[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1623-S1626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND (for himself and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 396. A bill to provide for national quadrennial summits on small 
business and State summits on small business, to establish the White 
House Quadrennial Commission on Small Business, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Small Business.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I am 
introducing

[[Page S1624]]

the White House Quadrennial Small Business Summit Act of 2001. This 
bill is designed to create a permanent independent commission that will 
carry-on the extraordinary work that has been accomplished by three 
White House Conferences on Small Business. The Small Business 
Commission will direct national and state Small business summits, and 
small business delegates from every state will attend the summits.
  Last year, representatives of small businesses and organizers of 
prior White House Conferences on Small Business worked closely with the 
Committee on Small Business to develop legislation similar to the bill 
I am introducing today. The bill passed the Senate last year as part of 
the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000, S. 3121; however, it 
was dropped in Conference.
  For the past 15 years, small businesses have been the fastest growing 
sector of the U.S. economy. When large businesses were restructuring 
and laying off significant numbers of workers, small businesses not 
only filled the gap, but their growth actually caused a net increase in 
new jobs. Today, small businesses employ over one-half of all workers 
in the United States, and they generate nearly 55 percent of the gross 
domestic product. Were it not for small businesses, our country could 
not have experienced the sustained economic upsurge that has been 
ongoing since 1992.
  Because small businesses play such a significant role in our economy, 
in both rural towns and bustling inner cities, I believe it is 
important that the Federal government sponsor a national conference 
every four years to highlight the successes of small businesses and to 
focus national attention on the problems that may be hindering the 
ability of small businesses to start up and grow.
  Small business ownership is, has been, and will continue to be the 
dream of millions of Americans. Countries from all over the world send 
delegations to the United states to study why our system of small 
business ownership is so successful, all the while looking for a way to 
duplicate our success in their countries. Because we see and experience 
the successes of small businesses on a daily basis, it is easy to lose 
sight of the very special thing we have going for us in the United 
States, where each of us can have the opportunity to own and run our 
own business.
  The White House Quadrennial Small Business Summit Act of 2001 is 
designed to capture and focus our attention on small business every 
four years. In this way, we will take the opportunity to study what is 
happening throughout the United States to small businesses. In one 
sense, the bill is designed to put small business on a pinnacle so we 
can appreciate what they have accomplished. At the same time, and just 
as important, every four years we will have an opportunity to learn 
from small businesses in each state what is not going well for them, 
such as, actions by the Federal government that hinder small business 
growth or state and local regulations that are a deterrent to starting 
a business.
  My bill creates an independent, bipartisan White House Quadrennial 
Commission on Small Business, which will be made up of 8 small business 
advocates and the Small Business Administration's Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy. Every four years, during the first year following a 
presidential election, the President will name four 
National Commissioners. In the U.S. Senate and the House of 
Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of each body 
will each name one National Commissioner.

  Widespread participation from small businesses in each state will 
contribute to the work leading up to the national Small Business 
Summit. Under the bill, the Small Business Summit will take place one 
year after the Quadrennial Commissioners are appointed. The first act 
of the Commissioners will be to request that each Governor and each 
U.S. Senator name a small business delegate and alternate delegate from 
their respective states to the National Convention. Each U.S. 
Representative will be asked to name a small business delegate and 
alternative from his or her Congressional district. And the President 
will name a delegate and alternate from each state.
  The delegates to the Small Business Summit must be owners or officers 
of small businesses. Prior to the national Small Business Summit, there 
will be individual State Summits at which additional delegates will be 
elected to attend the national Summit. Three delegates and three 
alternates will be elected from each Congressional district within the 
state.
  The small busines delegates will play a major role leading up to the 
Small Business Summit. We will be looking to the small business 
delegates to develop and highlight issues of critical concern to small 
businesses. The work at the state level by the small business delegates 
will need to be thorough and thoughtful to make the Small Business 
Summit a success.
  My goal will be for the small business delegates to think broadly, 
that is, to think ``out of the box.'' Their attention should include 
but not be restricted to the traditional issues associated with small 
business concerns, such as access to capital, tax reform and regulatory 
reform. In my role as Chairman of the Committee on Small Business, I 
will urge the delegates to focus on a wide array of issues that impact 
significantly on small businesses, including the importance of a solid 
education and the need for skilled, trained workers.
  Once the small business delegates are selected, the Small Business 
Commission will serve as a resource to the delegates for issue 
development and for planning the State Conferences. The Small Business 
Commission will have a modest staff, including an Executive Director, 
that will work full time to make the State and National Summits 
successes. A major resource to the Small Business Commission and its 
staff will be the Chief Counsel for Advocacy from the SBA. The Chief 
Counsel and the Office of Advocacy will serve as a major resource to 
the Small Business Commission, and in turn, to the small business 
delegates, by providing them with both substantive background 
informaiton and other administrative materials in support of the State 
and National Summits.
  Mr. President, small businesses generally do not have the resources 
to maintain full time representatives to lobby our Federal government. 
They are too busy running their businesses to devote much attention to 
educating government officials as to what is going well, what is going 
poorly, and what needs improvement for the small business community. 
The White House Quadrennial Small Business Summit will give small 
businesses an opportunity every four years to make its mark on the 
Congress and the Executive Branch. I urge each of my colleagues to 
review their proposal, and I hope they will agree to join me as 
cosponsors of the ``White House Quadrennial Small Busines Summit Act of 
2001.''
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 396

