[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 166 (Monday, October 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8268-H8274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2019

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4405) to amend the Small Business Act to improve the women's 
business center program, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4405

       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 
     Improvements Act of 2019''.

     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 (k).
       ``(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, so long as 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 such institution is currently receiving a 
     grant under section 21;
       ``(D) a development, credit, or finance corporation 
     chartered by a State, so long as 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) Small business concern owned and controlled by 
     women.--The term `small business concern owned and controlled 
     by women' has the meaning given under section 3(n).
       ``(4) 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.
       ``(5) Women's business center association.--The term 
     `Women's Business Center Association' means a membership 
     organization formed by women's business centers to pursue 
     matters of common concern.

[[Page H8269]]

       ``(b) Authority.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established a Women's 
     Business Center Program under which the Administrator may 
     provide a grant to any eligible entity to operate one or more 
     women's business centers for the benefit of small business 
     concerns owned and controlled by women.
       ``(2) Use of funds.--The women's business centers shall be 
     designed to provide counseling and training that meets the 
     needs of the small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     women, especially socially or economically disadvantaged 
     women, and shall provide--
       ``(A) financial assistance, including training and 
     counseling in how to apply for and secure business credit and 
     investment capital, preparing and presenting financial 
     statements, and managing cash flow and other financial 
     operations of a small business concern;
       ``(B) management assistance, including training and 
     counseling in how to plan, organize, staff, direct, and 
     control each major activity and function of a small business 
     concern; and
       ``(C) marketing assistance, including training and 
     counseling in identifying and segmenting domestic and 
     international market opportunities, preparing and executing 
     marketing plans, developing pricing strategies, locating 
     contract opportunities, negotiating contracts, and utilizing 
     varying public relations and advertising techniques.
       ``(3) Types of grants.--
       ``(A) Initial grant.--The amount of an initial grant, which 
     shall be for a 5-year term, provided under this subsection to 
     an eligible entity shall be not more than $300,000 annually 
     (as such amount is annually adjusted by the Administrator to 
     reflect the change in inflation).
       ``(B) Continuation grants.--The Administrator may award a 
     continuation grant, which shall be for a 5-year term, of not 
     more than $300,000 annually (as such 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). 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 the 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 counseling and training described under 
     subsection (b)(2);
       ``(ii) providing training and services to a representative 
     number of women who are socially or economically 
     disadvantaged; and
       ``(iii) working with resource partners of the 
     Administration and other entities; and
       ``(C) a 5-year plan that--
       ``(i) includes information relating to the assistance to be 
     provided by the women's business center in the area in which 
     the women's business center is located;
       ``(ii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to meet 
     the needs of the market to be served by the women's business 
     center, including the ability to obtain the matching funds 
     required under subsection (e); and
       ``(iii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to 
     provide counseling and training described under subsection 
     (b)(2), including to a representative number of women who are 
     socially or 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 training;
       ``(B) the amount of time needed for the applicant to 
     commence operation of a women's business center;
       ``(C) in consultation with a Women's Business Center 
     Association, the capacity of the applicant to meet the 
     accreditation standards established under subsection (k)(4) 
     in a timely manner;
       ``(D) the ability of the applicant to sustain operations, 
     including the applicant's ability to obtain sufficient non-
     Federal funds, 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 population density of the area to be served by 
     the women's business center operated by the applicant; and
       ``(G) the advice and counsel of a Women's Business Center 
     Association to determine areas with unmet needs and the 
     likelihood that the recipient will become accredited.
       ``(2) Selection criteria.--
       ``(A) Rulemaking.--The Administrator shall issue 
     regulations to specify the criteria for review and selection 
     of applicants under this subsection.
       ``(B) Modifications prohibited after announcement.--With 
     respect to a public announcement of any opportunity to be 
     awarded a grant under this section made by the Administrator 
     pursuant to subsection (l)(1), the Administrator may not 
     modify regulations issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) with 
     respect to such opportunity unless required to do so by an 
     Act of Congress or an order of a Federal court.
       ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph may 
     be construed as prohibiting the Administrator from modifying 
     the regulations issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) (after 
     providing an opportunity for notice and comment) as such 
     regulations apply to an opportunity to be awarded a grant 
     under this section that the Administrator has not yet 
     publicly announced pursuant to subsection (l)(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 each 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 under 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 such solicitation and management 
     of the contributions received.
       ``(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 such 
     eligible entity obtains the non-Federal matching funds 
     described under paragraph (1).
       ``(5) Failure to obtain matching funds.--If an eligible 
     entity fails to obtain the required matching funds described 
     under 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. Before approving 
     such eligible entity for a continuation grant under this 
     section, the Administrator shall make a written 
     determination, including the reasons for such determination, 
     of whether the Administrator believes that the eligible 
     entity will be able to obtain the requisite funding under 
     paragraph (1) for such 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 non-
     Federal matching funds for a grant awarded under this section 
     for the eligible entity for a one-year term of the grant. The 
     Administrator may not issue such a waiver for more than a 
     total of 2 consecutive one-year terms.
       ``(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 above 
     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 such 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 using funds from the Women's 
     Business Center Program.
       ``(8) Carryover.--Excess non-Federal dollars described in 
     paragraph (7) may be used to satisfy the matching funds 
     requirement under paragraph (1) for the subsequent one-year 
     grant term, if applicable, except that such amounts shall be 
     subject to the requirements of part 200 of title 2, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto.
       ``(f) Other Requirements.--

