[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4470-H4473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SCORE FOR SMALL BUSINESS ACT OF 2022
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6450) to amend the Small Business Act to reauthorize the
SCORE program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6450
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 ``SCORE for Small Business Act
of 2022''.
SEC. 2. SCORE PROGRAM PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
Section 8 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B)--
(A) by striking ``a Service Corps of Retired Executives
(SCORE)'' and inserting ``the SCORE program described in
subsection (c)''; and
(B) by striking ``SCORE may'' and inserting ``the SCORE
Association (as defined in subsection (c)) may''; and
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) SCORE Program.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) SCORE association.--The term `SCORE Association'
means the Service Corps of Retired Executives Association or
any successor or other organization that enters into a
cooperative agreement (as described under paragraph (2)) with
the Administrator to operate the SCORE program.
``(B) SCORE foundation.--The term `SCORE Foundation' means
an organization with a mission to support the SCORE
Association and volunteers of the SCORE program.
``(C) SCORE program.--The term `SCORE program' means the
SCORE program authorized by subsection (b)(1)(B).
``(2) Cooperative agreement.--The Administrator shall enter
into a cooperative agreement with the SCORE Association to
carry out the SCORE program, which shall include the
following requirements:
``(A) Administrator duties.--The Administrator shall--
``(i) every 2 years, conduct a financial examination of the
SCORE Association to ensure that any costs paid for with
Federal funds are allowable, allocable, and reasonable;
``(ii) review and approve contracts entered into by the
SCORE Association to provide goods or services for the SCORE
program of a value greater than an amount determined by the
Administrator;
``(iii) maintain a system through which the SCORE
Association provides documentation relating to such
contracts; and
``(iv) within 30 days of the receipt of a quarterly report
on the achievements of the SCORE program submitted by the
SCORE Association, reconcile differences between such report
and the performance results of the SCORE program reported in
a management information system of the Office of
Entrepreneurial Development.
``(B) SCORE association duties.--The SCORE Association
shall--
``(i) manage nationwide chapters of the SCORE program;
``(ii) provide annual training to employees of the SCORE
Association on generating and using program income from the
SCORE program;
``(iii) submit documentation to the Administrator verifying
such annual training is completed;
``(iv) separate funds donated to the SCORE Association from
program income and funds received pursuant to a cooperative
agreement; and
``(v) maintain and enforce requirements for volunteers
participating in the SCORE program, including requirements
that each such volunteer shall--
``(I) based on the business experience and knowledge of the
volunteer--
``(aa) provide personal counseling, mentoring, and coaching
on the process of starting, expanding, managing, buying, and
selling a business at no cost to individuals who own, or
aspire to own, small business concerns; and
[[Page H4471]]
``(bb) facilitate free or low-cost education workshops for
individuals who own, or aspire to own, small business
concerns; and
``(II) as appropriate, use tools, resources, and expertise
of other organizations to carry out the SCORE program.
``(C) Joint duties.--The Administrator, in consultation
with the SCORE Association, shall ensure that the SCORE
program and each chapter of the SCORE program--
``(i) develop and implement plans and goals to effectively
and efficiently provide services to individuals in rural
areas, economically disadvantaged communities, or other
traditionally underserved communities, including plans for
virtual, remote, and web-based initiatives, chapter
expansion, partnerships, and the development of new skills by
volunteers participating in the SCORE program; and
``(ii) reinforce an inclusive culture by recruiting diverse
volunteers for the chapters of the SCORE program.
``(3) Online component.--In addition to providing in-person
services, the SCORE Association shall maintain and expand
online counseling services including webinars, electronic
mentoring platforms, and online toolkits to further support
entrepreneurs.
``(4) Accounting.--The SCORE Association shall--
``(A) maintain a centralized accounting and financing
system for each chapter of the SCORE program;
``(B) maintain a uniform policy and procedures to manage
Federal funds received pursuant to a cooperative agreement
described in paragraph (2); and
``(C) maintain an employee of the SCORE Association to
serve as a compliance officer to ensure expenditures of the
SCORE program are fully compliant with any law, regulation,
or cooperative agreement relating to the SCORE program.
``(5) Compensation.--
``(A) Salaries.--The salary of an employee of the SCORE
Association may not exceed the equivalent of the maximum rate
of pay allowable for an individual in the career Senior
Executive Service employed at the Administration.