       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 ``White House Quadrennial 
     Small Business Summit Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act--
       (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
     the Small Business Administration;
       (2) the term ``Chief Counsel'' means the Chief Counsel for 
     Advocacy of the Small Business Administration;
       (3) the term ``Small Business Commission'' means the 
     national White House Quadrennial Commission on Small Business 
     established under section 6;
       (4) the term ``Small Business Summit''--
       (A) means the White House Quadrennial Summit on Small 
     Business conducted under section 3(a); and
       (B) includes the last White House Conference on Small 
     Business occurring before 2002;
       (5) the term ``small business'' has the meaning given the 
     term ``small business concern'' in section 3 of the Small 
     Business Act;
       (6) the term ``State'' means any of the 50 States of the 
     United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands; and
       (7) the term ``State Summit'' means a State Summit on Small 
     Business conducted under section 3(b).

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL AND STATE QUADRENNIAL SUMMITS ON SMALL 
                   BUSINESS.

       (a) Quadrennial Summits.--There shall be a national White 
     House Quadrennial Summit

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     on Small Business once every 4 years, to be held during the 
     second year following each Presidential election, to carry 
     out the purposes set forth in section 4.
       (b) State Summits.--Each Small Business Summit referred to 
     in subsection (a) shall be preceded by a State Summit on 
     Small Business, with not fewer than 1 such summit held in 
     each State, and with not fewer than 2 such summits held in 
     any State having a population of more than 10,000,000.

     SEC. 4. PURPOSES OF SMALL BUSINESS SUMMITS.

       The purposes of each Small Business Summit shall be--
       (1) to increase public awareness of the contribution of 
     small business to the national economy;
       (2) to identify the problems of small business;
       (3) to examine the status of minorities and women as small 
     business owners;
       (4) to assist small business in carrying out its role as 
     the Nation's job creator;
       (5) to assemble small businesses to develop such specific 
     and comprehensive recommendations for legislative and 
     regulatory action as may be appropriate for maintaining and 
     encouraging the economic viability of small business and 
     thereby, the Nation; and
       (6) to review the status of recommendations adopted at the 
     immediately preceding Small Business Summit.

     SEC. 5. SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS.

       (a) In General.--To carry out the purposes set forth in 
     section 4, the Small Business Commission shall conduct Small 
     Business Summits and State Summits to bring together 
     individuals concerned with issues relating to small business.
       (b) Summit Delegates.--
       (1) Qualification.--Only individuals who are owners or 
     officers of a small business shall be eligible for 
     appointment or election as delegates (or alternates) to the 
     Small Business Summit, or be eligible to vote in the 
     selection of delegates at the State Summits pursuant to this 
     subsection.
       (2) Appointed delegates.--Two months before the date of the 
     first State Summit, there shall be--
       (A) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by the Governor 
     of each State;
       (B) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by each Member 
     of the House of Representatives, from the congressional 
     district of that Member;
       (C) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by each Member 
     of the Senate from the home State of that Member; and
       (D) 53 delegates (and 53 alternates) appointed by the 
     President, 1 from each State.
       (3) Elected delegates.--The participants at each State 
     Summit shall elect 3 delegates and 3 alternates to the Small 
     Business Summit for each congressional district within the 
     State, or part of the State represented at the Summit, or not 
     fewer than 9 delegates, pursuant to rules developed by the 
     Small Business Commission.
       (4) Powers and duties.--Delegates to each Small Business 
     Summit shall--
       (A) attend the State summits in his or her respective 
     State;
       (B) elect a delegation chairperson, vice chairperson, and 
     other leadership as may be necessary;
       (C) conduct meetings and other activities at the State 
     level before the date of the Small Business Summit, subject 
     to the approval of the Small Business Commission; and
       (D) direct such State level summits, meetings, and 
     activities toward the consideration of the purposes set forth 
     in section 4, in order to prepare for the next Small Business 
     Summit.
       (5) Alternates.--Alternates shall serve during the absence 
     or unavailability of the delegate.
       (c) Role of the Chief Counsel.--The Chief Counsel shall, 
     after consultation and in coordination with the Small 
     Business Commission, assist in carrying out the Small 
     Business Summits and State Summits required by this Act by--
       (1) preparing and providing background information and 
     administrative materials for use by participants in the 
     summits;
       (2) distributing issue information and administrative 
     communications, electronically where possible through an 
     Internet web site and e-mail, and in printed form if 
     requested;
       (3) maintaining an Internet web site and regular e-mail 
     communications after each Small Business Summit to inform 
     delegates and the public of the status of recommendations and 
     related governmental activity; and
       (4) maintaining, between summits, an active interim 
     organization of delegate representatives from each region of 
     the Administration, to advise the Chief Counsel on each of 
     the major small business issue areas, and monitor the 
     progress of the Summits' recommendations.
       (d) Expenses.--Each delegate (and alternate) to each Small 
     Business Summit and State Summit--
       (1) shall be responsible for the expenses of that delegate 
     related to attending the summits; and
       (2) shall not be reimbursed either from funds made 
     available pursuant to this section or the Small Business Act.
       (e) Advisory Committee.--
       (1) In general.--The Small Business Commission shall 
     appoint a Summit Advisory Committee, which shall be composed 
     of 10 individuals who were participants at the most recently 
     preceding Small Business Summit, to advise the Small Business 
     Commission on the organization, rules, and processes of the 
     Summits.
       (2) Preference.--Preference for appointment under this 
     subsection shall be given to individuals who have been active 
     participants in the implementation process following the most 
     recently preceding Small Business Summit.
       (f) Public Participation.--Small Business Summits and State 
     Summits shall be open to the public, and no fee or charge may 
     be imposed on any attendee, other than an amount necessary to 
     cover the cost of any meal provided, plus, with respect to 
     State Summits, a registration fee to defray the expense of 
     meeting rooms and materials of not to exceed $20 per person.