[[Page H8270]]

       ``(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 grants 
     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 such 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, within 45 calendar days 
     of receiving a copy of the results of such examination, 
     provide the Assistant Administrator with a plan of action, 
     including specific milestones, for correcting such problems.
       ``(B) Plan of action review by the assistant 
     administrator.--The Assistant Administrator shall review each 
     plan of action submitted under subparagraph (A) within 30 
     calendar days of receiving such plan. If the Assistant 
     Administrator determines that such plan--
       ``(i) will bring the eligible entity into compliance with 
     all the terms of the grant agreement, the Assistant 
     Administrator shall approve such 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 such reasons in 
     writing and provide such determination to the eligible entity 
     within 15 calendar days of such 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 such 
     plan to the Assistant Administrator.
       ``(D) Amended plan review by the assistant administrator.--
     Within 15 calendar days of the receipt of an amended plan of 
     action under subparagraph (C), the Assistant Administrator 
     shall either approve or reject such plan and provide such 
     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 under subparagraph (D), the eligible entity 
     shall have the opportunity to appeal such decision to the 
     Administrator, who may delegate such appeal to an appropriate 
     officer of the Administration.
       ``(ii) Opportunity for explanation.--Any appeal described 
     under clause (i) shall provide an opportunity for the 
     eligible entity to provide, in writing, an explanation of why 
     the eligible entity's amended plan 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 eligible 
     entity's amended plan of action 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) Consultation with majority women's business center 
     association.--If 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 
     Association, the Administrator shall--
       ``(A) recognize the existence and activities of such 
     Association; and
       ``(B) consult with the Association on, and negotiate with 
     the Association in 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) governing the general operations and administration 
     of women's business centers, specifically including the 
     development of regulations and a uniform negotiated 
     cooperative agreement for use on an annual basis when 
     entering into individual negotiated agreements with women's 
     business centers.
       ``(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 such 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 such 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--
       ``(A) shall consider the results of the most recent 
     examination of the eligible entity under paragraph (1);
       ``(B) shall 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 the women's business 
     center for purposes of the management report under subsection 
     (m)(1), or the information provided by the center is 
     inadequate; and
       ``(C) shall consider the accreditation status as described 
     in subsection (k)(4).
       ``(h) Notice and Comment Required.--The Administrator may 
     only make a change to the standards by which an eligible 
     entity obtains or maintains grants under this section, the 
     standards for accreditation, or any other requirement for the 
     operation of a women's business center if the Administrator 
     first provides notice and the opportunity for public comment, 
     as set forth in section 553(b) of title 5, United States 
     Code, without regard to any exceptions provided for under 
     such section.
       ``(i) 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 
     such a contract does not hinder the ability of the eligible 
     entity to carry out the terms of a grant received under this 
     section.
       ``(2) Administrator.--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. 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 any such 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.
       ``(j) Privacy Requirements.--
       ``(1) 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 section without the consent of such individual or 
     small business concern, unless--
       ``(A) the Administrator orders such disclosure after the 
     Administrator is ordered to make such a disclosure by a court 
     in any civil or criminal enforcement action initiated by a 
     Federal or State agency; or
       ``(B) the Administrator considers such a disclosure to be 
     necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of 
     a women's business center, except that such a disclosure 
     shall be limited to the information necessary for such audit.
       ``(2) Administration use of information.--This subsection 
     shall not--
       ``(A) restrict Administration access 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 such individuals.
       ``(3) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue 
     regulations to establish standards for disclosures for 
     purposes of a financial audit described under paragraph 
     (1)(B).
       ``(k) Office of Women's Business Ownership.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     Administration an Office of Women's Business Ownership, which 
     shall be 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). The Office of 
     Women's Business Ownership shall be administered by