``(B) Performance awards.--The SCORE Association may spend
up to 5 percent of the aggregate salaries of employees of the
SCORE Association on individual performance awards to
employees of the SCORE Association, to be disbursed before
the last day of the fiscal year, if not later than 60 days
before such disbursement the SCORE Association submits to the
Administrator a report on the number and amount of such
awards to be disbursed.
``(C) SCORE foundation.--A member of the Board of Directors
of the SCORE Association or an employee of the SCORE
Association may not simultaneously serve on the Board of
Directors of, or receive compensation from, the SCORE
Foundation without written approval from the Administrator.
``(6) Whistleblower protection requirements.--The SCORE
Association shall--
``(A) annually update all manuals or other documents
applicable to employees and volunteers of the SCORE
Association or the SCORE program to include requirements
relating to reporting procedures and protectors for
whistleblowers; and
``(B) conduct an annual training for employees and
volunteers of the SCORE Association or the SCORE program on
the requirements described in paragraph (1) and encourage the
use of the hotline established by the Office of the Inspector
General of the Small Business Administration to submit
whistleblower reports.
``(7) Published materials.--The SCORE Association shall
ensure all published materials include written acknowledgment
of Small Business Administration support of the SCORE program
if such materials are paid for in whole or in part by Federal
funds.
``(8) Privacy requirements.--
``(A) In general.--Neither the Administrator nor the SCORE
Association may disclose the name, address, or telephone
number of any individual or small business concern receiving
assistance from the SCORE Association without the consent of
such individual or small business concern, unless--
``(i) the Administrator is ordered to make such a
disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal enforcement
action initiated by a Federal or State agency; or
``(ii) the Administrator determines such a disclosure is
necessary for the purpose of conducting a financial audit of
the SCORE program, in which case disclosure shall be limited
to the information necessary for the audit.
``(B) Administrator use of information.--This paragraph
shall not--
``(i) restrict the access of the Administrator to SCORE
program activity data; or
``(ii) prevent the Administrator from using SCORE program
client information to conduct client surveys.
``(C) Standards.--
``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall, after the
opportunity for notice and comment, establish standards for--
``(I) disclosures with respect to financial audits
described under subparagraph (A)(ii); and
``(II) conducting client surveys, including standards for
oversight of the surveys and for dissemination and use of
client information.
``(ii) Maximum privacy protection.--The standards issued
under this subparagraph shall, to the extent practicable,
provide for the maximum amount of privacy protection.
``(9) Annual report.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this subsection and annually
thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the
Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a
report on the performance and effectiveness of the SCORE
program, which may be included as part of another report
submitted to such Committees by the Administrator, and which
shall include--
``(A) the total number and the number of unique clients
counseled or trained under the SCORE program;
``(B) the number of hours of counseling provided under the
SCORE program;
``(C) the number of local workshops provided under the
SCORE program;
``(D) the number of clients attending online and local
workshops provided under the SCORE program;
``(E) to the extent practicable, the demographics of SCORE
program clients and volunteers, which shall include the
gender, race, and age of each such client or volunteer;
``(F) with respect to businesses assisted under the SCORE
program, the cost to create a job, the cost to create a
business, and return on investment;
``(G) the number of referrals of SCORE program clients to
other resources and programs of the Administration;
``(H) the number of SCORE program clients receiving
financial assistance, including the type and dollar amount,
under loan programs of the Administration;
``(I) the results of SCORE program client satisfactory
surveys, including a summary of any comments received from
such clients;
``(J) the number of new businesses started up by SCORE
program clients;
``(K) the number of such new businesses realizing revenue
growth;
``(L) to the extent practicable, the number of jobs created
with assistance from the SCORE program;
``(M) the total cost of the SCORE program;
``(N) any recommendations of the Administrator to improve
the SCORE program; and
``(O) an explanation of how the SCORE program has been
integrated with--
``(i) small business development centers;
``(ii) women's business centers (described under section
29);
``(iii) Veteran Business Outreach Centers 20 (described
under section 32);
``(iv) other offices of the Administration; and
``(v) other public and private entities engaging in
entrepreneurial and small business development.''.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SCORE
PROGRAM.
Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note)
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i) SCORE Program.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out the SCORE
program authorized by section 8(b)(1) such sums as are
necessary for the Administrator to make grants or enter into
cooperative agreements in a total amount that does not exceed
$13,500,000 in each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.''.
