[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4465-H4470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTERS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2022

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6441) 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. 6441

       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 
     Improvement Act of 2022''.

     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, if 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), unless such 
     institution is currently receiving a grant under section 21;
       ``(D) a development, credit, or finance corporation 
     chartered by a State, if such 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) Resource partners.--The term `resource partners' 
     means small business development centers, chapters of the 
     Service Corps of Retired Executives (established under 
     section 8(b)(1)(B)), and Veteran Business Outreach Centers 
     (described under section 32).
       ``(5) 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.
       ``(6) 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.
       ``(b) Authority.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established a Women's 
     Business Center Program under which the Administrator may 
     enter into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity to 
     provide a grant to such 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.--A women's business center established 
     using funds made available under this section shall be 
     designed to provide entrepreneurial counseling and training 
     that meets the needs of the small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women, especially such concerns owned and 
     controlled by women who are both socially and economically 
     disadvantaged (as defined under section 8(a)), and shall 
     provide--
       ``(A) financial assistance, including counseling and 
     training on how to--
       ``(i) apply for and secure business credit and investment 
     capital;
       ``(ii) prepare and present financial statements; and
       ``(iii) manage cash flow and other financial operations of 
     a small business concern;
       ``(B) management assistance, including counseling and 
     training on how to plan, organize, staff, direct, and control 
     each major activity and function of a small business concern; 
     and
       ``(C) marketing assistance, including counseling and 
     training on how to--
       ``(i) identify and segment domestic and international 
     market opportunities;
       ``(ii) prepare and execute marketing plans;
       ``(iii) develop pricing strategies;
       ``(iv) locate contract opportunities;
       ``(v) negotiate contracts; and
       ``(vi) use various 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.--

[[Page H4466]]

       ``(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 each 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 entrepreneurial counseling and training 
     described under subsection (b)(2);
       ``(ii) providing training and services to a representative 
     number of women who are both socially and economically 
     disadvantaged; and
       ``(iii) working with resource partners, offices of the 
     Administration, and other public and private entities 
     engaging in entrepreneurial and small business development; 
     and
       ``(C) a 5-year plan that--
       ``(i) includes information relating to the assistance to be 
     provided by each women's business center in the area in which 
     each such center is located;
       ``(ii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to meet 
     the needs of the market to be served by each women's business 
     center;
       ``(iii) describes the ability of the eligible entity to 
     obtain the matching funds required under subsection (e); and
       ``(iv) describes the ability of the eligible entity to 
     provide entrepreneurial counseling and training described 
     under subsection (b)(2), including to a representative number 
     of women who are both socially and 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 counseling and 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 matching funds 
     under subsection (e), 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 every 
     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 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 matching 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 
     matching funds under paragraph (1) for a grant awarded under 
     this section for the eligible entity for a 1-year term of the 
     grant.
       ``(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 
     greater than 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 by using funds granted under the 
     Women's Business Center Program.
       ``(8) Carryover.--An eligible entity may use excess non-
     Federal dollars described in paragraph (7) to satisfy the 
     matching funds requirement under paragraph (1) for the 
     subsequent 1-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.--
       ``(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 grant funds 
     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 a cooperative agreement described in 
     subsection (b), the Assistant Administrator shall approve 
     such plan; or
       ``(ii) is inadequate to remedy the problems identified in 
     the annual examination to

[[Page H4467]]

     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 on the date of the enactment of this 
     subsection, 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 cooperative agreements with women's 
     business centers.
       ``(6) Enforcement.--
       ``(A) Grants.--The Assistant Administrator shall develop 
     policies and procedures to minimize the possibility of 
     awarding a grant to an eligible entity that will operate a 
     women's business center that likely will not remain in 
     compliance with program and financial requirements.
       ``(B) Individual cooperative agreements.--The Assistant 
     Administrator shall enforce the terms of any individual 
     cooperative agreement described in paragraph (5)(B)(iii).
       ``(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 a 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).
       ``(3) Additional oversight.--The Assistant Administrator 
     shall work with the Women's Business Center Association 
     recognized under subsection (f)(5) (as applicable) to 
     develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures for 
     conducting financial examinations under this subsection and 
     to maintain internal controls that ensure that such financial 
     examinations are conducted properly.
       ``(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 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

[[Page H4468]]

     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 counseled and trained through 
     the Women's Business Center Program;
       ``(C) the total number of hours of counseling 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 2022 through 2025.
       ``(2) Use of amounts.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     amounts made available under this subsection for fiscal year 
     2022, 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 2025, 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 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 Missouri (Mr.