[[Page H8271]]

     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 a Senior Executive Service position 
     under section 3132(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code. The 
     Assistant Administrator shall serve as 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, not-for-profit 
     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 this paragraph, 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 such 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 Association to provide assistance in 
     establishing the standards required under subparagraph (A) or 
     for carrying out an accreditation program pursuant to such 
     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.--After the end of the 2-
     year period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
     subsection, 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 such 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.--Each women's business center 
     shall participate in annual professional development at an 
     annual conference facilitated by a Women's Business Center 
     Association.
       ``(l) 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 such a grant, an opportunity to debrief with 
     the Administrator to review the reasons for the applicant's 
     failure.
       ``(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, within 30 
     calendar days of the completion of such visit or evaluation.
       ``(m) Annual Management Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall prepare and 
     submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate an annual report on the 
     effectiveness of women's business centers operated through a 
     grant awarded under this section.
       ``(2) Contents.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       ``(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 number of persons advised and trained through the 
     Women's Business Center Program;
       ``(C) the total number of hours of advising and training 
     through the Program;
       ``(D) the demographics of Program participants to include 
     gender, race, and age of each such 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 amount of capital secured by participants in the 
     Program, including through loans and equity investment;
       ``(I) the number of participants in the Program receiving 
     financial assistance, including the type and dollar amount, 
     under the loan programs 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) to the maximum extent practicable, increases or 
     decreases in revenues for the assisted small business 
     concerns;
       ``(L) the number of referrals made to other resources and 
     programs of the Administration;
       ``(M) the results of satisfaction surveys of participants, 
     including a summary of any comments received from such 
     participants; and
       ``(N) any recommendations by the Administrator to improve 
     the delivery of services by women's business centers.
       ``(n) 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 2020 through 2023.
       ``(2) Use of amounts.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     amounts made available under this subsection for fiscal year 
     2020, 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, the following amounts shall be 
     available for costs incurred by the Administration in 
     connection with the management and administration of the 
     program under this section:
       ``(i) For the first fiscal year beginning after the date of 
     the enactment of this subparagraph, 2.65 percent.
       ``(ii) For the second fiscal year beginning after the date 
     of the enactment of this subparagraph and each fiscal year 
     thereafter through fiscal year 2023, 2.5 percent.
       ``(3) Expedited acquisition.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the Administrator may use such 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 sources 
     are provided a reasonable opportunity to submit proposals.
       ``(4) Accreditation and annual conference.--Not less than 
     $500,000 of the amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph 
     (1) for a fiscal year shall be available for purposes of 
     carrying out subsection (k), of which no less than $50,000 
     shall be available to support an annual conference described 
     under subsection (k)(6).''.