     SEC. 6. WHITE HOUSE QUADRENNIAL COMMISSION ON SMALL BUSINESS.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the White House 
     Quadrennial Commission on Small Business.
       (b) Membership.--
       (1) Appointment.--The Small Business Commission shall be 
     composed of 9 members, including--
       (A) the Chief Counsel;
       (B) 4 members appointed by the President;
       (C) 1 member appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
     Senate;
       (D) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader of the 
     Senate;
       (E) 1 member appointed by the Majority Leader of the House 
     of Representatives; and
       (F) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House 
     of Representatives.
       (2) Selection.--Members of the Small Business Commission 
     described in subparagraphs (B) through (F) of paragraph (1) 
     shall be selected from among distinguished individuals noted 
     for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the 
     issue of small business and the purposes set forth in section 
     4.
       (3) Time of appointment.--The appointments required by 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) shall be made not later than 18 months before the 
     opening date of each Small Business Summit; and
       (B) shall expire 6 months after the date on which each 
     Small Business Summit is convened.
       (c) Election of Chairperson.--At the first meeting of the 
     Small Business Commission, a majority of the members present 
     and voting shall elect a member of the Small Business 
     Commission to serve as the Chairperson.
       (d) Powers and Duties of Commission.--The Small Business 
     Commission--
       (1) may enter into contracts with public agencies, private 
     organizations, and academic institutions to carry out this 
     Act;
       (2) shall consult, coordinate, and contract with an 
     independent, nonpartisan organization that--
       (A) has both substantive and logistical experience in 
     developing and organizing conferences and forums throughout 
     the Nation with elected officials and other government and 
     business leaders;
       (B) has experience in generating private resources from 
     multiple States in the form of event sponsorships; and
       (C) can demonstrate evidence of a working relationship with 
     Members of Congress from the majority and minority parties, 
     and at least 1 Federal agency; and
       (3) shall prescribe such financial controls and accounting 
     procedures as needed for the handling of funds from fees and 
     charges and the payment of authorized meal, facility, travel, 
     and other related expenses.
       (e) Planning and Administration of Summits.--In carrying 
     out the Small Business Summits and State Summits, the Small 
     Business Commission shall consult with--
       (1) the Chief Counsel;
       (2) Congress; and
       (3) such other Federal agencies as the Small Business 
     Commission determines to be appropriate.
       (f) Reports Required.--Not later than 6 months after the 
     date on which each Small Business Summit is convened, the 
     Small Business Commission shall submit to the President and 
     to the Chairpersons and Ranking Members of the Committees on 
     Small Business of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
     a final report, which shall--
       (1) include the findings and recommendations of the Small 
     Business Summit and any proposals for legislative action 
     necessary to implement those recommendations; and
       (2) be made available to the public.
       (g) Quorum.--Four voting members of the Small Business 
     Commission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 
     transacting business.
       (h) Meetings.--The Small Business Commission shall meet not 
     later than 20 calendar days after the appointment of the 
     initial members of the Small Business Commission, and not 
     less frequently than every 30 calendar days thereafter.
       (i) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Small Business 
     Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled 
     in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
       (j) Executive Director and Staff.--The Small Business 
     Commission may appoint and compensate an Executive Director 
     and such other personnel to conduct the Small Business 
     Summits and State Summits as the Small Business Commission 
     may determine to be advisable, without regard to title 5, 
     United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
     service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III 
     of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and 
     General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for 
     the Executive

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     Director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable 
     for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
     such title.
       (k) Funding.--Members of the Small Business Commission 
     shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu 
     of subsistence at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services for the Small 
     Business Commission.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; AVAILABILITY OF 
                   FUNDS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out each Small Business Summit 
     and the State Summits required by this Act, $5,000,000, which 
     shall remain available until expended. New spending authority 
     or authority to enter contracts as provided in this title 
     shall be effective only to such extent and in such amounts as 
     are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
       (b) Specific Earmark.--No amount made available to the 
     Small Business Administration may be made available to carry 
     out this title, other than amounts made available 
     specifically for the purpose of conducting the Small Business 
     Summits and State Summits.
                                 ______