 
                                business concerns, small business 
                                concerns owned and controlled by women, 
                                and rural small business concerns.
                                    ``(II) Total dollar amount of 
                                export sales by eligible small business 
                                concerns assisted by the program.
                                    ``(III) Number of such concerns 
                                that have not previously participated 
                                in an activity described in paragraph 
                                (2).
                                    ``(IV) Number of such concerns 
                                that, because of participation in the 
                                program, have accessed a new market.
                                    ``(V) Number of such concerns that, 
                                because of participation in the 
                                program, have created new jobs.
                                    ``(VI) Number of such concerns 
                                participating in foreign trade missions 
                                or trade show exhibitions, 
                                disaggregated by socially and 
                                economically disadvantaged small 
                                business concerns, small business 
                                concerns owned and controlled by women, 
                                and rural small business concerns.''.
    (d) Expansion of Definition of Eligible Small Business Concern.--
Section 22(l)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(l)(1)(A)) 
is amended--
            (1) in clause (iii)(II), by adding ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by striking clause (iv); and
            (3) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (iv).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Paragraph (10) of section 
22(l) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(l)), as redesignated by 
subsection (b), is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2016 through 
2020'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023 through 2026''.
    (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Associate Administrator for International 
Trade of the Administration shall submit to Congress a report on the 
State Trade Expansion Program established under section 22(l) of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(l)) that includes a description of--
            (1) the process developed for review of revised budget 
        plans submitted under subparagraph (F) of section 22(l)(3) of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(l)(3)), as added by this 
        title;
            (2) any changes made to streamline the application process 
        to remove duplicative requirements and create a more 
        transparent process;
            (3) the process developed to share best practices by States 
        described in paragraph (8)(B)(i)(V) of section 22(l) of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649(l)), as redesignated by this 
        title, particularly for first-time grant recipients under the 
        State Trade Expansion Program or grant recipients that are 
        facing problems using grant funds; and
            (4) the process developed to communicate, both verbally and 
        in writing, relevant information about the State Trade 
        Expansion Program to all grant recipients in a timely manner.

                      TITLE VII--VETERANS PROGRAMS

SEC. 701. VETERAN FEDERAL PROCUREMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
657b) is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(f) Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training 
Program.--The Administrator, acting through the Associate 
Administrator, shall make grants to, or enter into a cooperative 
agreement with, not more than 1 nonprofit entity to operate a Federal 
procurement entrepreneurship training program to provide assistance to 
small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans regarding how 
to increase the likelihood of being awarded contracts with the Federal 
Government--
            ``(1) which shall be made to or entered into with a 
        nonprofit entity that has a track record of successfully 
        providing educational and job training services to targeted 
        veteran populations from diverse locations;
            ``(2) under which the nonprofit entity may, at the 
        discretion of the Administrator, be required to match any 
        Federal funds received for the program with State, local, or 
        private sector funds; and
            ``(3) under which the nonprofit entity shall use a diverse 
        group of professional service experts, such as Federal, State, 
        and local contracting experts and private sector industry 
        experts with first-hand experience in Federal Government 
        contracting, to provide instruction to small business concerns 
        owned and controlled by veterans.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administration, $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2023 through 2027 to carry out section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 657b), as amended by subsection (a).

SEC. 702. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.

    Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) Boots to Business Program.--
            ``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `covered individual' means--
                    ``(A) a member of the Armed Forces, including the 
                National Guard or Reserves;
                    ``(B) an individual who is participating in the 
                Transition Assistance Program established under section 
                1144 of title 10, United States Code;
                    ``(C) an individual who--
                            ``(i) served on active duty in any branch 
                        of the Armed Forces, including the National 
                        Guard or Reserves; and
                            ``(ii) was discharged or released from such 
                        service under conditions other than 
                        dishonorable; and
                    ``(D) a spouse or dependent of an individual 
                described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).
            ``(2) Establishment.--During the period beginning on the 
        date of enactment of this subsection and ending on September 
        30, 2027, the Administrator shall carry out a program to be 
        known as the `Boots to Business Program' to provide 
        entrepreneurship training to covered individuals.
            ``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business Program 
        are to--
                    ``(A) provide assistance and in-depth training to 
                covered individuals interested in business ownership; 
                and
                    ``(B) provide covered individuals with the tools, 
                skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a business 
                opportunity, draft a business plan, identify sources of 
                capital, connect with local resources for small 
                business concerns, and start up a small business 
                concern.
            ``(4) Program components.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business Program 
                may include--
                            ``(i) a presentation providing exposure to 
                        the considerations involved in self-employment 
                        and ownership of a small business concern;
                            ``(ii) an online, self-study course focused 
                        on the basic skills of entrepreneurship, the 
                        language of business, and the considerations 
                        involved in self-employment and ownership of a 
                        small business concern;
                            ``(iii) an in-person classroom instruction 
                        component providing an introduction to the 
                        foundations of self-employment and ownership of 
                        a small business concern; and
                            ``(iv) in-depth training delivered through 
                        online instruction, including an online course 
                        that leads to the creation of a business plan.
                    ``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator may--
                            ``(i) collaborate with public and private 
                        entities to develop course curricula for the 
                        Boots to Business Program; and
                            ``(ii) modify program components in 
                        coordination with entities participating in a 
                        Warriors in Transition program, as defined in 
                        section 738(e) of the National Defense 
                        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 
                        U.S.C. 1071 note).
                    ``(C) Use of resource partners and district 
                offices.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Administrator 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) ensure that Veteran Business 
                                Outreach Centers regularly participate, 
                                on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to 
                                Business Program; and
                                    ``(II) to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, use district offices of 
                                the Administration and a variety of 
                                other resource partners and entities in 
                                administering the Boots to Business 
                                Program.
                            ``(ii) Grant authority.--In carrying out 
                        clause (i), the Administrator may make grants 
                        to Veteran Business Outreach Centers, other 
                        resource partners, or other entities to carry 
                        out components of the Boots to Business 
                        Program.
                    ``(D) Availability to department of defense and the 
                department of labor.--The Administrator shall make 
                available to the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
                of Labor information regarding the Boots to Business 
                Program, including all course materials and outreach 
                materials related to the Boots to Business Program, for 
                inclusion on the websites of the Department of Defense 
                and the Department of Labor relating to the Transition 
                Assistance Program, in the Transition Assistance 
                Program manual, and in other relevant materials 
                available for distribution from the Secretary of 
                Defense and the Secretary of Labor.
                    ``(E) Availability to department of veterans 
                affairs.--In consultation with the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs, the Administrator shall make 
                available for distribution and display on the website 
                of the Department of Veterans Affairs and at local 
                facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
                outreach materials regarding the Boots to Business 
                Program, which shall, at a minimum--
                            ``(i) describe the Boots to Business 
                        Program and the services provided; and
                            ``(ii) include eligibility requirements for 
                        participating in the Boots to Business Program.
                    ``(F) Availability to other participating 
                agencies.--The Administrator shall ensure information 
                regarding the Boots to Business program, including all 
                course materials and outreach materials related to the 
                Boots to Business Program, is made available to other 
                participating agencies in the Transition Assistance 
                Program and upon request of other agencies.
            ``(5) Competitive bidding procedures.--The Administration 
        shall use relevant competitive bidding procedures with respect 
        to any contract or cooperative agreement executed by the 
        Administration under the Boots to Business Program.
            ``(6) Publication of notice of funding opportunity.--Not 
        later than 30 days before the deadline for submitting 
        applications for any funding opportunity under the Boots to 
        Business Program, the Administration shall publish a notice of 
        the funding opportunity.
            ``(7) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than 
        annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the 
        Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate 
        and the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness 
        of the Boots to Business Program, which--
                    ``(A) may be included as part of another report 
                submitted to such committees by the Administrator 
                related to the Office of Veterans Business Development; 
                and
                    ``(B) shall summarize available information 
                relating to--
                            ``(i) grants awarded under paragraph 
                        (4)(C);
                            ``(ii) the total cost of the Boots to 
                        Business Program;
                            ``(iii) the number of program participants 
                        using each component of the Boots to Business 
                        Program;
                            ``(iv) the completion rates for each 
                        component of the Boots to Business Program;
                            ``(v) to the extent possible--
                                    ``(I) the demographics of program 
                                participants, to include gender, age, 
                                race, ethnicity, and relationship to 
                                military;
                                    ``(II) the number of program 
                                participants that connect with a 
                                district office of the Administration, 
                                a Veteran Business Outreach Center, or 
                                another resource partner of the 
                                Administration;
                                    ``(III) the number of program 
                                participants that start a small 
                                business concern;
                                    ``(IV) the results of the Boots to 
                                Business and Boots to Business Reboot 
                                course quality surveys conducted by the 
                                Office of Veterans Business Development 
                                before and after attending each of 
                                those courses, including a summary of 
                                any comments received from program 
                                participants;
                                    ``(V) the results of the Boots to 
                                Business Program outcome surveys 
                                conducted by the Office of Veterans 
                                Business Development, including a 
                                summary of any comments received from 
                                program participants; and
                                    ``(VI) the results of other germane 
                                participant satisfaction surveys;
                    ``(C) an evaluation of the overall effectiveness of 
                the Boots to Business Program based on each geographic 
                region covered by the Administration during the most 
                recent fiscal year;
                    ``(D) an assessment of additional performance 
                outcome measures for the Boots to Business Program, as 
                identified by the Administrator;
                    ``(E) any recommendations of the Administrator for 
                improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may 
                include expansion of the types of individuals who are 
                covered individuals;
                    ``(F) an explanation of how the Boots to Business 
                Program has been integrated with other transition 
                programs and related resources of the Administration 
                and other Federal agencies; and
                    ``(G) any additional information the Administrator 
                determines necessary.''.

                    TITLE VIII--SURETY BOND PROGRAM

SEC. 801. EXPANDING SURETY BOND PROGRAM.

    Part B of title IV of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 
U.S.C. 694a et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 411(a) (15 U.S.C. 694b(a))--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``$6,500,000'' and inserting ``$10,000,000''; 
                        and
                            (ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read 
                        as follows:
                    ``(B) The Administrator may guarantee a surety 
                under subparagraph (A) for a total work order or 
                contract entered into by a Federal agency in an amount 
                that does not exceed $20,000,000.''; and
            (2) in section 412 (15 U.S.C. 694c)--
                    (A) in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by 
                striking ``, excluding administrative expenses,'';
                    (B) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 
                (c); and
                    (C) by inserting after subsection (a) the 
                following:
    ``(b) Not more than 5 percent of the amount that is in the fund 
described in subsection (a) at the beginning of each fiscal year may be 
obligated during that fiscal year to cover costs incurred by the 
Administration in connection with the management and administration of 
this part, including information technology and systems, personnel 
costs, outreach activities, and contracts related thereto.''.

