An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-121 to establish a Rural Entrepreneurship Advisory Council within the Small Business Administration, comprised of appropriate officials from the SBA, the rural development programs of the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce and of representatives from the academic, small business, agriculture, and high-tech communities. The council is tasked with providing a report to Congress on rural entrepreneurship, and to provide ongoing advice and recommendations to foster rural entrepreneurs.

JOB CREATION THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACT OF 2009

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 457 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 2352.

                              {time}  1435


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 2352) to amend the Small Business Act, and for other purposes,
with Mr. Holden in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the
first time.
  The gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Graves) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this measure which will update and
improve the SBA's ED programs. This bill is a bipartisan product and
will not only strengthen small firms but will help them create new jobs
for American workers.
  This week, we are honoring our Nation's job creators, the
entrepreneurs who generate roughly 70 percent of all new positions. As
we celebrate Small Business Week this year, we find ourselves in a
different place than in celebrations past. The economic landscape has
changed considerably, and in the face of an historic recession, small
firms cannot always go it alone. After all, starting and running a
small business is no easy lift, even when times are good. That is why
the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act is so important. It revs
up the engine of our economy, the entrepreneurs who are creating jobs
and changing the way our country does business.
  This bill gives small firms the tools they need to flourish. By
enhancing SBA's entrepreneurial development programs, it will help
existing businesses grow and allow aspiring entrepreneurs to get off
the ground. These resources are critical. In fact, small firms that use
them are twice as likely to succeed than those that don't. But
unfortunately, many of these initiatives are outdated and underfunded.
Today, we will take important steps to ensure they are running at full
capacity.
  Despite declines in corporate America, the entrepreneurial spirit is
alive and well. Every month, 400,000 new businesses start up across the
country. Imagine if each of those firms had access to resources like
business development training. Through H.R. 2352 they will. This bill
provides entrepreneurs with the tools they need to do everything from
draft a business plan to secure equity capital. These services put
small firms on a level playing field, allowing them to compete in
virtually any sector, including the Federal marketplace.
  Although most industries are struggling, the Federal marketplace is
booming. With billions of stimulus dollars now in play, that sector
presents

[[Page H5843]]

enormous opportunity for entrepreneurs. But before they can crack the
industry, small firms will need to know its ins and outs. H.R. 2352
provides the training they need to do so. It also offers the necessary
technology.
  In order to adapt to new markets, many entrepreneurs will need to
retool their operations. Through cutting-edge technology programs, this
bill allows entrepreneurs everywhere to access the information they
need. In doing so, it encourages entrepreneurship in places where it
might not otherwise grow. For struggling rural regions and inner
cities, H.R. 2352 will be an economic catalyst. It will also reflect
the changing face of American business. More and more, women, veterans,
and Native Americans are starting their own firms. For these people,
entrepreneurship is more than a means of employment; it is a path to
economic independence.
  From rejuvenating rural regions to promoting entrepreneurship in
underrepresented communities, ED makes good economic sense. And in
fact, every $1 put into the program puts another $2.87 into the
Treasury. If you ask me, that's a pretty good return on investment. By
modernizing and enhancing the program, the returns will only get
better. Because at the end of the day, strengthening entrepreneurial
development programs empowers small businesses, allowing them to grow
and, perhaps most importantly, create new jobs for American workers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2352, the Job Creation
Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009. This legislation reauthorizes
some of the SBA's most critical programs, those that prepare America's
entrepreneurs to start and maintain successful small businesses.
  The Small Business Administration, or the SBA, accomplishes this
important mission through its Office of Entrepreneurial Development and
its use of programs such as Small Business Development Centers, or
SBDCs; the Women's Business Centers, WBC; the Service Corps of Retired
Executives, or SCORE; the Office of Veterans Business Development; the
Office of Native American Affairs; and its distance learning program.
These programs have not been reauthorized in a comprehensive way in
nearly 10 years, and given the changes in the economy, it is long
overdue.
  Starting and maintaining a successful business has always been a
daunting task, fraught with unforeseen and unavoidable problems and
pitfalls for American entrepreneurs. In the past, a solid business
plan, a loan from friends or a banker that you knew and good old-
fashioned hard work was a recipe for success. The entrepreneurial
development programs at the SBA were available to assist fledgling and
seasoned small business owners in navigating the difficult
entrepreneurial terrain of developing a business plan and growing their
businesses.
  However, times are more difficult now. Financing is harder to get.
Competition does not just come from the business down the street but
comes from businesses all around the world. In acknowledgment of these
new challenges and their need for immediate attention, the Job Creation
Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009 addresses the changing climate for
entrepreneurs and makes minor tweaks to programs that have a record of
success.
  These programs are even more critical today as the country's economy
is more focused on small businesses. As more large corporations begin
to close or downsize, many more Americans have chosen to go into
business for themselves and are in need of the type of guidance the
entrepreneurial development programs at the SBA provide.
  But it is not just fledgling entrepreneurs and those downsized from
large corporations who have the desire to run their own businesses.
When the men and women who have chosen to serve their country honorably
in the armed services leave, they are faced with beginning new careers.
Often they choose to serve their country in another way. These
Americans frequently choose to open up a small business and contribute
to the growth of America's economy. For these great Americans, we must
provide them with the very best training to make their transition to
civilian life as equally secure.
  This bill seeks to expand and improve the educational and training
resources provided by the SBA to our veterans. Although the SBA
currently runs a veterans outreach and education program, no such
program is authorized under the Small Business Act. This legislation
would correct that and expand the number of centers available to serve
our veterans. It is a small price to pay for the sacrifice they have
made for us.
  Many aspiring entrepreneurs live in rural areas or work out of their
homes. Neither may have access to physical locations at which the SBA
and its partners offer education and training. Given today's
technology, we can provide these entrepreneurs with appropriate
education through quality distance learning programs. H.R. 2352
requires the SBA, working with private vendors, to develop online
courses that will educate entrepreneurs about starting and expanding
their businesses, including having the opportunity to obtain online
counseling from other business owners.
  Often forgotten are our Native Americans located in very remote areas
of the country. They, too, can contribute to economic growth if they
have access to education and training programs offered by the SBA. H.R.
2352 codifies the Office of Native American Affairs at the SBA and
directs that office to expand its service to Native Americans through
the use of Tribal Business Information Centers. These centers will
provide entrepreneurial education programs that meet the unique needs
of Native Americans.
  The broadest effort at entrepreneurial development is the Small
Business Development Center program, a joint program between the SBA
and institutions of higher learning. Changes in the bill modernize the
management and establish, without risk to core funding, competitive
grant programs designed to provide businesses with the best practices
for things such as raising capital in constricted lending markets.
  Half of all small business owners are women. Many small business
owners who are women have benefited from training they have received at
Women's Business Centers over the years and, as a result, have made
great contributions to their communities. This bill makes several
changes to the Women's Business Centers to ensure that they are
functioning at their optimum level and reaching as many women as
possible. In addition, the bill also makes provisions to ensure that
the centers are on a sound path to self-sufficiency.

