[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2805-S2806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1559. Mr. WICKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for Technology
and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to establish a
regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and report on
economic security, science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and
job creation, to establish a critical supply chain resiliency program,
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. REACHING AMERICA'S RURAL MINORITY BUSINESSES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agency.--The term ``Agency'' means the Minority
Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of
the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a historically Black college or university; or
(B) a consortium of institutions of higher education that
is led by a historically Black college or university.
(4) Historically black college or university.--The term
``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning
given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(5) Institution of higher education.--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).
(6) MBDA center.--The term ``MBDA center'' means any
business center established by the Agency.
(7) MBDC agreement.--The term ``MBDC agreement'' means a
collaborative agreement entered into between the Agency and
an eligible entity under subsection (b)(2)(B).
(8) Minority business enterprise.--The term ``minority
business enterprise'' has the meaning given the term in
section 1108(a) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9007(a)).
(9) Rural area.--The term ``rural area'' means an area
located outside a metropolitan statistical area (as
designated by the Office of Management and Budget).
(10) Rural business center.--The term ``rural business
center'' means an MBDA center with the functions described in
subsection (b)(3).
(11) Rural minority business enterprise.--The term ``rural
minority business enterprise'' means a minority business
enterprise located in a rural area.
(b) Business Centers.--
(1) In general.--The Agency may establish not more than 10
rural business centers.
(2) Partnership.--
(A) In general.--The agency shall establish each rural
business center in partnership with an eligible entity in
accordance with subparagraph (B).
(B) MBDC agreement.--
(i) In general.--With respect to each rural business center
established by the Agency, the Agency shall enter into a
collaborative agreement with an eligible entity that provides
that--
(I) the eligible entity shall provide space, facilities,
and staffing for the rural business center;
(II) the Agency shall provide funding for, and oversight
with respect to, the rural business center; and
(III) subject to clause (ii), the eligible entity shall
match 20 percent of the amount of the funding provided by the
Agency under subclause (II), which may be calculated to
include the costs of providing the space, facilities, and
staffing under subclause (I).
(ii) Lower match requirement.--Based on the available
resources of an eligible entity, the Agency may enter into a
collaborative agreement with the eligible entity that
provides that the eligible entity shall match less than 20
percent of the amount of the funding provided by the Agency
under clause (i)(II).
(C) Term.--The term of an MBDC agreement shall be 5 years.
(D) Renewal.--The Agency and an eligible entity may agree
to extend the term of an MBDC agreement with respect to a
rural business center for an additional 5 years.
(3) Functions.--A rural business center shall--
(A) primarily serve clients that are--
(i) rural minority business enterprises; or
(ii) minority business enterprises that are located more
than 50 miles from an MBDA center (other than that rural
business center);
(B) focus on issues relating to--
(i) the adoption of broadband internet access service (as
defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, or any successor regulation), digital literacy
skills, and e-commerce by rural minority business
enterprises;
(ii) advanced manufacturing;
(iii) the promotion of manufacturing in the United States;
(iv) ways in which rural minority business enterprises can
meet gaps in the supply
[[Page S2806]]
chain of critical supplies and essential goods and services
for the United States;
(v) improving the connectivity of rural minority business
enterprises through transportation and logistics;
(vi) promoting trade and export opportunities by rural
minority business enterprises;
(vii) securing financial capital; and
(viii) facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas; and
(C) provide education, training, and technical assistance
to minority business enterprises.
(4) Applications.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Agency shall issue a request for
applications from eligible entities that desire to enter into
MBDC agreements with the Agency.
(B) Criteria and priority.--In selecting an eligible entity
with which to enter into an MBDC agreement, the Agency
shall--
(i) select an eligible entity that demonstrates--
(I) the ability to collaborate with governmental and
private sector entities to leverage capabilities of minority
business enterprises through public-private partnerships;
(II) the research and extension capacity to support
minority business enterprises;
(III) knowledge of the community that the eligible entity
serves and the ability to conduct effective outreach to that
community to advance the goals of a rural business center;
(IV) the ability to provide innovative business solutions,
including access to contracting opportunities, markets, and
capital;
(V) the ability to provide services that advance the
development of science, technology, engineering, and math
jobs within minority business enterprises;
(VI) the ability to leverage resources from within the
eligible entity to advance a rural business center;
(VII) that the mission of the eligible entity aligns with
the mission of the Agency; and
(VIII) the ability to leverage relationships with rural
minority business enterprises; and
(ii) give priority to an eligible entity located in a State
or region that lacks an MBDA center, as of the date of
enactment of this Act.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Agency to establish rural business
centers under this subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2026.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Agency shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
(1) a summary of the efforts of the Agency to provide
services to minority business enterprises located in States
that lack an MBDA center, as of the date of enactment of this
Act, and especially in those States that have significant
minority populations; and
(2) recommendations for extending the outreach of the
Agency to underserved areas.
(d) Study and Report.--
(1) In general.--The Agency, in coordination with the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall
conduct a study on the ways in which minority business
enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of the United
States, with a particular focus on the supply chain of
advanced manufacturing and essential goods and services.
(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Agency shall submit to Congress a
report that includes--
(A) the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1);
and
(B) recommendations on the ways in which minority business
enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of the United
States.
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