                TITLE IX--SBIC EMERGING MANAGERS PROGRAM

SEC. 901. BROADENING INVESTMENT BY THE SBIC PROGRAM.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Office 
of Innovation and Investment should market to, engage with, and provide 
enhanced onboarding support to applicants for small business investment 
company licenses, with a priority to reach those companies that are 
managed by--
            (1) women;
            (2) socially disadvantaged individuals, as described in 
        section 8(a)(5) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        637(a)(5));
            (3) economically disadvantaged individuals, as described in 
        section 8(a)(6)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        637(a)(6)(A));
            (4) veterans, as defined in section 101 of title 38, United 
        States Code; or
            (5) individuals in rural or low-income areas, as determined 
        by the Administrator using the most recently available data 
        from the Bureau of the Census.
    (b) Amendment.--Part A of title III of the Small Business 
Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 681 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``SEC. 321. EMERGING MANAGERS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Covered investments.--The term `covered investments' 
        means investments in--
                    ``(A) infrastructure, including--
                            ``(i) roads, bridges, and mass transit;
                            ``(ii) water supply and sewer;
                            ``(iii) the electrical grid;
                            ``(iv) broadband and telecommunications;
                            ``(v) clean energy; or
                            ``(vi) child care and elder care;
                    ``(B) manufacturing;
                    ``(C) low-income communities, as defined in section 
                45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
                    ``(D) HUBZones, as defined in section 31(b) of the 
                Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657a(b));
                    ``(E) small business concerns owned and controlled 
                by a member of an Indian Tribe individually identified 
                (including parenthetically) in the most recent list 
                published pursuant to section 104 of the Federally 
                Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 
                5131);
                    ``(F) small business concerns owned and controlled 
                by an individual with a disability, as defined in 
                section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
                1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102);
                    ``(G) small business concerns owned and controlled 
                by a veteran, as defined in section 3 of the Small 
                Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); or
                    ``(H) industries identified by the Administrator.
            ``(2) Emerging manager company.--The term `emerging manager 
        company' means an investment management firm that is focused on 
        investing private equity and that meets not less than 2 of the 
        following criteria:
                    ``(A) The partners of the firm have--
                            ``(i) an investment track record of less 
                        than 10 years of combined investment 
                        experience; or
                            ``(ii) a documented record of successful 
                        business experience.
                    ``(B) The firm has a focus on underserved markets.
                    ``(C) The firm is not less than 50 percent owned, 
                managed, or controlled by--
                            ``(i) women;
                            ``(ii) socially disadvantaged individuals, 
                        as described in section 8(a)(5) of the Small 
                        Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(5));
                            ``(iii) economically disadvantaged 
                        individuals, as described in section 8(a)(6)(A) 
                        of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
                        637(a)(6)(A));
                            ``(iv) veterans, as defined in section 101 
                        of title 38, United States Code;
                            ``(v) individuals in rural or low-income 
                        areas, as determined by the Administrator using 
                        the most recently available data from the 
                        Bureau of the Census; or
                            ``(vi) individuals with disabilities, as 
                        defined in section 49 of the Small Business 
                        Act.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish an emerging 
managers program pursuant to which managers with substantial experience 
in operating small business investment companies--
            ``(1) may enter into a written agreement approved by the 
        Administrator to provide guidance and assistance to an 
        applicant for a license for a small business investment company 
        license that is to be managed by an emerging manager company; 
        and
            ``(2) may hold a minority financial interest in the small 
        business investment company described in paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Licensing.--An applicant described in subsection (b) shall 
apply for a license under section 301(c) and shall--
            ``(1) have private capital not to exceed $100,000,000;
            ``(2) be managed by not less than two individuals;
            ``(3) be a second generation fund or earlier; and
            ``(4) focus its investment strategy on covered investments.
    ``(d) Waiver of Maximum Leverage.--The approval of a written 
agreement under subsection (b) by the Administrator shall operate as a 
waiver of the requirements of section 303(b)(2)(B) to the extent that 
such section would otherwise apply.
    ``(e) Increased Leverage Maximum.--An existing small business 
investment company that enters into a written agreement under 
subsection (b) may receive an increase in the maximum leverage cap of 
the company under section 303(b)(2)--
            ``(1) under subparagraph (A) of such section, with respect 
        to a single license, by not more than $17,500,000; and
            ``(2) under subparagraph (B) of such section, with respect 
        to multiple licenses under common control, by not more than 
        $35,000,000.''.

                     TITLE X--NEW START ACT OF 2022

SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Necessary Entrepreneurship 
Workshops via the SBA to Transform and Assist Re-entry Training Act of 
2022'' or the ``NEW START Act of 2022''.

SEC. 1002. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) according to the Department of Justice, every year, 
        over 600,000 individuals are released from prison and return 
        home to their communities, and almost 77 percent of those 
        individuals will reoffend within 5 years;
            (2) according to the Brookings Institute, an estimated 48.5 
        percent of formerly incarcerated individuals will remain 
        unemployed or earn a negligible income for a period of 1 year 
        post-incarceration, increasing the risk for recidivism;
            (3) according to the Florida State University Institute for 
        Justice Research and Development, formerly incarcerated 
        individuals see a reduction in earnings of 25 percent since 
        criminal records make it difficult to find stable employment;
            (4) self-employment can provide economic stability for 
        those who are otherwise locked out of the labor market; and
            (5) according to a paper entitled ``Entrepreneurship as a 
        Response to Labor Market Discrimination for Formerly 
        Incarcerated People''--
                    (A) the average individual without a criminal 
                record has a 7.09 percent likelihood of becoming an 
                entrepreneur, but justice-impacted individuals were 
                found to be more than 50 percent likely to choose 
                entrepreneurship with a 12.69 percent likelihood of 
                becoming an entrepreneur;
                    (B) entrepreneurship reduces the likelihood of 
                recidivism by 5.3 percent, which was a 32.5 percent 
                decrease from average recidivism rates for regular 
                employees who have been previously incarcerated; and
                    (C) formerly incarcerated individuals who choose 
                entrepreneurship make $2,700 more annually than 
                formerly incarcerated employees and that the income gap 
                between formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs and 
                entrepreneurs with no criminal record was 38 percent 
                lower than the income gap between formerly incarcerated 
                employees and employees with no criminal record.