     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, as amended by this Act, to a 
     nonprofit organization receiving a grant under section 29(m) 
     of the Small

[[Page H8272]]

     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), 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 the enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator of Small Business Administration 
     shall issue such 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 such 
     rules is not less than 60 days.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 
4405, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act.
  Women's Business Centers, or WBCs, are a critical component of SBA's 
entrepreneurial ecosystem. WBCs were created to assist small businesses 
primarily owned by women, many of whom are socially and economically 
disadvantaged.

                              {time}  1545

  The WBC program funds more than 100 centers nationwide and offers a 
full range of counseling and training services for all stages of 
business development. Many of the WBCs provide multilingual services, 
maintain evening and weekend hours to accommodate clients who work full 
time, and allow children to attend training sessions with their 
mothers.
  In fiscal year 2018, the WBC program trained and advised more than 
150,000 clients and created nearly 12,000 small businesses. It has also 
proven to be a great return on investment, just like the SBDCs. For 
every dollar invested in WBCs, $46 is returned to the economy. And, 
with women making up the fastest growing sector of entrepreneurs, it is 
imperative to invest in modernizing and adequately funding the program.
  The Women's Business Centers Improvements Act increases the 
authorization level to $31.5 million each year and lifts the cap on 
individual center grants to $300,000, allowing more established centers 
to expand their reach to greater numbers of women entrepreneurs, 
particularly those of whom are socially and economically disadvantaged.
  Additionally, this legislation makes key changes to the program, 
enabling the WBCs to serve more of America's nearly 30 million women-
owned small businesses. By eliminating unnecessary reporting 
requirements and creating a transparent and consultative process 
between SBA and the Association of Women's Business Centers, the bill 
guarantees WBCs can meet the growing demand for their services.
  I want to thank Representative Davids and Representative Hagedorn for 
their diligence in working to get this bill right and ensuring that 
women entrepreneurs across the country have continued access to vital 
counseling and training.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bipartisan bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4405, the Women's Business 
Centers Improvements Act of 2019. I commend and thank the two lead 
sponsors of this legislation, Ms. Davids of Kansas and Mr. Hagedorn of 
Minnesota, for their leadership. This makes key updates to the SBA's 
Office of Women's Business Ownership and the Women's Business Center 
program, or WBC.
  The WBC program funds more than 100 nonprofit organizations that 
provide training, counseling, and technical assistance specifically 
tailored to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs. Many WBCs offer 
training at night or in multiple languages to ensure that women 
entrepreneurs have the tools and support they need when creating or 
sustaining a business.
  Last year, WBCs trained over 114,000 clients and advised over 26,000 
individuals. This training and counseling contributed to the creation 
of more than 17,000 new small businesses in the United States. The 
Women's Business Center program has a profound impact not only in our 
local communities, but also on our Nation's economy overall.
  H.R. 4405, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act of 2019, 
builds on H.R. 1680, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act of 
2018, which passed the House back in May of 2018.
  This bill raises the initial 5-year grant amount and indexes it for 
inflation. This minor increase provides new and existing women's 
business centers with the support they need to provide an effective 
course curriculum to small business clients.
  Additionally, H.R. 4405 requires the SBA to establish a WBC 
accreditation program. This program, similar to the successful Small 
Business Development Center accreditation program, will ensure 
programmatic consistency among WBC locations and guarantee that each 
center is providing women entrepreneurs with effective training 
opportunities.
  These updates will ensure that the funds supporting the WBC program 
are used efficiently to foster economic growth.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support 
it. I, again, want to commend the two leaders on this important 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids), sponsor of the bill.
  Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote yes 
on H.R. 4405, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act of 2019, 
which would increase access to vital resources and opportunities for 
female entrepreneurs in Kansas and across the country.
  I thank Ranking Member Chabot and Chairwoman Velazquez for their 
commitment to small businesses in our country.
  I thank my fellow Small Business Committee member, Representative 
Hagedorn, for cosponsoring and co-leading this bipartisan piece of 
legislation with me.
  This bill helps to strengthen the Women's Business Center program, 
which funds more than 100 women's business centers, also known as WBCs, 
across the country and in the district I represent in Kansas.
  These centers provide small business owners, many of whom are 
socially and economically disadvantaged, with critical counseling and 
training at all stages of their business development.
  Many WBCs provide multilingual services, maintain evening and weekend 
hours to accommodate clients who work full time, and allow children to 
attend sessions with their mothers.
  The value of WBCs cannot be overstated. Women are the fastest growing 
sector of entrepreneurs in our country. We often forget that up until 
1988, women would have a hard time applying for a business loan without 
a male relative to cosign it.
  Now, more than 11.6 million businesses in the United States are owned 
by women, and more than 5.4 million businesses are majority owned by 
women of color.
  But even though we have made great progress, many unique challenges 
still exist for women, particularly women of color, to start and grow a 
business. These include things like limited access to funding resources 
and the support system needed to get a business off the ground and 
maintain its success.