                              {time}  1445

  This will free up funds to allow new centers to open and serve areas
not currently served by the Women's Business Centers.
  These entrepreneurial programs frequently rely on the dedication of
volunteers. Advice from executives, whether active or retired, proves
invaluable to small business owners.
  The SCORE Program at the SBA oversees a core of 11,000 knowledgeable
volunteers willing to offer guidance to small business owners. It is an
effective program that should offer more services. H.R. 2352 does just
that by expanding the ability of SCORE to offer greater outreach and
improved counseling to small business owners.
  It is obvious that the SBA operates a number of entrepreneurial
development programs. Many provide an overlapping service. While it is
important to ensure that small businesses are receiving the necessary
training, it is also important that these programs operate in the most
efficient manner possible. And this bill before us requires the SBA to
increase its oversight of these programs, improve coordination,
eliminate waste and duplication.
  Mr. Chairman, this legislation makes critical changes to vital
programs at a critical time. And, in short, this bill sharpens already
existing tools employed by the SBA to cultivate one of our Nation's
greatest natural resources, its entrepreneurs. Mr. Shuler and my fellow
Missourian, Mr. Luetkemeyer, should be commended for their work on this
bill. And I would like to thank the chairwoman very much for her
bipartisan efforts in moving this key bill through the committee. I'd
also like to thank Ms. Fallin, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Schock and

[[Page H5844]]

Mr. Thompson for their vital contributions to this legislation. And I'd
encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation with me.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the chairwoman for her extraordinary
leadership in the Small Business Committee, along with Ranking Member
Graves, their hard work, their dedication and truly working in a
bipartisan way. Far too often here in Washington, it's too much
partisanship. But within this committee we're seeing the great
leadership and the great work of Chairwoman Velazquez.
  Also I would like to congratulate the ranking member on the
subcommittee, Mr. Luetkemeyer, for his outstanding work and all the
members and staff and their hard work and their dedication on this very
important legislation that can help us get out of the recession through
the work of our small businesses.
  Mr. Chairman, as we observe Small Business Week, we have an
opportunity to not only celebrate small businesses but to strengthen
them.
  Entrepreneurs are the beating heart of the American industry. They
don't just create jobs, more jobs than big businesses, they unlock more
new markets and create more products. Entrepreneurs generate 60 to 80
percent of all new positions and are the most effective drivers of the
economic growth.
  At a time when big companies are slashing their work force, we need
to invest in businesses that are creating jobs, not cutting them.
Entrepreneurial development programs or ED, do just that. And the
benefits don't stop at small business community.
  Every dollar spent on these initiatives drives another $2.87 back
into the economy. In 2008 alone, ED programs pumped $7.2 billion into
communities across the country. They also laid the groundwork for
73,000 new jobs.
  Small businesses have a history of sparking recovery. The Job
Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act will give them the tools they
need to succeed. As the name suggests, the Job Creation through
Entrepreneurship Act, or H.R. 2352, focuses on the job creators. It
will give existing firms the tools necessary to succeed and allow new
businesses to get off the ground.
  That's important because small firms can pull us out of this
recession. After all, they did it in the mid-1990s. At that time small
firms created 3.8 million jobs, ushering in an era of prosperity.
  Today, national unemployment is on the rise. By 2010, it is expected
to reach 9.8 percent. In my home State of North Carolina, it's already
10.8 percent. That is why H.R. 2352 is so important. It incentivizes
our job creators so they can put Americans back to work.
  Small Business Administration ED programs are critical resources.
Small firms that use these services are twice as likely to succeed.
This legislation takes important steps in strengthening ED. ED helps
entrepreneurs do everything from draft business plans to access
capital. It also encourages entrepreneurship within underrepresented
groups and underserved communities.
  H.R. 2352 includes language to encourage veterans and Native American
business ownership. It modernizes SCORE, makes improvements to the
Women's Business Centers and establishes distance learning initiatives.
  As we celebrate Small Business Week, I can't imagine a better time to
invest in entrepreneurs. They are all a very vital and very important
part of our economic recovery, not only in this year but in decades to
come. Small businesses have sparked recoveries in the past, and with
the proper tools, will do it again in the future.
  I strongly urge and support H.R. 2352.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I now yield such time as he may consume to
the ranking member of the Finance and Tax Committee, Mr. Buchanan from
Florida.
  Mr. BUCHANAN. I want to thank the chairwoman and the ranking member
for including my legislation, the bill to modernize SBA's SCORE
Program, into the larger bill before us today.
  For years, SCORE Program has been providing entrepreneurs with free,
confidential and valuable small business advice. Nationwide, SCORE has
389 chapters throughout the United States, nearly 11,000 volunteers.
  Locally, I know it has had a huge impact on our small business
community. They do a lot to help them, especially with small business
planning, which is critical to starting any kind of business today.
  Small business creates 70 percent of all the new jobs, not only in
our market, but throughout Florida. Their success is vital to our
economy, and we need to do everything we can to ensure their success.
And this bill helps that.
  My legislation will help ensure that qualified SCORE volunteers are
available to provide one-on-one advice and counsel to small business
owners in Florida and across the country.
  Again, I want to thank the chairwoman and the ranking member for
giving me this opportunity today.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania (Mrs. Dahlkemper).
  Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a cosponsor and strong
supporter of the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009. And
I want to thank the chairwoman, the ranking member and the subcommittee
chair and Republican ranking member on the subcommittee for this
bipartisan effort.
  A strong small business community is critical to rebuilding our
economy, to create the good-paying jobs that stay here in the United
States. However, as a small business owner myself, I know firsthand
that America's entrepreneurs often need assistance, whether it be
accessing capital, procuring contracts or marketing their firms.
  Entrepreneurial development programs have a proven track record of
successfully providing businesses with this type of assistance.
However, they have not been modernized in over a decade to meet today's
small business needs. This is especially important for groups that are
underrepresented in the business world, such as women, minorities, and
veterans.
  For example, the Veterans Business Outreach Program is designed to
provide entrepreneurial development services, such as business
training, counseling, mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans
owning or considering starting a small business.
  It was my amendment in the Small Business Committee that will allow
members of the National Guard and Reserve to also access this important
program. As we have seen from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, these
brave men and women can be deployed for months and then struggle when
they return home to their business or job.
  The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act improves current
programs. In this case, it gives all those who have bravely served our
country in uniform the tools to start and grow their own business.
  Mr. Chairman, we are here today because we understand that small
business is critical, not only to creating jobs, but to driving our
Nation's economic recovery. Small business development and growth is
crucial to aiding our economic recovery in this Nation.
  For this reason, in the middle of National Small Business Week, I
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Job Creation Through
Entrepreneurship Act.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I now yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlelady from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin).
  Ms. FALLIN. Mr. Chairman, I too would like to offer my support for
H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act, and to thank
Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Graves for their work in
crafting a bipartisan piece of legislation that incorporates several
important pieces of small business legislation and work.
  Especially at a time when our national economy is struggling, and the
American people have asked us here in Congress to focus on economic
recovery, this bill will provide important job creation opportunities
for our Nation's entrepreneurs.
  And I'd especially like to thank our chairwoman and our ranking
member for allowing a piece of my legislation, H.R. 1838, the SBA
Women's Business Centers Improvement Act, to be included in the Job
Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act. This section of legislation adds
accountability and transparency to the distribution of funding to
Women's Business Centers to offer temporary assistance rather