SEC. 1003. PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this title:
            (1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
        means an individual who--
                    (A) completed a term of imprisonment in Federal, 
                State, or local jail or prison; and
                    (B) meets the offense eligibility requirements set 
                forth in any applicable policy notice or other guidance 
                issued by the Administration for the program 
                established under section 7(m) of the Small Business 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)).
            (2) Intermediary; microloan.--The terms ``intermediary'' 
        and ``microloan'' have the meanings given those terms in 
        section 7(m)(11) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        636(m)(11)).
            (3) Microloan intermediary.--The term ``microloan 
        intermediary'' means an intermediary that is eligible to 
        participate in the program established under section 7(m) of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)).
            (4) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the 
        pilot program established under subsection (b).
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a pilot 
program to award grants to organizations over a 5-year period to create 
or support existing entrepreneurship development programs to provide 
assistance to covered individuals.
    (c) Grant Requirements.--The Administrator shall--
            (1) award grants under the pilot program to organizations, 
        or partnerships of organizations, which shall each receive a 
        grant in an amount greater than $100,000 and less than $500,000 
        annually over the 5-year period in which the pilot program is 
        in existence; and
            (2) allocate grants under the pilot program to ensure that 
        the recipients are geographically varied throughout the United 
        States.
    (d) Partnerships.--An applicant for a grant under the pilot program 
may form partnerships with other organizations for the purposes of the 
application submitted under subsection (e) and for conducting 
entrepreneurial development programming.
    (e) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An organization or partnership of 
        organizations desiring a grant under the pilot program shall 
        submit an application to the Administrator in such form, in 
        such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Administrator may reasonably require.
            (2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) demonstrate that the applicant is a microloan 
                intemediary or an organization that administers the 
                Community Advantage Pilot Program of the 
                Administration, or has a partnership with such an 
                intermediary or organization, that may provide 
                microloans to qualified covered individuals, or, to the 
                extent that the applicant is a national organization in 
                multiple different markets, that a separate microloan 
                intermediary may be used in each such market;
                    (B) demonstrate strong community ties, including 
                those with the covered individual community, local 
                businesses, and political leaders;
                    (C) demonstrate an ability to provide a full range 
                of entrepreneurial development programming on an 
                ongoing basis;
                    (D) include a plan for reaching covered 
                individuals, including by identifying particular target 
                populations within the community;
                    (E) clearly define entrepreneurial development 
                capabilities, including coordination with existing 
                local resource partners of the Administration for 
                additional training as necessary;
                    (F) present an entrepreneurship development 
                curriculum, which may be a nationally recognized model 
                or based upon such a model;
                    (G) include a list of each partner organization; 
                and
                    (H) include a comprehensive plan for the use of 
                grant funds, including estimates for administrative and 
                outreach costs of running and evaluating the 
                entrepreneurship development program.
    (f) Priority.--In determining whether to award a grant under the 
pilot program, the Administrator may give priority to applicants based 
on--
            (1) whether the application includes a commitment from an 
        existing or new non-Federal funding source to meet the matching 
        requirement under subsection (g);
            (2) whether the application takes into account local 
        economies and markets as a part of the educational component of 
        the entrepreneurship development program;
            (3) the ability or plan of the applicant to provide 
        entrepreneurial development services concurrent with employment 
        or job training services; and
            (4) whether the applicant has a history of effectively 
        providing entrepreneurial training or access to capital to 
        covered individuals.
    (g) Matching Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--As a condition of a grant provided under 
        the pilot program, the Administrator shall require the 
        recipient of the grant to contribute an amount equal to 25 
        percent of the amount of the grant, obtained solely from 
        existing or new non-Federal sources.
            (2) Form.--In addition to cash or other direct funding, the 
        contribution required under paragraph (1) may include indirect 
        costs or in-kind contributions paid for under non-Federal 
        programs.
    (h) Responsibilities.--A recipient of a grant under the pilot 
program shall, to the maximum extent possible, connect covered 
individuals to a range of Federal resources, including--
            (1) the program established under section 7(m) of the Small 
        Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m));
            (2) the Community Advantage Pilot Program of the 
        Administration;
            (3) small business development centers, as defined in 
        section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632);
            (4) women's business centers described in section 29 of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656);
            (5) chapters of the Service Corps of Retired Executives 
        established under section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act 
        ((15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B));
            (6) Veteran Business Outreach Centers described in section 
        32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b); and
            (7) business centers established by the Minority Business 
        Development Agency.
    (i) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
        which the Administrator establishes the pilot program, and 
        every year thereafter until the pilot program terminates, the 
        Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        activities of the pilot program, including--
                    (A) a list of each grantee organization and each 
                partner organization;
                    (B) the characteristics of covered individuals 
                assisted under the entrepreneurship development 
                programs, including race and ethnicity, gender, age, 
                marital status, parental status, employment status, 
                income, banking and credit history, and prior business 
                experience;
                    (C) the participation and attendance rates for all 
                components of the entrepreneurship development 
                programs;
                    (D) the program retention rate;
                    (E) to the greatest extent practicable, the most 
                common reasons why participants do not complete the 
                program;
                    (F) the percentage of participants who remain non-
                justice involved during the calendar year of the 
                program;
                    (G) the level of the covered individuals' 
                understanding of business concepts and principles;
                    (H) the level of the covered individuals' greater 
                confidence in leadership strengths, including the 
                results of an industry-recognized behavioral 
                assessment;
                    (I) the covered individuals' progress made toward 
                establishing a business;
                    (J) the experiences and perceptions of the covered 
                individuals;
                    (K) the number and dollar amount of loans made to 
                covered individuals;
                    (L) the number and dollar amount of loans made or 
                guaranteed by the Administration to covered 
                individuals; and
                    (M) such additional information as the 
                Administrator may require.
            (2) GAO report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
        which the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General of 
        the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report that evaluates--
                    (A) the services that grant recipients provided to 
                covered individuals assisted under entrepreneurship 
                development programs;
                    (B) oversight of the pilot program by the 
                Administrator, including policies and procedures for 
                monitoring the compliance by grant recipients with 
                pilot program requirements and an assessment of the 
                effectiveness of the pilot program; and
                    (C) the overall performance of the pilot program 
                and the impacts of the pilot program on grant 
                recipients.
    (j) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this title may be construed 
to affect the program established under section 7(m) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)), including--
            (1) the requirements of that program;
            (2) the manner in which that program is carried out; or
            (3) the use or availability of any amounts that have been 
        made available to carry out that program.
    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator such sums as are necessary to carry 
out the pilot program.
    (l) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on the date 
that is 5 years after the date on which the Administrator establishes 
the pilot program.