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Study and Report on the Future Role of the SCORE
Program.--
(1) Study.--The SCORE Association shall carry out a study
on the future role of the SCORE program and develop a
strategic plan for how the SCORE program will meet the needs
of small business concerns during the 5-year period beginning
on the date of the enactment of this Act, with specific
objectives for the first, third, and fifth years of such 5-
year period.
(2) Report.--Not later than the end of the 6-month period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the SCORE
Association shall submit to the Committee on Small Business
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small
Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report
containing--
(A) all findings and determination made in carrying out the
study required under paragraph (1);
(B) the strategic plan developed under paragraph (1); and
(C) an explanation of how the SCORE Association plans to
achieve the strategic plan, assuming both stagnant and
increased funding levels.
(b) Administrator Report on Leased Space.--Not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall
submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report containing an
assessment of the cost of leased space that is donated to the
SCORE Association.
(c) Online Component Report.--Not later than 3 months after
the last day of the first full fiscal year following the date
of the enactment of this Act, the SCORE Association shall
submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the effectiveness
of the online counseling services required under paragraph
(3) of section 8(c) of the Small Business Act, as added by
section 2 of this Act, including a description of--
(1) how the SCORE Association determines electronic
mentoring and webinar needs, develops training for electronic
mentoring, establishes webinar criteria curricula, and
[[Page H4472]]
evaluates webinar and electronic mentoring results;
(2) the internal controls that are used and a summary of
the topics covered by the webinars; and
(3) performance metrics, including the number of small
business concerns counseled by, the number of small business
concerns created by, the number of jobs created and retained
by, and the funding amounts directed towards such online
counseling services.
SEC. 5. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Small Business Act.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
631 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 7 (15 U.S.C. 636)--
(A) in subsection (b)(12)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``program''
after ``SCORE''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``Service Corps of
Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE program''; and
(B) in subsection (m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII), by striking ``Service
Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE
program''; and
(2) in section 22 (15 U.S.C. 649)--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Service Corps of
Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE program''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Service Corps of
Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE program''; and
(B) in subsection (c)(12), by striking ``Service Corps of
Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE program''.
(b) Other Laws.--
(1) Small business reauthorization act of 1997.--Section
707 of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 (15
U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by striking ``Service Corps of
Retired Executives (SCORE) program'' and inserting ``SCORE
program (as defined in section 8(c)(1) of the Small Business
Act)''.
(2) Veterans entrepreneurship and small business
development act of 1999.--Section 301 of the Veterans
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999
(15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking ``Service Core
of Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE program''.
(3) Military reservist and veteran small business
reauthorization and opportunity act of 2008.--Section 3(5) of
the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business
Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 (15 U.S.C. 636
note) is amended by striking ``the Service Corps of Retired
Executives'' and inserting ``the SCORE program''.
(4) Children's health insurance program reauthorization act
of 2009.--Section 621 of the Children's Health Insurance
Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 657p) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (4) and
inserting the following:
``(4) the term `SCORE program' means the SCORE program
authorized by section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B));''; and
(B) in subsection (b)(4)(A)(iv), by striking ``Service
Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE
program''.
(5) Energy policy and conservation act.--Section
337(d)(2)(A) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42
U.S.C. 6307(d)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``Service Corps
of Retired Executives (SCORE)'' and inserting ``SCORE
program''.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administration; administrator.--The terms
``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean, respectively,
the Small Business Administration and the Administrator
thereof.
(2) SCORE association; score program.--The terms ``SCORE
Association'' and ``SCORE program'' have the meaning given
those terms, respectively, under section 8(c)(1) of the Small
Business Act, as added by section 2 of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.
Luetkemeyer) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez).
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. 6450, the SCORE for
Small Business Act of 2022.
America's nearly 30 million small businesses represent more than 99
percent of all businesses. Since its inception, the SBA has undertaken
efforts to connect new entrepreneurs and small business owners with
more experienced businessmen and -women.
SCORE, one component of SBA's resource partner ecosystem, is uniquely
situated to make these connections. SCORE'S expansive network consists
of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and executives who volunteer as
mentors to small businesses and entrepreneurs, both in person and
online.