[[Page H5845]]

than permanent dependency on the Federal Government.
  The Women's Business Centers are an important part of the grant
programs that are funded by the Small Business Administration. Today,
Women's Business Centers all across the country are providing women
entrepreneurs with much-needed technical assistance in starting and
operating their own small businesses.
  In the mid-1990s, the Federal Government began awarding grants to
Women's Business Centers that were operating as nonprofit organizations
in conjunction with institutions of higher learning. Originally these
grants were intended to be awarded to business centers in their first 5
years, with the understanding that after this 5-year period had ended,
the center would be financially self-sustaining. Although many of the
Women's Business Centers did meet this goal, some did not, and for a
variety of reasons. And, as a result, a greater percentage of the
funding for this program has been consumed by the operating costs of
the potentially unviable centers, rather than the intended purpose of
establishing new women's business centers. The result has been a drag
upon the system, and viable business centers that are not truly serving
an unmet need in their community were allowed to continue on. And this
has jeopardized the effectiveness and the viability of this entire
program.
  The SBA Women's Business Programs Act restores its original
priorities held by the Federal Government when this program was
originally enacted. By offering a three-tiered system of funding and
lowered caps on spending for older business centers, we can assure a
balanced percentage of the funding issues to support both new and
existing business centers.
  Modernizing the SBA entrepreneurial development programs will ensure
small businesses have the opportunity to help lead our Nation out of
this recession and into economic prosperity. The Job Creation Through
Entrepreneurship Act is a huge step in the right direction and provides
much-needed help to lend a helping hand to our Nation's small
businesses.
  And once again, in closing, I just would like to commend the
chairwoman and the ranking member for working together in a bipartisan
way to craft a piece of legislation that encompasses so many areas that
will help our small businesses and our Nation, especially during the
National Small Business Recognition Week.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to inquire how much time is
left on both sides
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from North Carolina has 19\1/2\ minutes
remaining, and the gentleman from Missouri has 19 minutes remaining.
  Mr. SHULER. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Nye).
  Mr. NYE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2352, the Job
Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009. And I want to thank our
chairwoman and our ranking member. I appreciate all your efforts to
move this comprehensive package of legislation forward and especially
want to thank our chairwoman for working with me on title I of the
bill, the Veterans Business Centers Act, which will help our Nation's
veteran entrepreneurs.

                              {time}  1500

  In my district, we have the second largest concentration of veterans
of any congressional district in the country. My district is home to
Norfolk Naval Base, the largest naval base in the world. In our
community, there are countless veteran-owned businesses that are vital
to the local economy.
  The measure that we are considering today will give veteran
entrepreneurs everywhere the support they need to launch new
enterprises and to grow existing businesses. The cornerstone of this
effort will be a new nationwide network of services dedicated to
veteran entrepreneurs, called Veterans Business Centers, the first
nationwide business assistance program for veterans. Establishing this
network will provide veterans with dedicated counseling and business
training, with access to capital and to securing loans and credit and
with help in navigating the procurement process.
  We know already, when they have access to the right tools, veterans
can succeed in business, and I believe that we can build on what works
and that we can expand access to these critical services. I strongly
urge the passage of this bill.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I now yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schock), who is also the ranking
member on the Contracting and Technology Subcommittee.
  Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2352, the
Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act.
  I, too, wish to extend my appreciation to Chairwoman Velazquez, to
Ranking Member Graves, and specifically to the bill's sponsor, Mr.
Shuler, for including not only my language in H.R. 1845 but also the
proposals of five other Republican members on our committee. This is
truly a bipartisan bill, and I think you'll see that the votes reflect
it.
  I introduced H.R. 1845, which seeks to modernize the Small Business
Development Centers. Small Business Development Centers are commonly
referred to as SBDCs. They provide emerging entrepreneurs with the
tools they need to successfully take their business concepts into
reality and also to provide existing small business owners with
important financial and budgeting consulting to assist in long-term
growth and management. Investments in the SBDC network provide a truly
cost-effective way to help stimulate our economy while also enhancing
American companies and our competitiveness around the world.
  With all of the talk today about how we should stimulate growth and
create long-term economic growth here in our country, we shouldn't look
any further than where half of all Americans get their paychecks--with
small business.
  The facts speak for themselves. A new business is opened by a Small
Business Development Center client every 41 minutes. A new job is
created in the United States by a Small Business Development Center
client every 7 minutes. In the year 2007, SBDC clients created over
70,000 new full-time jobs. With the current economic condition, more
and more small business owners are visiting their SBDCs, seeking the
advice on how to best manage their resources during the economic
downturn. The bill also works to make the money that we are
appropriating to SBDCs more efficient, and it also rewards those who
have better outcomes.
  For these reasons and many more, I urge passage of this bill and the
Small Business Development Center Modernization Act legislation that is
included in it.
  Mr. SHULER. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Altmire).
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to
support the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act. This important
piece of legislation will modernize and expand key economic development
programs within the Small Business Administration.
  As just one example, section 1 of this legislation establishes the
Veterans Business Center program. Now, as many of my colleagues know,
this is a program that is near and dear to my heart. Last session, I
introduced legislation that was signed into law to help expand business
opportunities for veterans and Reservists. The bill we are debating
today builds upon my legislation, and it provides a dedicated funding
stream to help ensure that our veterans and Reservists are afforded
every opportunity for economic success at home.
  So it is for this and for many other reasons that I encourage my
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I would yield such time as he may consume
to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer). He is a subcommittee
ranking member. Along with Mr. Shuler, they were the cosponsors of the
bill.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Shuler) for his hard work in crafting this
much needed small business legislation, and I would like to thank
Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Graves for their hard work and
for allowing this thing to expeditiously go through the full committee.

[[Page H5846]]