  I see this firsthand when I am doing a ``Sharice's Shift'' in my 
district. It is our outreach program where I work at a local business 
and spend time with that business owner in my community.
  WBCs are critical in addressing a whole range of women's 
entrepreneurial needs. They provide training, mentoring, business 
development, and

[[Page H8273]]

financing opportunities for 145,000 women entrepreneurs each year.
  The Kansas City Women's Business Center, located in Fairway, Kansas--
which I proudly represent--serves over 600 clients annually in both 
Kansas and Missouri through business trainings, workshops, counseling, 
and access to capital programs.
  That is why it is so important to support the WBC program. Despite 
the tremendous growth of the program since its creation in 1988, its 
resources have not kept up with the even greater growth of women 
entrepreneurs.
  My bill would authorize funding for the WBC program for 4 years at 
$31.5 million. It is currently at $18 million. This increase ensures 
the program can reach even more women.
  It would also increase the cap on individual center grants to 
$300,000 and index for inflation for the first time since the program's 
creation.
  According to a survey conducted by the Association of Women Business 
Centers, 70 percent of the centers could match at least $300,000. And 
it would establish an accreditation program to strengthen WBCs and 
raise the standards of excellence for training and counseling women 
entrepreneurs.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Women's Business 
Centers Improvements Act and help ensure that we can create a level 
playing field for female entrepreneurs that sets them up for success.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Hagedorn), the principal sponsor on the 
legislation on the Republican side.
  Mr. HAGEDORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Chabot for yielding 
the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4405, the Women's 
Business Centers Improvements Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Davids, for 
sponsoring this bill, introducing it, and inviting me to co-author it. 
I appreciate her leadership on this.
  This bipartisan legislation works to support women entrepreneurs 
nationwide by modernizing and strengthening the Women's Business 
Centers program. Our bill will increase access to training, counseling, 
assistance programs, capital, and workforce investment. All these 
measures are essential to create new businesses, expand enterprises, 
and grow our United States economy.
  Millions of women own small businesses in the United States, and that 
is a wonderful thing. Entrepreneurship and the Women's Business Center 
program are essential for empowering women to become business owners. 
By enhancing these services, we increase the ability to inspire and 
foster new generations of business leaders.
  Small business is the job-producing backbone of our American economy. 
Whether you are in southern Minnesota, eastern Kansas, or communities 
across our Nation, it is critical that we foster an environment of 
growth where entrepreneurs of all stripes have access to the resources 
they need to succeed and are not stymied by excessive regulations, 
taxes, and other antibusiness burdens.
  According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, as of 
2017, more than 11.6 million firms are owned and operated by women. 
These firms employ almost 9 million people and generate $1.7 trillion 
in revenue.
  To keep our economy growing, we must embrace, encourage, and promote 
emerging enterprises, including those owned by folks who do not fit the 
traditional mode of business owners to get started.
  One of the great success stories that we have in women 
entrepreneurship is that of Christine Lantinen and her candy company in 
Minnesota's First District out of Le Center, Minnesota. The company is 
called Maud Borup.
  In May I had the opportunity to tour the 112-year-old wholesale 
confections company that specializes in gourmet candy, baking kits, 
food kits, and lots of other things, including gummy bears, the best I 
have ever enjoyed, to be honest with you.
  Maud Borup started as a woman-owned, brick-and-mortar candy shop in 
St. Paul, even before women had the right to vote. Today, it is a 
wholesale company, continuing to offer opportunities for women. Ninety-
six percent of its more than 100 employees are women.
  Christine, an Army veteran, no less, bought the company in 2005 and 
has expanded the company's employment by 2,000 percent and sales by 
2,500 percent. To put that into perspective, sales have gone from 
$500,000 all the way to $20 million in just 10 years. And for good 
reason. She was named the Small Business Person of the Year in 
Minnesota for 2019.