SCORE volunteers provide personalized advice and pull from their
personal business experience to help the next generation of business
leaders. Providing consultation on topics such as business plan
development, strategic marketing, and financing ideas, SCORE ensures
their clients receive comprehensive counseling and training while
meeting their individualized needs.
In 2020, through SCORE'S network of over 250 chapters and 10,000
volunteers, the program helped create over 45,000 new businesses and
over 74,000 new jobs. In addition, SCORE had a return on Federal
investment of over $67 for every $1 of Federal appropriations.
Increasing funding for SCORE is important to its continued success,
and I am pleased that H.R. 6450 increases its authorization to $13.5
million for 2 fiscal years.
H.R. 6450 not only reauthorizes this essential program but also takes
necessary steps to restore integrity, accounting, and performance to
the program.
The measures in the bill to expand and promote client and volunteer
diversity will ensure SCORE can reach all of America's small business
owners and entrepreneurs, no matter their background or location.
I commend Representatives Young Kim and Angie Craig for working
together to make sure that the SCORE program is strengthened while
maintaining efficient and effective operations.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support today of H.R. 6450, the SCORE for Small Business
Act.
SCORE is the largest network of free private-sector volunteer
mentors. They provide entrepreneurs with trainings on starting a
business; succession planning; and management, finance, and marketing
tools.
SCORE mentors have helped small businesses pivot their business model
during the pandemic. They have shared marketing and data analytics
expertise to help entrepreneurs grow their customer base and counseled
numerous startups on the first steps to begin a business.
In addition to reauthorizing the program, H.R. 6450 takes important
strides to add new program safeguards, data standards, and reporting
requirements.
I am confident the provisions of this bill will support small
business, improve SBA's and Congress' oversight of the SCORE program,
and ensure that the integrity of the SCORE Association is restored and
maintained.
Congresswoman Kim is a great advocate for small businesses and their
resource partners, and I appreciate her work on this legislation. I
also thank Ms. Craig and the chair for advancing this legislation.
H.R. 6450 was favorably reported out of the Committee on Small
Business unanimously and passed the House last Congress in a similar
form. I urge my colleagues to similarly pass the bill today on the
House floor.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the ranking member on the
Small Business Subcommittee of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and
Workforce Development; a small business owner herself; and a great
advocate for small businesses.
{time} 1445
Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Luetkemeyer and
Chairwoman Velazquez for their leadership on the Small Business
Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 6450,
the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022. This bipartisan bill
reauthorizes the SCORE program for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, and it
will allow SCORE to expand counseling and training through online
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webinars, electronic mentoring platforms, and online toolkits to better
serve small businesses and entrepreneurs across U.S. communities,
including the rural and underserved areas.
Additionally, this bill would better protect taxpayers' dollars
through oversight mechanisms. Since 1964, SCORE has helped over 11
million entrepreneurs to establish, expand, or service a small
business. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began early 2020, SCORE has seen
a 30 percent increase in demand for their services. Despite challenges
faced, 89 percent of SCORE clients stayed in business throughout 2020.
In 2021, the SCORE chapter in Orange County in my district helped
start 269 new small businesses and create nearly 4,000 jobs. In 2019,
prior to the pandemic, Orange County SCORE delivered 11,154 total
services. In 2021, they delivered 25,146 total services. This is a 125
percent increase and over double the rate of pre-pandemic levels.
Thanks to the volunteers and mentors in SCORE, countless small
businesses in my district have been able to keep their businesses
running and keep their employees on their payroll.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Craig, for her
partnership on this. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R.
6450 and allow SCORE to continue this public-private partnership to
support small businesses across the country.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, small businesses consistently highlight the importance
of resources to grow their business and serve their communities.
The private sector driven SCORE mentorship program is an important
tool for small businesses seeking assistance and guidance during these
challenging economic times.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 6450, 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 SCORE program has made good progress improving the
transparency, accountability, and efficacy of their organization.
Today's legislation builds upon that progress so that a critical
program can succeed well into the future.
SCORE is unique among SBA's resource partners in that they connect
clients directly with successful business mentors who have firsthand
experience and knowledge to help them with their unique situations.
H.R. 6450 will expand SCORE's ability to reach more small business
owners and entrepreneurs, particularly those in underserved and rural
communities while maintaining the program improvements SCORE has worked
hard to develop.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support of
the SCORE program. 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. 6450.
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.
____________________