[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 91 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7517-S7524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 3659. A bill to reauthorize and improve the women's small business 
ownership programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, as the ranking member on the Committee on 
Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I rise today to join my colleague 
and chair, Senator Snowe, in introducing the Women's Small Business 
Ownership Programs Act of 2006. This legislation reauthorizes and 
strengthens vital small business programs for women entrepreneurs 
nationwide.
  Small businesses are the driving force behind innovation and national 
economic prosperity in the United States. Employing over 19 million 
workers, while pumping some $2 trillion into the economy, America's 
10.6

[[Page S7521]]

million women-owned businesses play an integral role in this endeavor. 
However, despite their critical contributions to our Nation, women 
entrepreneurs still face many obstacles in the business world. Without 
the support and guidance of Women's Business Centers and other women 
small business ownership programs, which provide necessary tools to 
ensure the long term success of women-owned firms, many female 
entrepreneurs would not be able to open their doors and stay in 
business. Given women-owned businesses' contributions to our society, 
it is imperative that we continue to advocate on their behalf, and this 
legislation does just that.
  In recent years, the Small Business Administration, SBA, has seen its 
annual budget repeatedly slashed by the Bush administration--the most 
out of any other Federal agency. The fiscal year 2007 proposal was no 
different. Among the various programmatic cuts within the President's 
fiscal year 2007 budget, technical assistance funding was set at just 
$104 million--down from his proposals of $108 million in fiscal year 
2006 and $111 million in fiscal year 2005. This funding plays a crucial 
role in the development and sustainability of Women's Business Centers 
in states across the country. The SBA provides grants from technical 
assistance funding to help support over 80 Women's Business Centers 
Nationwide. One such example is the Center for Women and Enterprise, 
which has served the greater Boston, Worcester, and Providence areas 
since 1995. In that time, the center has certified over 150 women-owned 
businesses and served as a catalyst in helping entrepreneurs create 
over 15,000 new jobs.
  More centers such as this ought to be in place in areas spanning the 
Nation. That is why I made it a priority to author and pass the Women's 
Business Center Sustainability Act of 1999, to help successful centers 
remain open and viable in the areas they serve. This bill was signed 
into law as a means of safeguarding successful centers with proven 
results by authorizing continued funding for a set time period under 
sustainability grants. The theory behind this bipartisan legislation 
was to continue to allow for new centers, but to also ensure that those 
with a proven track record would continue to be helped. And yet, since 
its enactment, Senator Snowe and I have had to fight each year to 
ensure that there is sustainability funding through the passage of 
numerous temporary extensions and a series of exchanges with the SBA. 
These centers are vital in equipping women entrepreneurs with the tools 
they need to succeed in business, and it is unfortunate that this 
administration has attempted to eliminate sustainability funding since 
President Bush took office. It is high time that all centers 
demonstrating proven results year in and year out receive this 
sustainability funding.
  The legislation I am introducing today, guarantees the future of the 
Women's Business Center Program and bridges it with other SBA-related 
women's initiatives to ensure there exists a unified and cohesive 
mission driving the programs forward for women entrepreneurs across the 
country. In this, the bill not only makes permanent the Women's 
Business Center Sustainability Pilot Program--through the creation of 
3-year ``renewal'' grants for centers with sustainability grants, and 
4-year ``initial'' grants for new centers across the country--but it 
also increases the program's authorization levels. Furthermore, our 
legislation calls for the Office of Women's Business Ownership to make 
all Women's Business Center grants at $150,000 and to work in 
consultation with Women's Business Centers whenever making improvements 
to the program.
  Additionally, this legislation calls for a more streamlined approach 
for the Women's Business Center Program's data collection, grant 
application, and selection criteria, in an effort to ensure a smooth 
transition from sustainability to the newly established program. The 
Women's Small Business Ownership Programs Act of 2006 also contains 
privacy protections for the Women's Business Council, Women's Business 
Centers, and their small business clients.
  The bill's provisions make several minor, yet significant, changes to 
both the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise, as well 
as the National Women's Business Council--enabling both entities to 
serve as a better resource for not only the administration and 
Congress, but the larger small business community as well. In order to 
increase and strengthen women business owners' representation in the 
Federal Government, the bill reestablishes the Interagency Committee on 
Women's Business Enterprise, and creates a Policy Advisory Group to 
aide the committee's chairperson in the development of policies and 
programs under this act. It also creates three subcommittees similar to 
those created under the National Women's Business Council. 
Additionally, in order to afford the National Women's Business Council 
more flexibility in its use of funds, the bill gives it cosponsorship 
authority, and directs it to act as a clearinghouse for historical 
data.
  I would like to remind my colleagues that similar legislation drew 
wide bipartisan support in the 108th Congress. Despite arriving at a 
bipartisan Women's Business Center compromise on the Senate Small 
Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, the Republican majority failed 
to include this compromise in the last SBA reauthorization package. I 
would like to thank Chair Snowe for her work in addressing the needs of 
America's female entrepreneurs, and for her steadfast support for this 
legislation. She is a true advocate for women-owned small businesses.
  Mr. President, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support the Women's Small Business Ownership Programs Act of 2006.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3659

