[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 59 (Monday, March 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15413-15415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-6969]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Notice of the Establishment of a National Advisory Council on 
Minority Business Enterprise and the Solicitation of Nominations for 
Membership

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and with the concurrence of 
the General Services Administration, the Department of Commerce is 
announcing the establishment of the National Advisory Council on 
Minority Business Enterprise (NACMBE). Pursuant to this notice, the 
Department of Commerce is also soliciting nominations for membership on 
the NACMBE for the upcoming 2-year charter term beginning in April 
2010. The purpose of the NACMBE is to advise the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) on key issues pertaining to the growth and competitiveness 
of the nation's Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs).

DATES: Complete nomination packages for NACMBE membership must be 
received by the Department of Commerce on or before May 3, 2010, at 5 
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages may be submitted through the mail or may 
be submitted electronically. Interested persons are encouraged to 
submit nominations electronically. The deadline is the same for 
nominations submitted through the mail and for nominations submitted 
electronically.
    1. Submission by Mail: Nominations sent by mail should be addressed 
to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development 
Agency, Office of Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs, 
Attn: Stephen Boykin, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 5063, 
Washington, DC 20230. Applicants are advised that the Department of 
Commerce's receipt of mail sent via the United States Postal Service 
may be substantially delayed or suspended in delivery due to security 
measures. Applicants may therefore wish to use a guaranteed overnight 
delivery service to ensure nomination packages are received by the 
Department of Commerce by the deadline set forth in this notice.
    2. Electronic Submission: Nomination sent electronically should be 
addressed to: [email protected].

[[Page 15414]]