  Small business accounts for 70 percent of our Nation's jobs, and it
provides an invaluable source of innovation to our economy. As we try
to revive the slumping economy and put people back to work, wouldn't it
only make sense to provide relief to our Nation's most productive job
creators?
  As a small business man myself, I am pleased to sponsor a bill that
will assist the many small owners and employees throughout my district
and the country. Two out of every three jobs are created by a small
business, and like every recession before, small business will lead the
way out of this recession into economic growth again. Rather than
relying so heavily on the government to spend our way out of this
recession, we need to focus on ensuring that our small businesses are
able to utilize all of the resources already available.
  This bill beefs up support services in key entrepreneurial
development programs, making these programs more effective and
responsive to the needs of small businesses and ensuring that existing
programs are being used effectively and that duplicative government
programs are done away with.
  To be sure, an investment in entrepreneurial development programs
yields strong returns. In 2008, the SBA entrepreneurial development
programs helped to generate 73,000 new jobs and to bring in $7.2
billion to the economy. Some economists have estimated that every
dollar invested in these initiatives returns $2.87 to our economy and
helps these small businesses thrive.
  Given that the biggest challenge facing small businesses right now is
their ability to access credit, I am particularly pleased to support a
bill that strengthens Small Business Development Centers, one-stop
assistance centers for current and prospective small business owners,
designed to assist small firms in securing capital and credit.
  This bill moved promptly through the full committee and to the House
floor. I am pleased with the bipartisan support this bill has received
in the committee. I want to thank my colleagues for their careful and
timely attention to the legislation that will give our small business
owners the opportunity to grow and expand.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, again, I would like to commend Mr.
Luetkemeyer, the ranking member, for his hard work, for his dedication,
and for his true leadership in a bipartisan way on the subcommittee.
  At this time, Mr. Chairman, we have no further speakers. I will
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I would yield such time as he
may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to lend my
support for this measure, H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through
Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, and to express my sincere appreciation
and thanks to Subcommittee Chair Shuler, to Subcommittee Ranking Member
Luetkemeyer, to Committee Chairwoman Velazquez, and to Ranking Member
Graves for their leadership on this bill, for their ability to work
through regular order, and for encouraging debate and input from the
members of the Small Business Committee, particularly Subcommittee
Chair Shuler and Ranking Member Luetkemeyer.
  Coming from a long line of small business owners myself, I can attest
to the many challenges that these entrepreneurs face on a daily basis.
Never mind the challenges a person faces to get a business off the
ground, once that business is running, it is often an uphill battle day
after day to keep the doors open and the employees paid. During this
time of economic downturn, there are many entrepreneurs throughout
America who are facing start-up challenges who do not have the
resources or the networks to provide the advice or the assistance that
is required for them to be successful.
  H.R. 2352 will provide entrepreneurs from all walks of life and
geographic locations the ability to harness tools that would otherwise
not be available to them. This bill provides a Veterans Business Center
program within the SBA to provide entrepreneurial training and
counseling to veterans. It utilizes technology to provide distance
learning and peer-to-peer networking for those in rural and underserved
areas. It enhances entrepreneurial programs for Native American
populations, and it broadens the scope of the SBA's Women's Business
Center.
  During this time of economic downturn, we have the power to arm
America's entrepreneurs with the tools to provide real stimulus for our
economy and to get the country back to work. I certainly encourage my
fellow colleagues to support H.R. 2352, a real smart government
solution.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I have no further speakers if the
ranking member is prepared to close.
  Mr. GRAVES. I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of
my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to
commend the work of Mr. Shuler and Mr. Luetkemeyer in putting together
this bill. I would also like to commend the other members of the
committee--Mr. Nye, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Schock, Mr. Thompson, Mrs.
Kirkpatrick, Ms. Fallin, and particularly the ranking member, Mr.
Graves--for all of their efforts and contributions in putting together
this bipartisan product.
  Entrepreneurs have much talent for job creation. In the last few
months, much has been made of that ability and with good reason. As
employment continues to climb, we need to be investing in the
businesses that can put Americans back to work. The Job Creation
Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009 will do just that. That is why
this bill is supported by groups as diverse as the American Legion, the
Association for Enterprise Opportunity, the International Franchise
Association, the National Association for the Self-Employed, the
National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Center for American
Indian Enterprise Development, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
  Already, the SBA's entrepreneurial development programs help small
firms do everything from draft business plans to accessing capital.
These services have been an invaluable resource for countless
entrepreneurs, and they have led to the creation of hundreds of
thousands of jobs. In fact, entrepreneurial development helped generate
73,000 new positions in 2008 alone.
  Despite the program's inherent value, it is in sore need of
modernization. Today, we are going to begin the process of turning it
around. In doing so, we will ensure that small firms have the tools
they need to spark a sustained recovery. What better time to reinforce
the backbone of our economy than during Small Business Week. We can do
more than celebrate our entrepreneurs. We can empower them and can help
them play their unique role as an economic catalyst.
  I will now yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois as much time as she
may consume.
  Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Chairman, thank you, and thank you, Mr. Shuler,
for the opportunity to speak.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through
Entrepreneurship Act.
  Consideration of this legislation couldn't have come at a more
critical time. During an economic downturn, many people start their own
businesses because they are faced with few other options. They've lost
their jobs; they can't find new employment, and they need to feed their
families. Yet it is the start-up businesses that are most at risk for
failure. The legislation we are considering today will give
entrepreneurs and new business owners the tools that they will need to
succeed.
  As a member of both the Small Business and Veterans' Affairs
Committees, I am especially pleased that this bill creates a new
Veterans Business Center program under the SBA. I commend the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Nye) for his hard work on this section of the bill.
  The Veterans Business Centers will provide essential training and
counseling to veteran business owners, including assistance in seeking
Federal contracting opportunities. The bill includes an amendment I
offered in committee to make surviving spouses of Armed Forces members
and veterans eligible for assistance from the Veterans Business
Centers.
  As we celebrate Memorial Day next week, I can hardly think of a more
fitting way to honor our men and women

[[Page H5847]]

who have served in uniform and to honor their families. I especially
thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Graves and Mr. Shuler for
their strong, bipartisan leadership on this legislation.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the Job Creation
Through Entrepreneurship Act.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today to show my support
for the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights Act of 2009.
  This bill is more important now than ever, because credit card
practices have become a huge problem in our country.
  Americans are saving less than they borrow on credit and the
individual debt level is the highest it's been in decades.
  Consumers should have as much information as possible when it comes
to credit and finance policies and these policies should be easy to
understand.
  That is why I was an original cosponsor of the Credit Cardholders'
Bill of Rights Act, which among other things, includes provisions to
protect consumers against: arbitrary interest rate increases, early
pre-payment penalties, due date gimmicks, and excessive fees.
  It also provides better general oversight of the credit card
industry.
  This bill passed out of the House of Representatives on April 30,
2009 with my support and I am pleased to see that the Senate sent this
bill back with even stronger consumer protections and moved its
implementation date up 3 months.
  I look forward to voting in favor of this bill, and I encourage my
colleagues to do the same.
  This is a chance for us to protect American consumers and rein in
abusive credit card practices.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2352, the
Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act, which overhauls the Small
Business Administration's entrepreneurial development programs and
creates new services geared toward veterans and Native Americans. This
legislation builds on SBA changes made in the American Reinvestment and
Recovery Act, and it provides relief for small businesses and consumers
who have been greatly affected by the credit crunch.
  Small businesses are the backbone of America, and they are especially
important to Rhode Island's economy. Now more than ever, Congress must
support the growth of America's small businesses and help stimulate the
real engine of our Nation's economy. In Rhode Island, there are many
businesses that are passed down from generation to generation, and it
is so important that these successful businesses have access to the
tools they need to weather this economic downturn.
  H.R. 2352 modernizes the Small Business Development Center Program by
focusing on entrepreneurial development, broadens the Women's Business
Centers Program by increasing counseling and training facilities,
establishes the Veterans Business Center Program, formally establishes
the Office of Native American Affairs, and improves the Service Corps
of Retired Executives, a mentoring resource program.
  This bill also creates a grant program specifically designed to
assist small firms in securing capital such as the new small business
lending generated under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
This measure also establishes a green entrepreneurial development
program, which will provide classes and instruction on starting a
business in the fields of energy efficiency or green technology. It
will also create a procurement training program to help local small
firms find suitable contracts and technical assistance on the federal
procurement process.
  American prosperity depends on the success of small businesses and
the innovative spirit of the American people. I am committed to
bringing relief to Main Street and to the small businesses that are
struggling in our state, and urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 2352, The Job
Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009.
  The American spirit of entrepreneurship is one of the key values that
have made our nation great. As a former small business owner, I believe
it is essential that we nurture these ventures and increase
opportunities for more Americans to start their own business. Small
businesses employ millions of Americans, and help form the backbone of
our economy. These small businesses play an even more important role in
today's struggling economy.
  H.R. 2352 takes several steps to bolster and expand opportunities for
entrepreneurs. This bill modernizes the Small Business Administration's
(SBA's) entrepreneurial development programs so that these businesses
can survive the downturn and help move our economy forward by creating
jobs. H.R. 2352 provides small businesses with new tools to address
their changing needs by bolstering Small Business Development Centers
across the country. H.R. 2352 also expands opportunities to our
nation's veterans by authorizing $10 million in FY 2011 and $12 million
in 2012. These funds will be used to increase outreach facilities
across the country and establish specialized assistance programs
targeted to veterans. H.R. 2352 also includes increased counseling and
training initiatives designed to increase business opportunities for
women.
  I support efforts to foster the American spirit of entrepreneurship
and I support The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009. I
urge my colleagues to join me in voting for its passage.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute
printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the
purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule and shall be considered
read.
  The text of the committee amendment is as follows:

                               H.R. 2352

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Job
     Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

       TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Veterans Business Center program.
Sec. 102. Reporting requirement for interagency task force.