       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 ``Women's 
     Small Business Ownership Programs Act of 2006''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Office of Women's Business Ownership.
Sec. 3. Women's Business Center Program.
Sec. 4. National Women's Business Council.
Sec. 5. Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise.
Sec. 6. Preserving the independence of the National Women's Business 
              Council.

     SEC. 2. OFFICE OF WOMEN'S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.

       Section 29(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(g)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``in the areas'' 
     and all that follows through the end of subclause (I), and 
     inserting the following: ``to address issues concerning 
     management, operations, manufacturing, technology, finance, 
     retail and product sales, international trade, and other 
     disciplines required for--

       ``(I) starting, operating, and growing a small business 
     concern;''; and

       (B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting before the period at 
     the end the following: ``, the National Women's Business 
     Council, and any association of women's business centers''; 
     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Programs and services for women-owned small 
     businesses.--The Assistant Administrator, in consultation 
     with the National Women's Business Council, the Interagency 
     Committee on Women's Business Enterprise, and 1 or more 
     associations of women's business centers, shall develop 
     programs and services for women-owned businesses (as defined 
     in section 408 of the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 
     (15 U.S.C. 631 note)) in business areas, which may include--
       ``(A) manufacturing;
       ``(B) technology;
       ``(C) professional services;
       ``(D) retail and product sales;
       ``(E) travel and tourism;
       ``(F) international trade; and
       ``(G) Federal Government contract business development.
       ``(4) Training.--The Administrator shall provide annual 
     programmatic and financial oversight training for women's 
     business ownership representatives and district office 
     technical representatives of the Administration to enable 
     representatives to carry out their responsibilities under 
     this section.
       ``(5) Grant program improvement.--The Administrator shall 
     improve the women's business center grant proposal process 
     and the programmatic and financial oversight process by--
       ``(A) providing notice to the public of each women's 
     business center grant announcement for an initial and renewal 
     grant, not later than 6 months before awarding such grant;
       ``(B) providing notice to grant applicants and recipients 
     of program evaluation criteria, not later than 12 months 
     before any such evaluation;

[[Page S7522]]

       ``(C) reducing paperwork and reporting requirements for 
     grant applicants and recipients;
       ``(D) standardizing the oversight and review process of the 
     Administration; and
       ``(E) providing to each women's business center, not later 
     than 30 days after the completion of a site visit at that 
     center, a copy of site visit reports and evaluation reports 
     prepared by district office technical representatives or 
     Administration officials.''.