  She served her country and now she is serving her community by 
expanding jobs and economic opportunity for folks in southern 
Minnesota. This is one of the types of success stories that we are 
trying to emulate and replicate all across the country with our 
legislation, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act.
  Our legislation will fund more than 100 nonprofit organizations that 
provide training, counseling, and technical assistance, specifically 
for women entrepreneurs.
  Our bill, as the ranking member said, expands upon the success of 
H.R. 1680, which was passed by the House in May of 2018, but didn't 
quite make it into law. Our legislation will make key improvements for 
the Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business 
Ownership and the Women's Business Center program by raising the 
initial grant amount to $300,000 and increasing the authorization level 
to $31.5 million for fiscal years 2020 through 2023.
  This legislation establishes an accreditation program to strengthen 
Women's Business Centers by increasing accountability and raising the 
standards of excellence for training and counseling of women 
entrepreneurs and will also create a transparent and consultative 
process for the selection of new center locations, while also requiring 
an annual report to ensure transparency and measure the effectiveness 
of the overall program.
  Most importantly, the bill will help facilitate small business 
creation, provide much-needed reforms that will be a helping hand to 
women business owners, free aspiring entrepreneurs of undue burdens and 
barriers to entry, further economic expansion, and help hardworking 
Americans achieve their dreams.
  I am incredibly proud of the bipartisan nature of this bill. I thank, 
again, Congresswoman Davids for introducing and managing the bill. I am 
proud to stand with her to champion women-owned enterprises. And a 
special thanks to the Committee on Small Business, of course our chair, 
Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Chabot for the bipartisan 
support that they have offered.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4405.

                              {time}  1600

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I am 
prepared to close if the gentleman doesn't have any other speakers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In closing, although a little less than 40 percent of all firms in 
the United States are women owned, that number has increased by 114 
percent over the last 10 years. With women-owned firms growing more 
than 2.5 times faster than other businesses, it is important to 
recognize women entrepreneurs as a driving force in today's economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has nearly 30 million women-owned 
firms, more than one-third of all firms. Our economy relies heavily on 
women-owned small businesses, as they generate over $1.9 trillion in 
revenues and employ 9.4 million workers.
  H.R. 4405 ensures that they have access to the tools they need to 
succeed.
  The good news is, women-owned small businesses are growing two times 
faster, on average, than all businesses nationwide, and women of color 
are launching businesses 4.5 times faster than all businesses.
  The discouraging news is that half of aspiring women business owners 
report a lack of available mentors. We must take action to break down 
the barriers hindering their success. That is why it is imperative for 
us to pass this legislation today, ensuring access to

[[Page H8274]]

mentorship and professional guidance to the fastest growing group of 
entrepreneurs.
  The Women's Business Centers Improvements Act builds on their success 
by creating uniformity through accreditation for WBCs and increasing 
maximum grant levels to ensure they have the resources to meet demands 
for their services.
  We all agree that women business owners offer invaluable 
contributions to our economy. By passing this bill, we are standing 
with women.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4405.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________