   TITLE II--EDUCATING AND NETWORKING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TODAY'S
                               TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 201. Educating entrepreneurs through technology.

         TITLE III--ENHANCING NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sec. 301. Office of Native American Affairs; Tribal Business
              Information Centers program.
Sec. 302. Small Business Development Center assistance to Indian tribe
              members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.

        TITLE IV--BROADENING THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

Sec. 401. Notification of grants; publication of grant amounts.
Sec. 402. Communications.
Sec. 403. Funding.
Sec. 404. Performance and planning.
Sec. 405. National Women's Business Council.

                  TITLE V--SCORE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 501. Expansion of volunteer representation and benchmark reports.
Sec. 502. Mentoring and networking.
Sec. 503. Name of program changed to SCORE.
Sec. 504. Authorization of appropriations.

                  TITLE VI--EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sec. 601. Expanding entrepreneurship.

  TITLE VII--MODERNIZING THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM

Sec. 701. Small business development centers operational changes.
Sec. 702. Access to credit and capital.
Sec. 703. Procurement training and assistance.
Sec. 704. Green entrepreneurs training program.
Sec. 705. Main street stabilization.
Sec. 706. Prohibition on program income being used as matching funds.
Sec. 707. Authorization of appropriations.

       TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

     SEC. 101. VETERANS BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

       Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (f), by inserting ``(other than
     subsections (g), (h), and (i))'' after ``this section''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Veterans Business Center Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a
     Veterans Business Center program within the Administration to
     provide entrepreneurial training and counseling to veterans
     in accordance with this subsection.
       ``(2) Director.--The Administrator shall appoint a Director
     of the Veterans Business Center program, who shall implement
     and oversee such program and who shall report directly to the
     Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development.
       ``(3) Designation of veterans business centers.--The
     Director shall establish by regulation an application,
     review, and notification process to designate entities as
     veterans business centers for purposes of this section. The
     Director shall make publicly known the designation of an
     entity as a veterans business center and the award of a grant
     to such center under this subsection.
       ``(4) Funding for veterans business centers.--
       ``(A) Initial grants.--The Director is authorized to make a
     grant (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as an
     `initial grant') to each

[[Page H5848]]

     veterans business center each year for not more than 5 years
     in the amount of $150,000.
       ``(B) Growth funding grants.--After a veterans business
     center has received 5 years of initial grants under
     subparagraph (A), the Director is authorized to make a grant
     (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as a `growth
     funding grant') to such center each year for not more than 3
     years in the amount of $100,000. After such center has
     received 3 years of growth funding grants, the Director shall
     require such center to meet performance benchmarks
     established by the Director to be eligible for growth funding
     grants in subsequent years.
       ``(5) Center responsibilities.--Each veterans business
     center receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the
     funds primarily on veteran entrepreneurial development,
     counseling of veteran-owned small businesses through one-on-
     one instruction and classes, and providing government
     procurement assistance to veterans.
       ``(6) Matching funds.--Each veterans business center
     receiving a grant under this subsection shall be required to
     provide a non-Federal match of 50 percent of the Federal
     funds such center receives under this subsection. The
     Director may issue to a veterans business center, upon
     request, a waiver from all or a portion of such matching
     requirement upon a determination of hardship.
       ``(7) Targeted areas.--The Director shall give priority to
     applications for designations and grants under this
     subsection that will establish a veterans business center in
     a geographic area, as determined by the Director, that is not
     currently served by a veterans business center and in which--
       ``(A) the population of veterans exceeds the national
     median of such measure; or
       ``(B) the population of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom
     or Operation Enduring Freedom exceeds the national median of
     such measure.
       ``(8) Training program.--The Director shall develop and
     implement, directly or by contract, an annual training
     program for the staff and personnel of designated veterans
     business centers to provide education, support, and
     information on best practices with respect to the
     establishment and operation of such centers. The Director
     shall develop such training program in consultation with
     veterans business centers, the interagency task force
     established under subsection (c), and veterans service
     organizations.
       ``(9) Inclusion of other organizations in program.--Upon
     the date of the enactment of this subsection, each Veterans
     Business Outreach Center established by the Administrator
     under the authority of section 8(b)(17) and each center that
     received funds during fiscal year 2006 from the National
     Veterans Business Development Corporation established under
     section 33 and that remains in operation shall be treated as
     designated as a veterans business center for purposes of this
     subsection and shall be eligible for grants under this
     subsection.
       ``(10) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection
     $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and $12,000,000 for fiscal
     year 2011.
       ``(h) Additional Grants Available to Veterans Business
     Centers.--
       ``(1) Access to capital grant program.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Director of the Veterans Business
     Center program shall establish a grant program under which
     the Director is authorized to make, to veterans business
     centers designated under subsection (g), grants for the
     following:
       ``(i) Developing specialized programs to assist veteran-
     owned small businesses to secure capital and repair damaged
     credit.
       ``(ii) Providing informational seminars on securing loans
     to veteran-owned small businesses.
       ``(iii) Providing one-on-one counseling to veteran-owned
     small businesses to improve the financial presentations of
     such businesses to lenders.
       ``(iv) Facilitating the access of veteran-owned small
     businesses to both traditional and non-traditional financing
     sources.
       ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not award a veterans
     business center more than $75,000 in grants under this
     paragraph.
       ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $1,500,000 for
     each of fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
       ``(2) Procurement assistance grant program.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish a grant
     program under which the Director is authorized to make, to
     veterans business centers designated under subsection (g),
     grants for the following:
       ``(i) Assisting veteran-owned small businesses to identify
     contracts that are suitable to such businesses.
       ``(ii) Preparing veteran-owned small businesses to be ready
     as subcontractors and prime contractors for contracts made
     available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
     of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) through training and business
     advisement, particularly with respect to the construction
     trades.
       ``(iii) Providing veteran-owned small businesses technical
     assistance with respect to the Federal procurement process,
     including assisting such businesses to comply with Federal
     regulations and bonding requirements.
       ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not award a veterans
     business center more than $75,000 in grants under this
     paragraph.
       ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $1,500,000 for
     each of fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
       ``(3) Service-disabled veteran-owned small business grant
     program.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish a grant
     program under which the Director is authorized to make, to
     veterans business centers designated under subsection (g),
     grants for the following:
       ``(i) Developing outreach programs for service-disabled
     veterans with respect to the benefits of self-employment.
       ``(ii) Providing tailored training to service-disabled
     veterans with respect to business plan development,
     marketing, budgeting, accounting, and merchandising.
       ``(iii) Assisting service-disabled veteran-owned small
     businesses to locate and secure business opportunities.
       ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not award a veterans
     business center more than $75,000 in grants under this
     paragraph.
       ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $1,500,000 for
     each of fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
       ``(i) Veterans Entrepreneurial Development Summit.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Veterans Business
     Center program is authorized to carry out an event, once
     every two years, for the purpose of providing networking
     opportunities, outreach, education, training, and support to
     veterans business centers funded under this section, veteran-
     owned small businesses, veterans service organizations, and
     other entities as determined appropriate for inclusion by the
     Director.
       ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $450,000 for
     fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
       ``(j) Inclusion of Surviving Spouses.--For purposes of
     subsections (g), (h), and (i) the following apply:
       ``(1) The term `veteran' includes a surviving spouse of the
     following:
       ``(A) A member of the Armed Forces, including a reserve
     component thereof.
       ``(B) A veteran.
       ``(2) The term `veteran-owned small business' includes a
     small business owned by a surviving spouse of the following:
       ``(A) A member of the Armed Forces, including a reserve
     component thereof.
       ``(B) A veteran.
       ``(k) Inclusion of Reserve Components.--For purposes of
     subsections (g), (h), and (i) the following apply:
       ``(1) The term `veteran' includes a member of the reserve
     components of the armed forces as specified in section 10101
     of title 10, United States Code.
       ``(2) The term `veteran-owned small business' includes a
     small business owned by a member of the reserve components of
     the armed forces as specified in section 10101 of title 10,
     United States Code.''.