     SEC. 3. WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

       (a) Women's Business Center Grants Program.--Section 29 of 
     the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), as 
     paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) the term `association of women's business centers' 
     means an organization that represents not fewer than 30 
     percent of the women's business centers that are 
     participating in a program under this section, and whose 
     primary purpose is to represent women's business centers;''; 
     and
       (2) by striking subsections (b) through (f) and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(b) Grants Authorized.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) Issuance.--The Administrator may award initial and 
     renewal grants of not more than $150,000 per year, which 
     shall be known as `women's business center grants', to 
     private nonprofit organizations to conduct projects for the 
     benefit of small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     women.
       ``(B) Renewals.--At the end of the initial 4-year grant 
     period, and every 3 years thereafter, the grant recipient may 
     apply to renew the grant in accordance with this subsection 
     and subsection (e)(2).
       ``(C) Equal allocations.--In the event that the 
     Administration has insufficient funds to provide grants of 
     $150,000 for each eligible women's business center, available 
     funds shall be allocated equally to eligible centers, unless 
     any center requests a lower amount than the allocable amount.
       ``(2) Cooperative agreement authority.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator may enter into Federal 
     cooperative agreements with grant recipients under this 
     subsection to perform the services described under paragraph 
     (3), only to the extent and in the amount provided by 
     appropriated funds.
       ``(B) Termination.--
       ``(i) In general.--If any grant recipient under this 
     subsection does not fulfill its grant obligations, after 
     advanced notification, during the period of the grant, the 
     Administrator may terminate the grant.
       ``(ii) Exception.--Notwithstanding a violation by a grant 
     recipient of a grant obligation under this subsection, the 
     Administrator may continue to fund the grant, if the grant 
     recipient is making a good faith effort to comply with such 
     obligation.
       ``(3) Use of funds.--Grants awarded under this subsection 
     may be used to provide training and counseling in the areas 
     of--
       ``(A) pre-business, business startup, and business 
     operations;
       ``(B) financial planning assistance;
       ``(C) procurement assistance;
       ``(D) management assistance;
       ``(E) marketing assistance; and
       ``(F) international trade.
       ``(4) Matching requirement.--
       ``(A) Women's business center grants.--As a condition of 
     receiving financial assistance under this subsection, the 
     grant recipient shall agree to obtain, after its application 
     has been approved and notice of award has been issued, cash 
     contributions from non-Federal sources as follows:
       ``(i) In the first and second years, 1 non-Federal dollar 
     for each 2 Federal dollars provided under the 4-year grant.
       ``(ii) In the third and fourth years, 1 non-Federal dollar 
     for each Federal dollar provided under the 4-year grant.
       ``(iii) In each renewal period, 1 non-Federal dollar for 
     each Federal dollar provided under the 3-year grant.
       ``(B) Form of non-federal contributions.--Not more than \1/
     2\ of the non-Federal sector matching assistance may be in 
     the form of in-kind contributions that are budget line items 
     only, including office equipment and office space.
       ``(C) Failure to obtain non-federal funding.--
       ``(i) Advance disbursements.--If any grant recipient fails 
     to obtain the required non-Federal contribution during any 
     project year, it shall not be eligible for advance 
     disbursements under subparagraph (D) during the remainder of 
     that project year.
       ``(ii) Ability to obtain non-federal funding.--Before 
     approving assistance to a grant recipient that has failed to 
     obtain the required non-Federal contribution for any other 
     projects under this Act, the Administrator shall require the 
     grant recipient to certify that it will be able to obtain the 
     requisite non-Federal funding and enter a written finding 
     setting forth the reasons for making such determination.
       ``(D) Form of federal contributions.--The financial 
     assistance authorized under this subsection may be made by 
     grant or cooperative agreement and may contain such 
     provisions, as necessary, to provide for payments in lump sum 
     or installments, and in advance or by way of reimbursement. 
     The Administrator may disburse not more than 25 percent of 
     the Federal share awarded to a grant recipient for each year 
     after notice of the award has been issued and before the non-
     Federal sector matching funds are obtained.
       ``(5) Application for an initial grant.--Each organization 
     desiring an initial grant under this subsection, shall submit 
     to the Administrator an application that contains--
       ``(A) a certification that the applicant--
       ``(i) is a private nonprofit organization;
       ``(ii) has designated an executive director or program 
     manager, who may be compensated from grant funds or other 
     sources, to manage the center; and
       ``(iii) as a condition of receiving a grant under this 
     subsection, agrees--