                      TITLE XI--UPLIFT ACT OF 2022

SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Ushering Progress by Leveraging 
Innovation and Future Technology Act of 2022'' or the ``UPLIFT Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 1102. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Studies have found that incubators, accelerators, and 
        other similar models are effective at increasing revenues, the 
        number of employees, and the likelihood that the business 
        venture will be successful for participants.
            (2) According to the Kauffman Foundation--
                    (A) minority-owned and women-owned businesses are 
                \1/2\ as likely to employ people than nonminority-owned 
                and men-owned businesses; and
                    (B) if minorities started businesses at the same 
                rate as nonminorities, approximately 9,500,000 jobs 
                would be added to the economy of the United States.
            (3) The Kauffman Foundation also found that the percentage 
        of startups in rural communities has dropped from 20 percent in 
        the 1980s to 12.2 percent.
            (4) According to the Martin Prosperity Institute, less than 
        1 percent of all venture capital funding goes to businesses 
        located in rural areas.
            (5) According to PitchBook, around 2 percent of all venture 
        capital funding goes to businesses with women founders.
            (6) According to Crunchbase, less than 3 percent of all 
        venture capital funding goes to businesses with Black and 
        Hispanic founders.
            (7) Historically Black colleges and universities, minority-
        serving institutions, and community colleges are anchor 
        institutions that serve populations that tend to be 
        underrepresented in entrepreneurship, particularly in high-
        growth sectors.

SEC. 1103. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of the Innovation Centers Program established under 
section 49 of the Small Business Act, as added by this title, are to--
            (1) spur economic growth in underserved communities by 
        creating good paying jobs and pathways to prosperity;
            (2) increase prospects for success for small business 
        concerns in underserved communities, which often suffer from 
        higher business failure rates than the national average;
            (3) help create a pipeline for small business concerns in 
        underserved and rural markets into high-growth sectors, where 
        they are generally underrepresented;
            (4) help address the multi-decade decline in the rate of 
        new business creation;
            (5) close the gaps that underserved small business concerns 
        often have in terms of revenue and number of employees, which 
        represent lost opportunity for the economy of the United 
        States; and
            (6) encourage collaboration between the Administration and 
        institutions of higher learning that serve low-income and 
        minority communities.

SEC. 1104. INNOVATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 49 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) as 
        section 50; and
            (2) by inserting after section 48 (15 U.S.C. 657u) the 
        following:

``SEC. 49. INNOVATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Accelerator.--The term `accelerator' means an 
        organization--
                    ``(A) that--
                            ``(i) works with a startup or growing small 
                        business concern for a predetermined period; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) provides mentorship and instruction 
                        to scale businesses; and
                    ``(B) that may--
                            ``(i) provide, but is not exclusively 
                        designed to provide, seed investment in 
                        exchange for a small amount of equity; and
                            ``(ii) offer startup capital or the 
                        opportunity to raise capital from outside 
                        investors.
            ``(2) Federally recognized area of economic distress.--The 
        term `federally recognized area of economic distress' means--
                    ``(A) a HUBZone, as that term is defined in section 
                31(b); or
                    ``(B) an area that has been designated as--
                            ``(i) an empowerment zone under section 
                        1391 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
                            ``(ii) a Promise Zone by the Secretary of 
                        Housing and Urban Development; or
                            ``(iii) a low-income neighborhood or 
                        moderate-income neighborhood for purposes of 
                        the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 
                        U.S.C. 2901 et seq.).
            ``(3) Growing; newly established; startup.--The terms 
        `growing', `newly established', and `startup', with respect to 
        a small business concern, mean growing, newly established, and 
        startup, respectively, within the meaning given those terms 
        under section 7(m).
            ``(4) Incubator.--The term `incubator' means an 
        organization--
                    ``(A) that--
                            ``(i) tends to work with startup and newly 
                        established small business concerns; and
                            ``(ii) provides mentorship to startup and 
                        newly established small business concerns; and
                    ``(B) that may--
                            ``(i) provide a co-working environment or a 
                        month-to-month lease program; and
                            ``(ii) work with a startup or newly 
                        established small business concern for a 
                        predetermined period or an open-ended period.
            ``(5) Individuals with disabilities.--The term `individuals 
        with a disability' means more than 1 individual with a 
        disability, as defined in section 3 of the Americans with 
        Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).
            ``(6) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) an institution described in any of paragraphs 
                (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)); or
                    ``(B) a junior or community college, as defined in 
                section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1058(f)).
            ``(7) Rural area.--The term `rural area' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 7(m)(11).
            ``(8) Socially and economically disadvantaged 
        individuals.--The term `socially and economically disadvantaged 
        individual' means a socially and economically disadvantaged 
        individual within the meaning given that term in section 
        8(d)(3)(C).
    ``(b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the UPLIFT Act of 2022, the Administrator shall develop 
and begin implementing a program (to be known as the `Innovation 
Centers Program') to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible 
entities under this section.
    ``(c) Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may--
                    ``(A) enter into cooperative agreements to provide 
                financial assistance to eligible entities to conduct 5-
                year projects for the benefit of startup, newly 
                established, or growing small business concerns; and
                    ``(B) renew a cooperative agreement entered into 
                under this section for additional 3-year periods, in 
                accordance with paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Project requirements.--A project conducted under a 
        cooperative agreement under this section shall--
                    ``(A) include operating as an accelerator, an 
                incubator, or any other small business innovation-
                focused project as the Administrator approves;
                    ``(B) be carried out in such locations as to 
                provide maximum accessibility and benefits to the small 
                business concerns that the project is intended to 
                serve;
                    ``(C) have a full-time staff, including a full-time 
                director who shall--
                            ``(i) have the authority to make 
                        expenditures under the budget of the project; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) manage the activities carried out 
                        under the project;
                    ``(D) include the joint provision of programs and 
                services by the eligible entity and the Administration, 
                which--
                            ``(i) shall be jointly developed, 
                        negotiated, and agreed upon, with full 
                        participation of both parties, pursuant to an 
                        executed cooperative agreement between the 
                        eligible entity and the Administration; and
                            ``(ii) shall include--
                                    ``(I) one-to-one individual 
                                counseling, as described in section 
                                21(c)(3)(A); and
                                    ``(II) a formal, structured 
                                mentorship program;
                    ``(E) incorporate continuous upgrades and 
                modifications to the services and programs offered 
                under the project, as needed to meet the changing and 
                evolving needs of the business community;
                    ``(F) involve working with underserved groups, 
                which include--
                            ``(i) women;
                            ``(ii) socially and economically 
                        disadvantaged individuals;
                            ``(iii) veterans;
                            ``(iv) individuals with disabilities; or
                            ``(v) startup, newly established, or 
                        growing small business concerns located in 
                        rural areas;
                    ``(G) not impose or otherwise collect a fee or 
                other compensation in connection with participation in 
                the programs and services described in subparagraph 
                (D)(ii); and
                    ``(H) ensure that small business concerns 
                participating in the project have access, including 
                through resource partners, to information concerning 
                Federal, State, and local regulations that affect small 
                business concerns.
            ``(3) Continued funding.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity that enters 
                into an initial cooperative agreement or a renewal of a 
                cooperative under paragraph (1) may submit an 
                application for a 3-year renewal of the cooperative 
                agreement at such time, in such manner, and accompanied 
                by such information as the Administrator may establish.
                    ``(B) Application and approval criteria.--
                            ``(i) Criteria.--The Administrator shall 
                        develop and publish criteria for the 
                        consideration and approval of applications for 
                        renewals by eligible entities under this 
                        paragraph, which shall take into account the 
                        structure and the stated goals of the project.
                            ``(ii) Notification.--Not later than 60 
                        days after the date of the deadline to submit 
                        applications for each fiscal year, the 
                        Administrator shall approve or deny any 
                        application under this paragraph and notify the 
                        applicant for each such application.
                    ``(C) Priority.--In allocating funds made available 
                for cooperative agreements under this section, the 
                Administrator shall give applications under this 
                paragraph priority over first-time applications for 
                cooperative agreements under paragraph (1)(A).
            ``(4) Limit on use of funds.--Amounts received by an 
        eligible entity under a cooperative agreement under this 