     SEC. 102. REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.

       Section 32(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(c))
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Report.--The Administrator shall submit to Congress
     biannually a report on the appointments made to and
     activities of the task force.''.

   TITLE II--EDUCATING AND NETWORKING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TODAY'S
                               TECHNOLOGY

     SEC. 201. EDUCATING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.

       The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended
     by redesignating section 44 as section 46 and by inserting
     the following new section after section 43:

     ``SEC. 44. EDUCATING AND NETWORKING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH
                   TECHNOLOGY.

       ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide
     high-quality distance learning and opportunities for the
     exchange of peer-to-peer technical assistance through online
     networking to potential and existing entrepreneurs through
     the use of technology.
       ``(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
     `qualified third-party vendor' means an entity with
     experience in distance learning content or communications
     technology, or both, with the ability to utilize on-line,
     satellite, video-on-demand, and connected community-based
     organizations to distribute and conduct distance learning and
     establish an online network for use by potential and existing
     entrepreneurs to facilitate the exchange of peer-to-peer
     technical assistance related to entrepreneurship, credit
     management, financial literacy, and Federal small business
     development programs.
       ``(c) Authority.--The Administrator shall contract with
     qualified third-party vendors for entrepreneurial training
     content, the development of communications technology that
     can distribute content under this section throughout the
     United States, and the establishment of a nationwide, online
     network for the exchange of peer-to-peer technical
     assistance. The Administrator shall contract with at least 2
     qualified third-party vendors to develop content.
       ``(d) Content.--The Administrator shall ensure that the
     content referred to in subsection (c) is timely and relevant
     to entrepreneurial development and can be successfully
     communicated remotely to an audience through the use of
     technology. The Administrator shall, to the maximum extent
     practicable, promote content that makes use of technologies
     that allow for remote interaction by the content provider
     with an audience. The Administrator shall ensure that the
     content is catalogued and accessible to small businesses on-
     line or through other remote technologies.
       ``(e) Communications Technology.--The Administrator shall
     ensure that the communications technology referred to in
     subsection (c) is able to distribute content throughout all
     50 States and the territories of the United States to small
     business concerns, home-based businesses, Small Business
     Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, Veterans
     Business Centers, and the Small Business Administration and
     network entrepreneurs throughout all 50 States and the
     territories of the United States to allow for

[[Page H5849]]

     peer-to-peer learning through the creation of a location
     online that allows entrepreneurs and small business owners
     the opportunity to exchange technical assistance through the
     sharing of information. To the extent possible, the qualified
     third-party vendor should deliver the content and facilitate
     the networking using broadband technology.
       ``(f) Reports to Congress.--The Administrator shall submit
     a report to Congress 6 months after the date of the enactment
     of this section containing an analysis of the Small Business
     Administration's progress in implementing this section. The
     Administrator shall submit a report to Congress one year
     after the date of the enactment of this section and annually
     thereafter containing the number of presentations made under
     this section, the number of small businesses served under
     this section, the extent to which this section resulted in
     the establishment of new businesses, and feedback on the
     usefulness of this medium in presenting entrepreneurial
     education and facilitating the exchange of peer-to-peer
     technical assistance throughout the United States.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
     $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 and 2011.''.

         TITLE III--ENHANCING NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

     SEC. 301. OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS; TRIBAL BUSINESS
                   INFORMATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

       (a) Associate Administrator.--Section 4(b)(1) of the Small
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633(b)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``five Associate Administrators'' and
     inserting ``six Associate Administrators''; and
       (2) by inserting after ``vested in the Administration.''
     the following: ``One such Associate Administrator shall be
     the Associate Administrator for Native American Affairs, who
     shall administer the Office of Native American Affairs
     established under section 45.''.
       (b) Establishment.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631
     et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 44, as added
     by section 201 of this Act, the following:

     ``SEC. 45. OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS AND TRIBAL
                   BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Office of Native American Affairs.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the
     Administration an Office of Native American Affairs
     (hereinafter referred to in this subsection as the `Office').
       ``(2) Associate administrator.--The Office shall be
     administered by an Associate Administrator appointed under
     section 4(b)(1).
       ``(3) Responsibilities.--The Office shall have the
     following responsibilities:
       ``(A) Developing and implementing tools and strategies to
     increase Native American entrepreneurship.
       ``(B) Expanding the access of Native American entrepreneurs
     to business training, capital, and Federal small business
     contracts.
       ``(C) Expanding outreach to Native American communities and
     aggressively marketing entrepreneurial development services
     to such communities.
       ``(D) Representing the Administration with respect to
     Native American economic development matters.
       ``(4) Coordination and oversight function.--The Office
     shall provide oversight with respect to and assist the
     implementation of all Administration initiatives relating to
     Native American entrepreneurial development.
       ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
     subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated to the
     Administrator $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and
     2011.
       ``(b) Tribal Business Information Centers Program.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Administrator is authorized to
     operate, alone or in coordination with other Federal
     departments and agencies, a Tribal Business Information
     Centers program that provides Native American populations
     with business training and entrepreneurial development
     assistance.
       ``(2) Designation of centers.--The Administrator shall
     designate entities as centers under the Tribal Business
     Information Centers program.
       ``(3) Administration support.--The Administrator may
     contribute agency personnel and resources to the centers
     designated under paragraph (2) to carry out this subsection.
       ``(4) Grant program.--The Administrator is authorized to
     make grants of not more than $300,000 to centers designated
     under paragraph (2) for the purpose of providing Native
     Americans the following:
       ``(A) Business workshops.
       ``(B) Individualized business counseling.
       ``(C) Entrepreneurial development training.
       ``(D) Access to computer technology and other resources to
     start or expand a business.
       ``(5) Regulations.--The Administrator shall by regulation
     establish a process for designating centers under paragraph
     (2) and making the grants authorized under paragraph (4).
       ``(6) Definition of administrator.--In this subsection, the
     term `Administrator' means the Administrator, acting through
     the Associate Administrator administering the Office of
     Native American Affairs.
       ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this
     subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated to the
     Administrator $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and
     $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
       ``(c) Definition of Native American.--The term `Native
     American' means an Indian tribe member, Alaska Native, or
     Native Hawaiian as such are defined in section 21(a)(8) of
     this Act.''.