       ``(I) to receive a site visit as part of the final 
     selection process;
       ``(II) to undergo an annual programmatic and financial 
     examination; and
       ``(III) to the maximum extent practicable, to remedy any 
     problems identified pursuant to the site visit or examination 
     under subclauses (I) and (II);

       ``(B) information demonstrating that the applicant has the 
     ability and resources to meet the needs of the market to be 
     served by the women's business center site for which an 
     initial grant is sought, including the ability to comply with 
     the matching requirement under paragraph (4);
       ``(C) information relating to assistance to be provided by 
     the women's business center site for which an initial grant 
     is sought in the area in which the site is located;
       ``(D) information demonstrating the effective experience of 
     the applicant in--
       ``(i) conducting financial, management, and marketing 
     assistance programs, as described under paragraph (3), which 
     are designed to teach or upgrade the business skills of women 
     who are business owners or potential business owners;
       ``(ii) providing training and services to a representative 
     number of women who are both socially and economically 
     disadvantaged; and
       ``(iii) using resource partners of the Administration and 
     other entities, such as universities;
       ``(E) a 4-year plan that projects the ability of the 
     women's business center site for which an initial grant is 
     sought--
       ``(i) to serve women who are business owners or potential 
     owners in the future by improving training and counseling 
     activities; and
       ``(ii) to provide training and services to a representative 
     number of women who are both socially and economically 
     disadvantaged; and
       ``(F) any additional information that the Administrator may 
     reasonably require.
       ``(6) Review and approval of applications for an initial 
     grant.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall--
       ``(i) review each application submitted under paragraph 
     (5), based on the information described in such paragraph and 
     the criteria set forth under subparagraph (B) of this 
     paragraph; and
       ``(ii) as part of the final selection process, conduct a 
     site visit at each women's business center for which an 
     initial grant is sought.
       ``(B) Selection criteria.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall evaluate 
     applicants in accordance with predetermined selection 
     criteria that shall be stated in terms of relative 
     importance. Such criteria and their relative importance shall 
     be made publicly available and stated in each solicitation 
     for applications made by the Administrator.
       ``(ii) Required criteria.--The selection criteria for an 
     initial grant under clause (i) shall include--

       ``(I) the experience of the applicant in conducting 
     programs or ongoing efforts designed to teach or upgrade the 
     business skills of women who are business owners or potential 
     owners;
       ``(II) the ability of the applicant to commence a project 
     within a minimum amount of time;
       ``(III) the ability of the applicant to provide training 
     and services to a representative number of women who are both 
     socially and economically disadvantaged; and
       ``(IV) the location for the women's business center site 
     proposed by the applicant.

       ``(C) Record retention.--The Administrator shall maintain a 
     copy of each application submitted under this paragraph for 
     not less than 7 years.
       ``(7) Application for a renewal grant.--Each organization 
     desiring a renewal grant under this subsection, shall submit 
     to the Administrator, not later than 3 months before the 
     expiration of an existing grant under this subsection, an 
     application that contains--
       ``(A) a certification that the applicant--
       ``(i) is a private nonprofit organization;
       ``(ii) has designated an executive director or program 
     manager to manage the center; and
       ``(iii) as a condition of receiving a grant under this 
     subsection, agrees--

       ``(I) to receive a site visit as part of the final 
     selection process;
       ``(II) to submit, for the preceding 2 years, annual 
     programmatic and financial examination reports or certified 
     copies of the applicant's compliance supplemental audits 
     under OMB Circular A-133; and
       ``(III) to the maximum extent practicable, to remedy any 
     problems identified pursuant to the site visit or examination 
     under subclauses (I) and (II);

       ``(B) information demonstrating that the applicant has the 
     ability and resources to meet the needs of the market to be 
     served by

