[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 122 (Thursday, August 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9016-S9017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL:
  S. 1616. A bill to authorize assistance to small- and medium-sized 
businesses to promote exports to the People's Republic of China, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the U.S.-China 
Market Engagement and Export Promotion Act of 2009. For many small- and 
medium-sized businesses across this country, some of which are in my 
home State of Washington, getting access to the Chinese market proves 
difficult at best. However, to establish a foothold in the ever 
expanding Chinese market can prove pivotal in achieving financial 
success. China is a tremendous market for U.S. goods and services. 
According to the U.S.-China Business Council, despite the global 
economic downturn, 85 percent of congressional districts increased 
their exports to China in 2008. In addition, exports to China in almost 
every congressional district grew more than exports to anywhere else 
from 2000 to 2008.
  In 2008, U.S. total exports to China equaled $71.5 billion. During 
the same time, however, our imports from China equaled $337.8 billion. 
That means our trading balance with China in 2008 was a $266.3 billion 
deficit. This bill would help States establish export promotion offices 
in China and create a new China Market Advocate Program at U.S. Export 
Assistance Centers around the Nation. The bill also provides assistance 
to small businesses for China trade missions and authorizes grants for 
Chinese business education programs.
  I support this bill because of the enormous role that small 
businesses play in our economy. Small- and medium-sized businesses are 
a great potential engine of growth. Between 2004 and 2005, small 
businesses created 78.9 percent of the Nation's net new jobs, and with 
expanded export opportunities that number will be able to increase in 
the near future. Considering the huge impact that small- and medium-
sized businesses have on our economy, I urge all my colleagues to 
support this bill and give the business owners the assistance they need 
to succeed in the Chinese export market.
  The U.S.-China Market Engagement and Promotion Act will build the 
infrastructure necessary to connect American small- and medium-sized 
businesses with export opportunities in China.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1616

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United 
     States-China Market Engagement and Export Promotion Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.

            TITLE I--PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Sec. 101. Grants to States to establish and operate offices to promote 
              exports to China.
Sec. 102. Program to establish China market advocate positions in 
              United States Export Assistance Centers.
Sec. 103. Assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses for trade 
              missions to China.
Sec. 104. Plan to consolidate fees for Gold Key matching services in 
              China.

        TITLE II--PROGRAMS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 201. Trade outreach at the Office of International Trade of the 
              Small Business Administration.
Sec. 202. Grants for Chinese business education programs.

            TITLE I--PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

     SEC. 101. GRANTS TO STATES TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE OFFICES 
                   TO PROMOTE EXPORTS TO CHINA.

       (a) Grants.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
     Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director of the 
     United States and Foreign Commercial Service, shall provide 
     grants to States to establish and operate State offices in 
     the People's Republic of China to provide assistance to 
     United States exporters for the promotion of exports to 
     China, with a particular focus on establishment of offices in 
     locations in addition to Beijing and Shanghai.
       (b) Amount.--The amount of a grant under subsection (a) 
     shall not exceed 33 percent of the total costs to establish 
     and operate a State office described in such subsection.
       (c) Regulations.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
     promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
     this section.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 2301(j)(5) of the Export Enhancement Act of 
     1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(j)(5)).
       (2) United states exporter.--The term ``United States 
     exporter'' has the meaning given the term in section 
     2301(j)(3) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 
     4721(j)(3)).
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of Commerce $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
     years 2010 through 2014 to carry out this section.
       (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
     authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) shall 
     remain available until expended.

     SEC. 102. PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH CHINA MARKET ADVOCATE 
                   POSITIONS IN UNITED STATES EXPORT ASSISTANCE 
                   CENTERS.

       (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Commerce, in the 
     Secretary's role as chairperson of the Trade Promotion 
     Coordinating Committee, shall establish a program to provide 
     comprehensive assistance to small- and medium-sized 
     businesses in the United States for purposes of facilitating 
     exports to China.
       (b) China Market Advocates.--
       (1) Positions authorized.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall create not 
     fewer than 50 China market advocate positions in United 
     States Export Assistance Centers.
       (B) Appointment and training.--The China market advocates 
     authorized under subparagraph (A) shall be appointed by the 
     Secretary from among individuals with expertise in matters 
     relating to trade with China and shall receive the training 
     authorized under paragraph (2).
       (C) Rate of pay.--China market advocates shall be paid at a 
     rate equal to the rate of basic pay for grades GS-10 through 
     GS-13 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       (D) Geographic distribution.--To the maximum extent 
     practicable, China market advocates shall be assigned to 
     United States Export Assistance Centers in a manner that 
     achieves an equitable geographic distribution of China market 
     advocates among United States Export Assistance Centers.
       (2) Training authorized.--The Secretary shall provide 
     training to China market advocates in the business culture of 
     China, the market of China, and the evolving political, 
     cultural, and economic environment in China.
       (c) Services Provided by Advocates.--China market advocates 
     authorized under subsection (b) shall provide comprehensive 
     assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses in the 
     United States for purposes of facilitating exports of United 
     States goods to China. Such assistance may include--
       (1) assistance to find and utilize Federal and private 
     resources to facilitate entering into the market of China;
       (2) continuous direct and personal contact with businesses 
     that have entered the market of China;
       (3) assistance to resolve disputes with the Government of 
     the United States or China relating to intellectual property 
     rights violations, export restrictions, and additional trade 
     barriers; and
       (4) to the extent practicable, locating and recruiting 
     businesses to enter the market of China.
       (d) Advertising of Program.--The Secretary of Commerce 
     shall make available to the public through advertising and 
     other appropriate methods information about services offered 
     by China market advocates under the program authorized under 
     subsection (a).
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out 
     this section $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 
     through 2014, of which--
       (1) $5,000,000 are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
     out subsection (b)(2); and
       (2) $2,000,000 are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
     out subsection (d).