     SEC. 302. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER ASSISTANCE TO
                   INDIAN TRIBE MEMBERS, ALASKA NATIVES, AND
                   NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 21(a) of the Small Business Act
     (15 U.S.C. 648(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
     following:
       ``(8) Additional grant to assist indian tribe members,
     alaska natives, and native hawaiians.--
       ``(A) In general.--Any applicant in an eligible State that
     is funded by the Administration as a Small Business
     Development Center may apply for an additional grant to be
     used solely to provide services described in subsection
     (c)(3) to assist with outreach, development, and enhancement
     on Indian lands of small business startups and expansions
     owned by Indian tribe members, Alaska Natives, and Native
     Hawaiians.
       ``(B) Eligible states.--For purposes of subparagraph (A),
     an eligible State is a State that has a combined population
     of Indian tribe members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians
     that comprises at least 1 percent of the State's total
     population, as shown by the latest available census.
       ``(C) Grant applications.--An applicant for a grant under
     subparagraph (A) shall submit to the Administration an
     application that is in such form as the Administration may
     require. The application shall include information regarding
     the applicant's goals and objectives for the services to be
     provided using the grant, including--
       ``(i) the capability of the applicant to provide training
     and services to a representative number of Indian tribe
     members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians;
       ``(ii) the location of the Small Business Development
     Center site proposed by the applicant;
       ``(iii) the required amount of grant funding needed by the
     applicant to implement the program; and
       ``(iv) the extent to which the applicant has consulted with
     local tribal councils.
       ``(D) Applicability of grant requirements.--An applicant
     for a grant under subparagraph (A) shall comply with all of
     the requirements of this section, except that the matching
     funds requirements under paragraph (4)(A) shall not apply.
       ``(E) Maximum amount of grants.--No applicant may receive
     more than $300,000 in grants under this paragraph for any
     fiscal year.
       ``(F) Regulations.--After providing notice and an
     opportunity for comment and after consulting with the
     Association recognized by the Administration pursuant to
     paragraph (3)(A) (but not later than 180 days after the date
     of enactment of this paragraph), the Administration shall
     issue final regulations to carry out this paragraph,
     including regulations that establish--
       ``(i) standards relating to educational, technical, and
     support services to be provided by Small Business Development
     Centers receiving assistance under this paragraph; and
       ``(ii) standards relating to any work plan that the
     Administration may require a Small Business Development
     Center receiving assistance under this paragraph to develop.
       ``(G) Advice of local tribal organizations.--A Small
     Business Development Center receiving a grant under this
     paragraph shall request the advice of a tribal organization
     on how best to provide assistance to Indian tribe members,
     Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and where to locate
     satellite centers to provide such assistance.
       ``(H) Definitions.--In this paragraph, the following
     definitions apply:
       ``(i) Indian lands.--The term `Indian lands' has the
     meaning given the term `Indian country' in section 1151 of
     title 18, United States Code, the meaning given the term
     `Indian reservation' in section 151.2 of title 25, Code of
     Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of
     this paragraph), and the meaning given the term `reservation'
     in section 4 of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25
     U.S.C. 1903).
       ``(ii) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' means any
     band, nation, or organized group or community of Indians
     located in the contiguous United States, and the Metlakatla
     Indian Community, whose members are recognized as eligible
     for the services provided to Indians by the Secretary of the
     Interior because of their status as Indians.
       ``(iii) Indian tribe member.--The term `Indian tribe
     member' means a member of an Indian tribe (other than an
     Alaska Native).
       ``(iv) Alaska native.--The term `Alaska Native' has the
     meaning given the term `Native' in section 3(b) of the Alaska
     Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)).
       ``(v) Native hawaiian.--The term `Native Hawaiian' means
     any individual who is--

       ``(I) a citizen of the United States; and
       ``(II) a descendant of the aboriginal people, who prior to
     1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now
     constitutes the State of Hawaii.

       ``(vi) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization'
     has the meaning given that term in section 4(l) of the Indian
     Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
     450b(l)).
       ``(I) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $7,000,000 for
     each of fiscal years 2010 and 2011.
       ``(J) Funding limitations.--
       ``(i) Nonapplicability of certain limitations.--Funding
     under this paragraph shall be in addition to the dollar
     program limitations specified in paragraph (4).
       ``(ii) Limitation on use of funds.--The Administration may
     carry out this paragraph only with amounts appropriated in
     advance specifically to carry out this paragraph.''.

[[Page H5850]]

        TITLE IV--BROADENING THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

     SEC. 401. NOTIFICATION OF GRANTS; PUBLICATION OF GRANT
                   AMOUNTS.

       Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(o) Notification of Grants; Publication of Grant
     Amounts.--The Administrator shall disburse funds to a women's
     business center not later than one month after the center's
     application is approved under this section. At the end of
     each fiscal year the Administrator (acting through the Office
     of Women's Business ownership) shall publish on the
     Administration's website a report setting forth the total
     amount of the grants made under this Act to each women's
     business center in the fiscal year for which the report is
     issued, the total amount of such grants made in each prior
     fiscal year to each such center, and the total amount of
     private matching funds provided by each such center over the
     lifetime of the center.''.

     SEC. 402. COMMUNICATIONS.

       Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656), as
     amended, is further amended by adding at the end the
     following new subsection:
       ``(p) Communications.--The Administrator shall establish,
     by rule, a standardized process to communicate with women's
     business centers regarding program administration matters,
     including reimbursement, regulatory matters, and programmatic
     changes. The Administrator shall notify each women's business
     center of the opportunity for notice and comment on the
     proposed rule.''.

     SEC. 403. FUNDING.

       (a) Formula.--Section 29(b) of the Small Business Act (15
     U.S.C. 656(b)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Authority.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may provide financial
     assistance to private nonprofit organizations to conduct
     projects for the benefit of small business concerns owned and
     controlled by women. The projects shall provide--
       ``(A) financial assistance, including training and
     counseling in how to apply for and secure business credit and
     investment capital, preparing and presenting financial
     statements, and managing cash flow and other financial
     operations of a business concern;
       ``(B) management assistance, including training and
     counseling in how to plan, organize, staff, direct, and
     control each major activity and function of a small business
     concern; and
       ``(C) marketing assistance, including training and
     counseling in identifying and segmenting domestic and
     international market opportunities, preparing and executing
     marketing plans, developing pricing strategies, locating
     contract opportunities, negotiating contracts, and utilizing
     varying public relations and advertising techniques.
       ``(2) Tiers.--The Administrator shall provide assistance
     under paragraph (1) in 3 tiers of assistance as follows:
       ``(A) The first tier shall be to conduct a 5-year project
     in a situation where a project has not previously been
     conducted. Such a project shall be in a total amount of not
     more than $150,000 per year.
       ``(B) The second tier shall be to conduct a 3-year project
     in a situation where a first-tier project is being completed.
     Such a project shall be in a total amount of not more than
     $100,000 per year.
       ``(C) The third tier shall be to conduct a 3-year project
     in a situation where a second-tier project is being
     completed. Such a project shall be in a total amount of not
     more than $100,000 per year. Third-tier grants shall be
     renewable subject to established eligibility criteria as well
     as criteria in subsection (b)(4).
       ``(3) Allocation of funds.--Of the amounts made available
     for assistance under this subsection, the Administrator shall
     allocate--
       ``(A) at least 40 percent for first-tier projects under
     paragraph (2)(A);
       ``(B) 20 percent for second-tier projects under paragraph
     (2)(B); and
       ``(C) the remainder for third-tier projects under paragraph
     (2)(C).
       ``(4)  Benchmarks for third-tier projects.--In awarding
     third-tier projects under paragraph (2)(C), the Administrator
     shall use benchmarks based on socio-economic factors in the
     community and on the performance of the applicant. The
     benchmarks shall include--
       ``(A) the total number of women served by the project;
       ``(B) the proportion of low income women and socio-economic
     distribution of clients served by the project;
       ``(C) the proportion of individuals in the community that
     are socially or economically disadvantaged (based on median
     income);
       ``(D) the future fund-raising and service coordination
     plans;
       ``(E) the diversity of services provided; and
       ``(F) geographic distribution within and across the 10
     regions of the Small Business Administration.''.
       (b) Matching.--Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section
     29(c)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(c)(1)) are
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(A) For the first and second years of the project, 1 non-
     Federal dollar for each 2 Federal dollars.
       ``(B) Each year after the second year of the project--
       ``(i) 1 non-Federal dollar for each Federal dollar; or
       ``(ii) if the center is in a community at least 50 percent
     of the population of which is below the median income for the
     State or United States territory in which the center is
     located, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 2 Federal dollars.''.
       (c) Authorization.--Section 20 of the Small Business Act
     (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended by inserting the following
     new subsection after subsection (e):
       ``(f) Women's Business Centers.--There is authorized to be
     appropriated for purposes of grants under section 29 to
     women's business centers not more than $20,000,000 in fiscal
     year 2010 and not more than $22,000,000 in fiscal year
     2011.''.