        section may not be used to provide capital to a participant in 
        the project carried out under the cooperative agreement.
            ``(5) Scope of authority.--
                    ``(A) Subject to appropriations.--The authority of 
                the Administrator to enter into cooperative agreements 
                under this section shall be in effect for each fiscal 
                year only to the extent and in the amounts as are 
                provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
                    ``(B) Suspension, termination, and failure to renew 
                or extend.--After the Administrator has entered into a 
                cooperative agreement with an eligible entity under 
                this section, the Administrator may not suspend, 
                terminate, or fail to renew or extend the cooperative 
                agreement unless the Administrator provides the 
                eligible entity with written notification setting forth 
                the reasons for that action and affords the eligible 
                entity an opportunity for a hearing, appeal, or other 
                administrative proceeding under chapter 5 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
    ``(d) Criteria.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) establish and rank in terms of relative 
                importance the criteria the Administrator shall use in 
                awarding cooperative agreements under this section, 
                which shall include--
                            ``(i) whether the proposed project will be 
                        located in--
                                    ``(I) a federally recognized area 
                                of economic distress;
                                    ``(II) a rural area; or
                                    ``(III) an area lacking sufficient 
                                entrepreneurial development resources, 
                                as determined by the Administrator; and
                            ``(ii) whether the proposed project 
                        demonstrates a commitment to partner with core 
                        stakeholders working with small business 
                        concerns in the relevant area, including--
                                    ``(I) investment and lending 
                                organizations;
                                    ``(II) nongovernmental 
                                organizations;
                                    ``(III) programs of State and local 
                                governments that are concerned with 
                                aiding small business concerns;
                                    ``(IV) Federal agencies; and
                                    ``(V) for-profit organizations with 
                                an expertise in small business 
                                innovation;
                    ``(B) make publicly available, including on the 
                website of the Administration, and state in each 
                solicitation for applications for cooperative 
                agreements under this section, the selection criteria 
                and ranking established under subparagraph (A); and
                    ``(C) evaluate and rank applicants for cooperative 
                agreements under this section in accordance with the 
                selection criteria and ranking established under 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(2) Contents.--The criteria established under paragraph 
        (1)(A)--
                    ``(A) for eligible entities that have in operation 
                an accelerator, incubator, or other small business 
                innovation-focused project, shall include the record of 
                the eligible entity in assisting growing, newly 
                established, and startup small business concerns, 
                including, for each of the 3 full years before the date 
                on which the eligible entity applies for a cooperative 
                agreement under this section, or if the accelerator, 
                incubator, or other small business innovation-focused 
                project has been in operation for less than 3 years, 
                for the most recent full year the accelerator, 
                incubator, or other small business innovation-focused 
                project was in operation--
                            ``(i) the number and retention rate of 
                        growing, newly established, and startup 
                        business concerns in the program of the 
                        eligible entity;
                            ``(ii) the average period of participation 
                        by growing, newly established, and startup 
                        small business concerns in the program of the 
                        eligible entity;
                            ``(iii) the total and median capital raised 
                        by growing, newly established, and startup 
                        small business concerns participating in the 
                        program of the eligible entity;
                            ``(iv) the number of investments or loans 
                        received by growing, newly established, and 
                        startup small business concerns participating 
                        in the program of the eligible entity; and
                            ``(v) the total and median number of 
                        employees of growing, newly established, and 
                        startup small business concerns participating 
                        in the program of the eligible entity; and
                    ``(B) for all eligible entities--
                            ``(i) shall include whether the eligible 
                        entity--
                                    ``(I) indicates the structure and 
                                goals of the project;
                                    ``(II) demonstrates ties to the 
                                business community;
                                    ``(III) identifies the resources 
                                available for the project;
                                    ``(IV) describes the capabilities 
                                of the project, including coordination 
                                with local resource partners and local 
                                or national lending partners of the 
                                Administration;
                                    ``(V) addresses the unique business 
                                and economic challenges faced by the 
                                community in which the eligible entity 
                                is located and businesses in that 
                                community; or
                                    ``(VI) provides a proposed budget 
                                and plan for use of funds; and
                            ``(ii) may include any other criteria 
                        determined appropriate by the Administrator.
    ``(e) Program Examination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
                    ``(A) develop and implement an annual programmatic 
                and financial examination of each project conducted 
                under this section, under which each eligible entity 
                entering into a cooperative agreement under this 
                section shall provide to the Administrator--
                            ``(i) an itemized cost breakdown of actual 
                        expenditures for costs incurred during the 
                        preceding year; and
                            ``(ii) documentation regarding--
                                    ``(I) the amount of matching 
                                assistance from non-Federal sources 
                                obtained and expended by the eligible 
                                entity during the preceding year in 
                                order to meet the matching requirement 
                                under subsection (i); and
                                    ``(II) with respect to any in-kind 
                                contributions that were used to satisfy 
                                the matching requirement under 
                                subsection (i), verification of the 
                                existence and valuation of those 
                                contributions; and
                    ``(B) analyze the results of each examination 
                conducted under subparagraph (A) and, based on that 
                analysis, make a determination regarding the 
                programmatic and financial viability of each eligible 
                entity.
            ``(2) Conditions for continued funding.--In determining 
        whether to continue or renew a cooperative agreement under this 
        section, the Administrator--
                    ``(A) shall consider the results of the most recent 
                examination of the project under paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) may terminate or not renew a cooperative 
                agreement, if the Administrator determines that the 