[[Page H4469]]

Luetkemeyer) each will control 20 minutes.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  April 26, 2022, on page H4468, in the third column, the 
following appeared: The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, 
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro 
tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Velazquez) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  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 today in support of H.R. 6441, the Women's 
Business Center Improvement Act of 2022. This bill will modernize and 
strengthen the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Center 
program to better serve America's women entrepreneurs and women-owned 
small businesses.
  I thank Ms. Davids and Ms. Tenney for their meaningful work to ensure 
women entrepreneurs across the country have continued access to vital 
counseling and training.
  WBCs are a critic component of SBA's Resource Partner ecosystem, 
assisting women in communities across the country, particularly those 
that are socially and economically disadvantaged.
  The WBC program forms more than 130 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 provide childcare.
  In fiscal year 2020, with the additional funding provided by the 
CARES Act, the WBC program increased their reach by 22 percent and 
trained and advised more than 82,000 clients, helping them create 
nearly 30,000 small businesses.
  As we all know, women were particularly hard-hit by the pandemic. 
Women-owned businesses closed at higher rates than their male 
counterparts as women disproportionately left the workforce to be the 
primary caregivers for their families.
  That is why I am pleased to support the Women's Business Centers 
Improvement Act of 2022, which increases the program's annual 
authorization level and increases the cap on individual center grants. 
By doing so, more established centers can expand their reach to greater 
numbers of women.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this bipartisan bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 6441, the Women's Business 
Centers Improvement Act of 2022.
  Women's Business Centers, WBCs, support over 150,000 women 
entrepreneurs each year through training, mentoring, business 
development, and financing opportunities. This legislation, H.R. 6441, 
will bring increased oversight to the WBC program and long overdue 
modernizations.
  This legislation improves collaboration with the SBA's Office of 
Women's Business Ownership and requires the SBA to provide an annual 
report to Congress to measure the effectiveness of the WBC program.
  We have found that we have got some problems with some of the WBC 
offices, and this legislation will help weed out the bad actors by 
requiring SBA to develop policies and procedures to reduce the 
possibility of awarding grants to a WBC that will likely not remain in 
compliance with the program.
  This important legislation will not only ensure the integrity of the 
WBC program, but also support female entrepreneurs in their business 
ventures.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Davids and Ms. Tenney for 
working in a bipartisan manner to ensure this bill reached the House 
floor. I thank the chair for advancing this bill.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6441, which was 
unanimously reported out of our committee and has previously passed the 
House floor in a similar form.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Kansas (Ms. Davids), the chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, 
Tax, and Capital Access.
  Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and 
our ranking member for all the work they are doing on the House 
Committee on Small Business.
  I rise today to urge my colleagues to stand up for the small business 
owners in their community and vote for my bill to support the Women's 
Business Centers.
  Women are the engine of our economy. Women-owned businesses employ 
9.4 million people nationwide, contributing $1.2 trillion to our 
economy each year. When we invest in the success of women, we are 
giving our entire economy a boost.
  Women's Business Centers are an effective resource that reach more 
than 88,000 entrepreneurs each year through training, mentorship, and 
counseling. In 2020 alone, the WBC program increased its outreach by 22 
percent and helped start and sustain more than 30,000 small businesses.
  To put it clearly, during the pandemic, they increased their 
outreach. That is a solid record of success made even more impressive 
by the commitment to stepping up when they were needed the most.
  I have visited with the local Kansas City Women's Business Center in 
Overland Park. They serve the Kansas City metro area and the entire 
State of Kansas. I have also spoken with women who have used their 
services, folks like Lenora, who started Technology Group Solutions 15 
years ago with the help of the Kansas City Women's Business Center. She 
now oversees more than 80 employees in three States.
  She told me that she hears from women who don't have the network or 
access to capital that they need to get their businesses off the 
ground. She sends them to the WBC because when Lenora first started her 
business, the center helped fill those gaps, paving the way for her to 
grow what is now a multimillion-dollar company.
  Other women I have spoken with specifically cite the WBC's evening 
and weekend hours and that they offer childcare during training 
sessions. It is those tailored services that have made these centers 
such a crucial contributor to the success of so many businessowners.
  My bill, which we are voting on today, will enhance the WBC program 
to ensure that women entrepreneurs all across the country have access 
to counseling and training services. I have seen it in action, and it 
is why I introduced and strongly support this bipartisan piece of 
legislation.
  It would raise the cap on grants for the first time since the program 
began and create an accreditation system to help establish standards of 
excellence, ensuring that our funds are being spent wisely to help 
growing entrepreneurs.
  The Kansas City Women's Business Center served more than 800 clients 
last year. How many more businesses could they grow? How many more 
aspiring entrepreneurs could they reach with more resources?
  I am proud to have introduced this important piece of legislation 
alongside Congresswoman Tenney, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney), a strong advocate for small 
businesses and the ranking member of the Small Business Subcommittee 
for Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6441, 
the Women's Business Centers Improvement Act, legislation that I am 
honored to lead with my colleague, Representative Sharice Davids.
  Female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses play a critical role 
in our Nation's economy. As a longtime small business owner myself, and 
the owner of a woman-owned business, I understand the challenges women-
owned small businesses face, especially in rural communities.
  The Women's Business Center program at the Small Business 
Administration has been helping women overcome obstacles and build 
thriving businesses for over 30 years. With more than 150 locations 
across the Nation, the Women's Business Center program provides over 
150,000 female small business owners annually with resources