Please include ``NACMBE Nomination'' in the title of the e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Boykin, MBDA Office of 
Legislative, Education and Intergovernmental Affairs, at (202) 482-1712 
or by e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: Pursuant to Executive Order 
11625, as amended, the Department of Commerce, through the Minority 
Business Development Agency (MBDA), is charged with promoting the 
growth and competitiveness of the nation's minority business 
enterprise. NACMBE is being established in the Department of Commerce 
as a discretionary advisory committee in accordance with the provisions 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and 
with the concurrence of the General Services Administration. The NACMBE 
will be administered primarily by MBDA.
    MBEs make a substantial contribution to the U.S. economy, 
generating $661 billion in total gross receipts in 2002 and employing 
approximately 4.7 million people with an annual payroll totaling $115 
billion. This represented only 7.5 percent of the total gross receipts 
generated by all U.S. businesses (excluding publicly-held firms), 
notwithstanding that in 2002 the adult minority population represented 
29 percent of the total U.S. adult population. However, if MBEs were to 
generate total gross receipts in relation to the current minority 
population, the U.S. economy would benefit from an estimated additional 
$1.8 trillion in annual gross receipts and 11.4 million new jobs. MBEs 
also have the potential to contribute significantly to the balance of 
trade as they are twice as likely to generate sales through exports 
compared to non-minority firms.
    Obstacles such as access to capital, access to markets and access 
to business and social networks, all of which are essential for any 
businesses to increase in size and scale, continue to impede the growth 
and competiveness of MBEs. Unless these obstacles are addressed, the 
MBE community will continue to lag behind their non-minority 
counterparts undermining the nation's ability to regain its economic 
footing and to build a sustainable economy.
    Objectives and Scope of Activities: NACMBE will advise the 
Secretary on key issues pertaining to the growth and competitiveness of 
the nation's MBEs, as defined in Executive Order 11625, as amended, and 
15 CFR 1400.1. NACMBE will provide advice and recommendations on a 
broad range of policy issues that affect minority businesses and their 
ability to successfully access the domestic and global marketplace. 
These policy issues may include, but are not limited to:
     Methods for increasing jobs in the health care, 
manufacturing, technology, and ``green'' industries;
     Global and domestic barriers and impediments;
     Global and domestic business opportunities;
     MBE capacity building;
     Institutionalizing global business curriculums at colleges 
and universities and facilitating the entry of MBEs into such programs;
     Identifying and leveraging pools of capital for MBEs;
     Methods for creating high value loan pools geared toward 
MBEs with size, scale and capacity;
     Strategies for collaboration amongst minority chambers, 
trade associations and nongovernmental organizations;
     Accuracy, availability and frequency of economic data 
concerning minority businesses;
     Methods for increasing global transactions with entities 
such as but not limited to the Export-Import Bank, OPIC and the IMF; 
and
     Requirements for a uniform and reciprocal MBE 
certification program.
    The advice and recommendations provided by NACMBE may take the form 
of one or more written reports. NACMBE will also serve as a vehicle for 
an ongoing dialogue with the MBE community and with other stakeholders.
    The Secretary has determined that the establishment of NACMBE is 
necessary and in the public interest in connection with MBDA's duties 
and responsibilities in advancing the growth and competitiveness of 
MBEs pursuant to Executive Order 11625, as amended.
    Membership: NACMBE shall be composed of not more than 25 members. 
The NACMBE members shall be distinguished individuals from the 
nonfederal sector appointed by the Secretary. The members shall be 
recognized leaders in their respective fields of endeavor and shall 
possess the necessary knowledge and experience to provide advice and 
recommendations on a broad range of policy issues that impact the 
ability of MBEs to successfully participate in the domestic and global 
marketplace. NACMBE shall have a balanced membership reflecting a 
diversity of industries, ethnic backgrounds and geographical regions, 
and to the extent practicable, gender and persons with disabilities.
    NACMBE members shall be appointed as Special Government Employees 
for a two-year term and shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. 
Members may be re-appointed to additional two-year terms, without 
limitation. The Secretary may designate a member or members to serve as 
the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson(s) of NACMBE. The Chairperson or 
Vice-Chairperson(s) shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary.
    NACMBE members will serve without compensation, but will be allowed 
reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, including a per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703, as amended, for 
persons serving intermittently in Federal government service. NACMBE 
members will serve in a solely advisory capacity.
    Eligibility. In addition to the above criterion, eligibility for 
NACMBE membership is limited to U.S. citizens who are not full-time 
employees of the Federal Government, are not registered with the U.S. 
Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and are 
not a Federally-registered lobbyists pursuant to the Lobbying 
Disclosure Act of 1995, as amended, at the time of appointment to the 
NACMBE.
    Nomination Procedures and Selection of Members: The Department of 
Commerce is accepting nominations for NACMBE membership for the 
upcoming 2-year charter term beginning in April 2010. Members shall 
serve until the NACMBE charter expires in April 2012, although members 
may be re-appointed by the Secretary without limitation. Nominees will 
be evaluated consistent with the factors specified in this notice and 
their ability to successfully carryout the goals of the NACMBE.
    For consideration, a nominee must submit the following materials: 
(1) Resume, (2) personal statement of interest, including a summary of 
how the nominee's experience and expertise would support the NACMBE 
objectives; (3) an affirmative statement that the nominee is not 
required to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act of 1938, as amended, and (4) an affirmative statement 
that: (a) The nominee is not currently a Federally-registered lobbyist 
and will not be a Federally-registered lobbyist at the time of 
appointment and during his/her tenure as a NACMBE member, or (b) if the 
nominee is currently a Federally-registered lobbyist, that the nominee 
will no longer be a Federally-registered lobbyist at the time of 
appointment to the NACMBE and during his/her tenure as a NACMBE member. 
All nomination information should be provided in a single, complete 
package by the deadline specified in this notice. Nominations packages 
should be

[[Page 15415]]

submitted by either mail or electronically, but not by both methods. 
Self-nominations will be accepted.
    NACMBE Members will be selected in accordance with applicable 
Department of Commerce guidelines and in a manner that ensures that 
NACMBE has a balanced membership. In this respect, the Secretary seeks 
to appoint members who represent a diversity of industries, ethnic 
backgrounds and geographical regions, and to the extent practicable, 
gender and persons with disabilities.
    All appointments shall be made without discrimination on the basis 
of age, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or cultural, 
religious, or socioeconomic status. All appointments shall also be made 
without regard to political affiliations.

    Dated: March 23, 2010.
David A. Hinson,
National Director, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 2010-6969 Filed 3-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P