                eligible entity has failed to provide any information 
                required to be provided (including information provided 
                for purposes of the annual report by the Administrator 
                under subsection (m)) or the information provided by 
                the eligible entity is inadequate.
    ``(f) Training and Technical Assistance.--The Administrator--
            ``(1) shall provide in person or online training and 
        technical assistance to each eligible entity entering into a 
        cooperative agreement under this section at the beginning of 
        the participation of the eligible entity in the Innovation 
        Centers Program in order to build the capacity of the eligible 
        entity and ensure compliance with procedures established by the 
        Administrator;
            ``(2) shall ensure that the training and technical 
        assistance described in paragraph (1) is provided at no cost or 
        at a low cost; and
            ``(3) may enter into a contract to provide the training or 
        technical assistance described in paragraph (1) with 1 or more 
        organizations with expertise in the entrepreneurial development 
        programs of the Administration, innovation, and entrepreneurial 
        development.
    ``(g) Coordination.--In carrying out a project under this section, 
an eligible entity may coordinate with--
            ``(1) resource and lending partners of the Administration;
            ``(2) programs of State and local governments that are 
        concerned with aiding small business concerns; and
            ``(3) other Federal agencies, including to provide services 
        to and assist small business concerns in participating in the 
        SBIR and STTR programs, as defined in section 9(e).
    ``(h) Funding Limit.--The amount of financial assistance provided 
to an eligible entity under a cooperative agreement entered into under 
this section shall be not more than $400,000 during each year.
    ``(i) Matching Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall contribute 
        toward the cost of the project carried out under a cooperative 
        agreement under this section an amount equal to 50 percent of 
        the amount received under the cooperative agreement.
            ``(2) In-kind contributions.--Not more than 50 percent of 
        the contribution of an eligible entity under paragraph (1) may 
        be in the form of in-kind contributions.
            ``(3) Waiver.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If the Administrator determines 
                that an eligible entity is unable to meet the 
                contribution requirement under paragraph (1), the 
                Administrator may reduce the required contribution.
                    ``(B) Presumption.--An eligible entity shall be 
                presumed to be unable to meet the contribution 
                requirement under paragraph (1) if the eligible entity 
                has--
                            ``(i) long-term debt in an amount that is 
                        less than $10,000,000;
                            ``(ii) an invested market endowment in an 
                        amount that is less than $15,000,000; or
                            ``(iii) total net liquid assets in an 
                        amount that is less than $15,000,000.
            ``(4) Failure to obtain non-federal funding.--If an 
        eligible entity fails to obtain the required non-Federal 
        contribution during any project, or the reduced non-Federal 
        contribution, as determined by the Administrator--
                    ``(A) the eligible entity shall not be eligible 
                thereafter for any other project for which the eligible 
                entity is or may be funded by the Administration; and
                    ``(B) before approving assistance for the eligible 
                entity for any other project, the Administrator shall 
                specifically determine whether the Administrator 
                believes that the eligible entity will be able to 
                obtain the requisite non-Federal funding and enter a 
                written finding setting the forth the reasons for 
                making that determination.
            ``(5) Rule of construction.--The demonstrated inability of 
        an eligible entity to meet the contribution requirement under 
        paragraph (1) shall not disqualify the eligible entity from 
        entering into a cooperative agreement under this section.
    ``(j) Contract Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity may enter into a 
        contract with a Federal department or agency to provide 
        specific assistance to startup, newly established, or growing 
        small business concerns.
            ``(2) Performance.--Performance of a contract entered into 
        under paragraph (1) may not hinder the applicable eligible 
        entity in carrying out the terms of the cooperative agreement 
        under this section.
            ``(3) Exemption from matching requirement.--A contract 
        entered into under paragraph (1) shall not be subject to the 
        matching requirement under subsection (i).
            ``(4) Additional provision.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, a contract for assistance under paragraph (1) 
        shall not be applied to any contracting goal for a Federal 
        department or agency under section 15(g) with respect to small 
        business concerns, small business concerns owned and controlled 
        by women, or small business concerns owned and controlled by 
        socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
    ``(k) Privacy Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity may not disclose the 
        name, address, or telephone number of any individual or small 
        business concern receiving assistance under this section 
        without the consent of that individual or small business 
        concern, unless--
                    ``(A) the Administrator is ordered to make such a 
                disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal 
                enforcement action initiated by a Federal or State 
                agency; or
                    ``(B) the Administrator considers such a disclosure 
                to be necessary for the purpose of conducting a 
                financial audit of an eligible entity, except that a 
                disclosure under this subparagraph shall be limited to 
                the information necessary for that financial audit.
            ``(2) Administration use of information.--This subsection 
        shall not--
                    ``(A) restrict Administration access to program 
                activity data; or
                    ``(B) prevent the Administration from using client 
                information (other than the information described in 
                subparagraph (A)) to conduct client surveys.
            ``(3) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue 
        regulations to establish standards for requiring disclosures 
        during a financial audit under paragraph (1)(B).
    ``(l) Publication of Information.--The Administrator shall--
            ``(1) publish information about the program under this 
        section online, including--
                    ``(A) on the website of the Administration; and
                    ``(B) on the social media of the Administration; 
                and
            ``(2) request that the resource and lending partners of the 
        Administration and the district offices of the Administration 
        publicize the program.
    ``(m) Annual Reporting.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the Administrator establishes the program under this section, and 
annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report on the activities under the program, including--
            ``(1) the number of startup, newly established, and growing 
        small business concerns participating in the project carried 
        out by each eligible entity under a cooperative agreement under 
        this section (referred to in this as `participants'), including 
        a breakdown of the owners of the participants by race, gender, 
        veteran status, and urban versus rural location;
            ``(2) the retention rate for participants;
            ``(3) the total and median amount of capital accessed by 
        participants, including the type of capital accessed;
            ``(4) the total and median number of employees of 
        participants;
            ``(5) the number and median wage of jobs created by 
        participants;
            ``(6) the number of jobs sustained by participants; and
            ``(7) information regarding such other metrics as the 
        Administrator determines appropriate.
    ``(n) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to 
        carry out this section.
            ``(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amount made 
        available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, not 
        more than 10 percent may be used by the Administrator for 
        administrative expenses.''.
    (b) Regulations.--The Administrator shall promulgate regulations to 
carry out section 49 of the Small Business Act, as added by subsection 
(a).
                                 <all>