[[Page H4470]]

and guidance, helping them to identify opportunities for growth.
  The bipartisan Women's Business Centers Improvement Act will 
strengthen the Women's Business Center program, increase authorized 
funding, and enact commonsense taxpayer protections and oversight 
provisions to safeguard public dollars and ensure that the program 
efficiently serves the American people.
  Additionally, the bill will expand the cap on grants made available 
under this program, which will better support our women entrepreneurs. 
These improvements will help the Women's Business Centers program run 
efficiently and expand into more communities, like those underserved 
communities particularly in my district and Ms. Davids' district and 
all across New York and our Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan women-owned small 
businesses bill and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6441.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).
  Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Women's 
Business Centers Improvement Act, and I thank Representatives Davids 
and Tenney for their work on this very important and bipartisan piece 
of legislation.
  As our small business owners continue to recover from the pandemic, 
Congress must do everything it can to ensure access to quality 
entrepreneurial development resources.

  Underscoring the need for this bill, a recent study in partnership 
with the Association of Women's Business Centers found that profits for 
female business owners dropped by 26 percent from 2020 to 2021, with 
average profits of about $47,000 less than male-owned firms.
  The economic pressures of the pandemic have hit women-owned 
businesses particularly hard, including increasing operating expenses 
due to supply chain disruptions and rising costs.
  As an entrepreneur myself, I recognize the challenges women business 
leaders face every day and especially in this moment. It is why I stand 
before you to talk about the importance of passing the Women's Business 
Centers Improvement Act.
  This legislation will make needed improvements to the Small Business 
Administration's successful Women's Business Center program. The bill 
will also strengthen the Office of Women's Business Ownership and will 
improve coordination between the Association of Women's Business 
Centers and the SBA.
  Furthermore, this legislation allows Congress to increase funding for 
Women's Business Center programs, which I have been proud to advocate 
for with my colleague, Representative Marie Newman.
  With these additional resources, the SBA will be able to advise and 
train more women entrepreneurs. I have seen the demand for such 
programs right in my community of Chester and Berks Counties.
  In fact, this bipartisan effort is especially impactful for our 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which has one of the highest numbers of 
women-owned businesses in the Nation. The time is now to build on that 
success.
  I thank Small Business Committee Chair Velazquez and Ranking Member 
Luetkemeyer again for helping to bring this important bill to a vote 
before the House today. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote 
``yes'' today on this bipartisan bill to support our small business 
owners.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, the WBC program has delivered for 
women-owned small businesses for many years. This legislation 
reauthorizes the program, increases accountability and oversight, and 
ensures the program continues to serve our entrepreneurs in the future.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6441, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Women are vital members of the Nation's critical small business 
community and the American economy. H.R. 6441 will modernize and 
strengthen SBA's WBC program so it can meet the moment and provide the 
necessary resources to women, particularly the ones driven out of the 
workforce during the pandemic.
  Not only have Ms. Davids and Ms. Tenney continued to work to improve 
the WBC program, but they have expanded upon our efforts last Congress 
by addressing the challenges highlighted during the public health 
emergency. I thank them for this effort.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' 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. 6441.
  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.

                          ____________________