[[Page S7523]]

     the women's business center site for which a renewal grant is 
     sought, including the ability to comply with the matching 
     requirement under paragraph (4);
       ``(C) information relating to assistance to be provided by 
     the women's business center site for which a renewal grant is 
     sought in the area in which the site is located;
       ``(D) information demonstrating the utilization of resource 
     partners of the Administration and other entities;
       ``(E) a 3-year plan that projects the ability of the 
     women's business center site for which a renewal grant is 
     sought--
       ``(i) to serve women who are business owners or potential 
     owners in the future by improving training and counseling 
     activities; and
       ``(ii) to provide training and services to a representative 
     number of women who are both socially and economically 
     disadvantaged; and
       ``(F) any additional information that the Administrator may 
     reasonably require.
       ``(8) Review and approval of applications for a renewal 
     grant.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall--
       ``(i) review each application submitted under paragraph 
     (7), based on the information described in such paragraph and 
     the criteria set forth under subparagraph (B) of this 
     paragraph; and
       ``(ii) as part of the final selection process, conduct a 
     site visit at each women's business center for which a 
     renewal grant is sought.
       ``(B) Selection criteria.--The Administrator shall evaluate 
     applicants in accordance with predetermined selection 
     criteria that shall be stated in terms of relative 
     importance. Such criteria and their relative importance shall 
     be made publicly available and stated in each solicitation 
     for applications made by the Administrator.
       ``(C) Conditions for continued funding.--In determining 
     whether to renew a grant or cooperative agreement with a 
     women's business center, the Administrator--
       ``(i) shall consider the results of the most recent 
     evaluation of the center, and, to a lesser extent, previous 
     evaluations; and
       ``(ii) may withhold such renewal, if the Administrator 
     determines that the center has failed to provide the 
     information required to be provided under this subsection, or 
     the information provided by the center is inadequate.
       ``(D) Continuing grant and cooperative agreement 
     authority.--
       ``(i) In general.--The authority of the Administrator to 
     enter into grants or cooperative agreements under this 
     subsection shall be in effect for each fiscal year only to 
     the extent and in the amounts as are provided in advance in 
     appropriations Acts.
       ``(ii) Renewal.--After the Administrator has entered into a 
     grant or cooperative agreement with any women's business 
     center under this subsection, the Administrator shall not 
     suspend, terminate, or fail to renew or extend any such grant 
     or cooperative agreement, unless the Administrator provides 
     the center with written notification setting forth the 
     reasons therefore and affords the center an opportunity for a 
     hearing, appeal, or other administrative proceeding under 
     chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(E) Record retention.--The Administrator shall maintain a 
     copy of each application submitted under this paragraph for 
     not less than 7 years.
       ``(9) Data collection.--Consistent with the annual report 
     to Congress under subsection (g), each women's business 
     center site that is awarded an initial or renewal grant under 
     this subsection shall collect information relating to--
       ``(A) the number of individuals counseled or trained;
       ``(B) the number of hours of counseling provided;
       ``(C) the number of workshops conducted;
       ``(D) the number of startup small business concerns formed; 
     and
       ``(E) the number of jobs created or maintained at assisted 
     small business concerns.
       ``(10) Privacy requirements.--
       ``(A) In general.--A women's business center may not 
     disclose the name, address, or telephone number of any 
     individual or small business concern receiving assistance 
     under this subsection without the consent of such individual 
     or small business concern, unless--
       ``(i) 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
       ``(ii) the Administrator considers such a disclosure to be 
     necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of 
     a women's business center, but a disclosure under this clause 
     shall be limited to the information necessary for such audit.
       ``(B) Administration use of information.--This subsection 
     shall not--
       ``(i) restrict Administration access to program activity 
     data; or
       ``(ii) prevent the Administration from using client 
     information (other than the information described in 
     subparagraph (A)) to conduct client surveys.
       ``(C) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue 
     regulations to establish standards for requiring disclosures 
     during a financial audit under subparagraph (A)(ii).
       ``(11) Transition rules.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, a grant or cooperative agreement that was awarded as an 
     eligible sustainability grant, from amounts appropriated for 
     fiscal year 2006, to operate a women's business center, shall 
     remain in full force and effect under the terms, and for the 
     duration, of such agreement, subject to the grant limitation 
     in paragraph (1).
       ``(B) Extension.--If the sustainability grant under 
     subparagraph (A) is scheduled to expire not later than June 
     30, 2007, a 1-year extension shall be granted without any 
     interruption of funding, subject to the grant limitation in 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(C) Effect on certain existing projects and renewal 
     authority.--A project being conducted by a women's business 
     center under this subsection on the day before the date of 
     enactment of the Women's Small Business Ownership Programs 
     Act of 2006--
       ``(i) as a 5-year project, shall remain in full force and 
     effect under the terms and for the duration of that 
     agreement; and
       ``(ii) shall be eligible to apply for a 3-year renewal 
     grant funded at a level equal to not more than $150,000 per 
     year.
       ``(12) Coordination of services.--Small business 
     development centers and women's business centers shall, to 
     the extent possible, coordinate services to avoid duplication 
     of programmatic efforts.
       ``(c) Associations of Women's Business Centers.--
       ``(1) Recognition.--The Administrator shall recognize the 
     existence and activities of any association of women's 
     business centers established to address matters of common 
     concern.
       ``(2) Consultation.--The Administrator shall consult with 
     each association of women's business centers to develop--
       ``(A) a training program for the staff of the women's 
     business centers and the Administration; and
       ``(B) recommendations to improve the policies and 
     procedures for governing the general operations and 
     administration of the Women's Business Center Program, 
     including grant program improvements under subsection 
     (e)(5).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 29 of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), (j), and 
     (k) as subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
       (2) in subsection (e)(2), as redesignated by paragraph (1) 
     of this subsection, by striking ``to award a contract (as a 
     sustainability grant) under subsection (l) or'';
       (3) in subsection (g)(1), as redesignated by paragraph (1) 
     of this subsection, by striking ``The Administration'' and 
     inserting ``Not later than November 1st of each year, the 
     Administrator'';
       (4) in subsection (h), as redesignated by paragraph (1) of 
     this subsection--
       (A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Administration to carry out this section, to remain 
     available until expended--
       ``(A) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which $500,000 
     may be used to provide supplemental sustainability grants to 
     women's business centers, except that no such center may 
     receive more than a total of $125,000 in grant funding for 
     the grant period beginning on July 1, 2006 and ending on June 
     30, 2007;
       ``(B) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
       ``(C) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2009.
       ``(2) Use of amounts.--Amounts made available under this 
     subsection 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.''; and
       (B) by striking paragraph (4); and
       (5) by striking subsection (l).