     SEC. 103. ASSISTANCE TO SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES 
                   FOR TRADE MISSIONS TO CHINA.

       (a) Assistance Authorized.--The Secretary of Commerce, in 
     the Secretary's role as chairperson of the Trade Promotion 
     Coordinating Committee, shall provide assistance through 
     United States Export Assistance Centers to eligible small- 
     and medium-sized businesses in the United States for 
     business-related expenses for trade missions to China.
       (b) Selection Process.--The Secretary of Commerce shall--

[[Page S9017]]

       (1) develop a transparent and competitive scoring system 
     for selection of small- and medium-sized businesses to 
     receive assistance authorized under subsection (a) that 
     focuses on the feasibility of exporting goods and services to 
     China; and
       (2) develop specific criteria for a definition of 
     ``business-related expenses'', as the term is used in 
     subsection (a), that is compatible with best business 
     practices.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $2,000,000 
     for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to carry out 
     this section.

     SEC. 104. PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE FEES FOR GOLD KEY MATCHING 
                   SERVICES IN CHINA.

       (a) Plan Required.--As soon as is practicable after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, 
     acting through the Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion 
     and Director of the United States and Foreign Commercial 
     Service, shall submit to Congress a plan to consolidate fees 
     charged by the Department of Commerce for Gold Key matching 
     services provided to small- and medium-sized businesses that 
     export goods or services produced in the United States to 
     more than one market in China.
       (b) Gold Key Matching Services Defined.--In this section, 
     the term ``Gold Key matching services'' means the Gold Key 
     Service program of the Department of Commerce and includes--
       (1) the arrangement of business meetings with pre-screened 
     contacts, representatives, distributors, professional 
     associations, government contacts, or licensing or joint 
     venture partners in a foreign country;
       (2) customized market and industry briefings with trade 
     specialists of the Department of Commerce;
       (3) timely and relevant market research;
       (4) appointments with prospective trade partners in key 
     industry sectors;
       (5) post-meeting debriefing with trade specialists of the 
     Department of Commerce and assistance in developing 
     appropriate follow-up strategies; and
       (6) assistance with travel, accommodations, interpreter 
     service, and clerical support.

        TITLE II--PROGRAMS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

     SEC. 201. TRADE OUTREACH AT THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE 
                   OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

       Section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(h) Promotion of Exports to China.--The Office shall 
     provide strategic guidance to small business concerns with 
     respect to exporting goods and services to China.
       ``(i) Director of China Program Grants.--
       ``(1) In general.--There shall be in the Office a Director 
     of China Program Grants (in this subsection referred to as 
     the `Director').
       ``(2) Appointment.--The Director shall be appointed by the 
     Administrator and shall be an individual with demonstrated 
     successful experience in matters relating to international 
     trade and administering government contracts.
       ``(3) Rate of pay.--The Director shall be paid at a rate 
     equal to or greater than the rate of basic pay for grade GS-
     14 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       ``(4) Duties.--The Director shall be responsible for 
     administering the grant program authorized under section 202 
     of the United States-China Market Engagement and Export 
     Promotion Act (relating to Chinese business education 
     programs) and any other similar or related program of the 
     Office.''.

     SEC. 202. GRANTS FOR CHINESE BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--The Administrator of the Small 
     Business Administration, acting through the Director of China 
     Program Grants in the Office of International Trade, shall 
     make grants to institutions of higher education, or 
     combinations of such institutions, to pay the Federal share 
     of the cost of planning, establishing, and operating 
     education programs described in subsection (b) to--
       (1) develop and enhance student skills, awareness, and 
     expertise relating to business in China; and
       (2) prepare students to promote the competitiveness of and 
     opportunities for United States small business concerns in 
     China.
       (b) Education Programs Described.--Education programs 
     described in this subsection are academic programs of study 
     relating to business in China, including undergraduate and 
     graduate level degrees, courses, or seminars on--
       (1) the economy of China;
       (2) trade and commerce in China;
       (3) new and expanding export opportunities for United 
     States small business concerns in China; and
       (4) the economic, commerce, and trade relations between the 
     United States and China.
       (c) Application.--A small business concern desiring a grant 
     under this section shall submit an application at such time, 
     in such manner, and containing such information as the 
     Director of China Program Grants may require.
       (d) Duration of Grants.--A grant under this section shall 
     be for an initial period not to exceed 2 years. The Director 
     of China Program Grants may renew such grant for additional 
     2-year periods.
       (e) Federal Share.--
       (1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
     education program described in subsection (b) shall not 
     exceed 50 percent of the cost of such program.
       (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of an education program described in subsection (b) may be 
     provided either in cash or in-kind.
       (f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``institution of 
     higher education'' has the meaning given the term in section 
     101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
                                 ______