[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2184 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2184

To amend the Small Business Act to improve the Women's Business Center 
                    Program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2023

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Small Business Act to improve the Women's Business Center 
                    Program, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Business Centers Improvement 
Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. 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) 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.
            ``(4) 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.
            ``(5) 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.
            ``(6) 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, 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 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 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 the 
                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 Women's Business Center 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 Women's Business Center Program; and
                    ``(B) was not obtained by using funds granted under 
                the Women's Business Center 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 2023, 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 Women's Business 
                        Center Program, including general best 
                        practices in the operation of that 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 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 and eligible 
                        entities receiving a grant under the Women's 
                        Business Center Program.
                            ``(ii) Review the annual budgets submitted 
                        by each eligible entity receiving a grant under 
                        the Women's Business Center 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 States and 
                territories;
                    ``(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 
                Administrator 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 2023, 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.
                    ``(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 2023, 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 this subsection, 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 Women's Business Center 
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 Women's Business Center 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 
        2024 through 2027.
            ``(2) Use of amounts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), amounts made available under this 
                subsection for fiscal year 2024, 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 2023 and 
                each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 2027, 
                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. 3. 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 of the Small 
Business Administration may award a grant under section 29 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656), as amended by this Act, 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. 4. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of Small Business Administration 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 Act, and ensure that a period of public 
comment for those rules is not less than 60 days.
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