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL.

       (a) Cosponsorship Authority.--Section 406 of the Women's 
     Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7106) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Cosponsorship Authority.--The Council is authorized 
     to enter into agreements as a cosponsor with public and 
     private entities, in the same manner as is provided in 
     section 8(b)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     637(b)(1)(A)), to carry out its duties under this section.''.
       (b) Membership.--Section 407(f) of the Women's Business 
     Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7107(f)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Representation of member organizations.--
     Notwithstanding subsection (b), a national women's business 
     organization or small business concern that is represented on 
     the Council may, in consultation with the chairperson of the 
     Council, replace its representative member on the Council at 
     any time during the service term to which that member was 
     appointed.''.
       (c) Establishment of Committees.--Title IV of the Women's 
     Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is 
     amended by inserting after section 410, the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 411. COMMITTEES.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There are established within the 
     Council--
       ``(1) the Committee on Manufacturing, Technology, and 
     Training and Professional Services;
       ``(2) the Committee on Travel, Tourism, Product and Retail 
     Sales, and International Trade; and
       ``(3) the Committee on Federal Procurement and Contracting.
       ``(b) Duties.--The Committees established under subsection 
     (a) shall perform such duties as the chairperson shall 
     direct.''.

[[Page S7524]]

       (d) Clearinghouse for Historical Documents.--Section 409 of 
     the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7109) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Clearinghouse for Historical Documents.--The Council 
     shall serve as a clearinghouse for information on small 
     businesses owned and controlled by women, including research 
     conducted by other organizations and individuals relating to 
     ownership by women of small business concerns in the United 
     States.''.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 410(a) of the 
     Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7110(a)) is 
     amended by striking ``2001 through 2003, of which $550,000'' 
     and inserting ``2007 through 2009, of which not less than 30 
     percent''.

     SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.

       (a) Chairperson.--Section 403(b) of the Women's Business 
     Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7103(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--Not later''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Vacancy.--In the event that a chairperson is not 
     appointed under paragraph (1), the Deputy Administrator of 
     the Small Business Administration shall serve as acting 
     chairperson of the Interagency Committee until a chairperson 
     is appointed under paragraph (1).''.
       (b) Policy Advisory Group.--Section 401 of the Women's 
     Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7101) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``There'' and inserting the following:
       ``(a) In General.--There''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Policy Advisory Group.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established a Policy 
     Advisory Group to assist the chairperson in developing 
     policies and programs under this Act.
       ``(2) Membership.--The Policy Advisory Group shall be 
     composed of 7 policy making officials, of whom--
       ``(A) 1 shall be a representative of the Small Business 
     Administration;
       ``(B) 1 shall be a representative of the Department of 
     Commerce;
       ``(C) 1 shall be a representative of the Department of 
     Labor;
       ``(D) 1 shall be a representative of the Department of 
     Defense;
       ``(E) 1 shall be a representative of the Department of the 
     Treasury; and
       ``(F) 2 shall be representatives of the Council.''.
       (c) Establishment of Subcommittees.--Section 401 of the 
     Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7101), as 
     amended by subsection (b), is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(c) Subcommittees.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There are established--
       ``(A) the Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Technology, and 
     Training and Professional Services;
       ``(B) the Subcommittee on Travel, Tourism, Product and 
     Retail Sales, and International Trade; and
       ``(C) the Subcommittee on Federal Procurement and 
     Contracting.
       ``(2) Duties.--The Subcommittees established under 
     paragraph (1) shall perform such duties as the chairperson 
     shall direct.
       ``(3) Meetings.--The Subcommittees established under 
     paragraph (1) shall meet not less frequently than 3 times 
     each year to--
       ``(A) plan activities for the new fiscal year;
       ``(B) track year-to-date agency contracting goals; and
       ``(C) evaluate the progress during the fiscal year and 
     prepare an annual report.''.

     SEC. 6. PRESERVING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S 
                   BUSINESS COUNCIL.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The National Women's Business Council provides an 
     independent source of advice and policy recommendations 
     regarding women's business development and the needs of women 
     entrepreneurs in the United States to--
       (A) the President;
       (B) Congress;
       (C) the Interagency Committee on Women's Business 
     Enterprise; and
       (D) the Administrator.
       (2) The members of the National Women's Business Council 
     are small business owners, representatives of business 
     organizations, and representatives of women's business 
     centers.
       (3) The chair and ranking member of the Committee on Small 
     Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Small Business of the House of Representatives make 
     recommendations to the Administrator to fill 8 of the 
     positions on the National Women's Business Council. Four of 
     the positions are reserved for small business owners who are 
     affiliated with the political party of the President and 4 of 
     the positions are reserved for small business owners who are 
     not affiliated with the political party of the President. 
     This method of appointment ensures that the National Women's 
     Business Council will provide Congress with nonpartisan, 
     balanced, and independent advice.
       (4) In order to maintain the independence of the National 
     Women's Business Council and to ensure that the Council 
     continues to provide Congress with advice on a nonpartisan 
     basis, it is essential that the Council maintain the 
     bipartisan balance established under section 407 of the 
     Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7107).
       (b) Maintenance of Partisan Balance.--Section 407(f) of the 
     Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7107(f)), 
     as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(4) Partisan balance.--When filling vacancies under 
     paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, to the extent 
     practicable, ensure that there are an equal number of members 
     on the Council from each of the 2 major political parties.
       ``(5) Accountability.--If a vacancy is not filled within 
     the 30-day period required under paragraph (1), or if there 
     exists an imbalance of party-affiliated members on the 
     Council for a period exceeding 30 days, the Administrator 
     shall submit a report, not later than 10 days after the 
     expiration of either such 30-day deadline, to the Committee 
     on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, 
     that explains why the respective deadline was not met and 
     provides an estimated date on which any vacancies will be 
     filled, as applicable.''.

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