     SEC. 404. PERFORMANCE AND PLANNING.

       (a) In General.--Section 29(h)(1) of the Small Business Act
     (15 U.S.C. 656(h)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (A);
       (2) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D);
     and
       (3) by inserting the following new subparagraphs after
     subparagraph (A):
       ``(B) establish performance measures, taking into account
     the demographic differences of populations served by women's
     business centers, which measures shall include--
       ``(i) outcome-based measures of the amount of job creation
     or economic activity generated in the local community as a
     result of efforts made and services provided by each women's
     business center, and
       ``(ii) service-based measures of the amount of services
     provided to individuals and small business concerns served by
     each women's business center;
       ``(C) require each women's business center to submit an
     annual plan for the next year that includes the center's
     funding sources and amounts, strategies for increasing
     outreach to women-owned businesses, strategies for increasing
     job growth in the community, and other content as determined
     by the Administrator; and''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 29(h)(1) of the Small
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(h)(1)), as amended, is further
     amended by adding the following at the end thereof:
     ``The Administrator's evaluation of each women's business
     center as required by this subsection shall be in part based
     on the performance measures under subparagraphs (B) and (C).
     These measures and the Administrator's evaluations thereof
     shall be made publicly available.''.

     SEC. 405. NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL.

       The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 is amended as
     follows:
       (1) In section 409(a) (15 U.S.C. 7109(a)), by adding the
     following at the end thereof: ``Such studies shall include a
     study on the impact of the 2008-2009 financial markets crisis
     on women-owned businesses, and a study of the use of the
     Small Business Administration's programs by women-owned
     businesses.''.
       (2) In section 410(a) (15 U.S.C. 7110(a)), by striking
     ``2001 through 2003'' and insert ``2010 and 2011''.

                  TITLE V--SCORE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS

     SEC. 501. EXPANSION OF VOLUNTEER REPRESENTATION AND BENCHMARK
                   REPORTS.

       (a) Expansion of Volunteer Representation.--Section
     8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B))
     is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(B)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(ii) The Administrator shall ensure that SCORE,
     established under this subparagraph, carries out a plan to
     increase the proportion of mentors who are from socially or
     economically disadvantaged backgrounds and, on an annual
     basis, reports to the Administrator on the implementation of
     this subparagraph.''.
       (b) Benchmark Reports.--Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), as amended, is further
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iii) The Administrator shall ensure that SCORE,
     established under this subparagraph, establishes benchmarks
     for use in evaluating the performance of its activities and
     the performance of its volunteers. The benchmarks shall
     include benchmarks relating to the demographic
     characteristics and the geographic characteristics of persons
     assisted by SCORE, benchmarks relating to the hours spent
     mentoring by volunteers, and benchmarks relating to the
     performance of the persons assisted by SCORE. SCORE shall
     report, on an annual basis, to the Administrator the extent
     to which the benchmarks established under this clause are
     being attained.''.

     SEC. 502. MENTORING AND NETWORKING.

       Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
     637(b)(1)(B)), as amended, is further amended by adding at
     the end the following:
       ``(iv) The Administrator shall ensure that SCORE,
     established under this subparagraph, establishes a mentoring
     program for small business concerns that provides one-on-one
     advice to small business concerns from qualified counselors.
     For purposes of this clause, qualified counselors are
     counselors with at least 10 years experience in the industry
     sector or area of responsibility of the small business
     concern seeking advice.
       ``(v) The Administrator shall carry out a networking
     program through SCORE, established under this subparagraph,
     that provides small business concerns with the opportunity to
     make business contacts in their industry or geographic
     region.''.

     SEC. 503. NAME OF PROGRAM CHANGED TO SCORE.

       (a) Name Change.--The Small Business Act is amended as
     follows:
       (1) In section 8(b)(1)(B) (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), by
     striking ``Executives (SCORE)'' and inserting ``Executives
     (in this Act referred to as `SCORE')''.
       (2) In section 7(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII) (15 U.S.C.
     636(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII)), by striking ``the Service Corps of
     Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE''.
       (3) In section 20 (15 U.S.C. 631 note)--
       (A) in subsection (d)(1)(E), by striking ``the Service
     Corps of Retired Executives program'' and inserting
     ``SCORE''; and

[[Page H5851]]

       (B) in subsection (e)(1)(E), by striking ``the Service
     Corps of Retired Executives program'' and inserting
     ``SCORE''.
       (4) In section 33(b)(2) (15 U.S.C. 657c(b)(2)), by striking
     ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting
     ``SCORE''.
       (b) Elimination of ACE.--Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), as amended, is further
     amended by striking ``and an Active Corps of Executive
     (ACE)''.

     SEC. 504. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note),
     as amended by section 403(c) of this Act, is further amended
     by inserting the following new subsection after subsection
     (f):
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations for SCORE.--There is
     authorized to be appropriated $7,000,000 for SCORE under
     section 8(b)(1) for each of the fiscal years 2010 and
     2011.''.

                  TITLE VI--EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

     SEC. 601. EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

       Section 4 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633) is
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Management and Direction.--
       ``(1) Plan for entrepreneurial development and job creation
     strategy.--The Administrator shall develop and submit to
     Congress a plan, in consultation with a representative from
     each of the agency's entrepreneurial development programs,
     for using the Small Business Administration's entrepreneurial
     development programs as a catalyst for job creation for
     fiscal years 2009 and 2010. The plan shall include the
     Administration's plan for drawing on existing programs,
     including Small Business Development Centers, Women's
     Business Centers, SCORE, Veterans Business Centers, Native
     American Outreach, and other appropriate programs. The
     Administrator shall identify a strategy for each
     Administration region to create or retain jobs through
     Administration programs. The Administrator shall identify, in
     consultation with appropriate personnel from entrepreneurial
     development programs, performance measures and criteria,
     including job creation, job retention, and job retraining
     goals, to evaluate the success of the Administration's
     actions regarding these efforts.
       ``(2) Data collection process.--The Administrator shall,
     after notice and opportunity for comment, promulgate a rule
     to develop and implement a consistent data collection process
     to cover all entrepreneurial development programs. Such data
     collection process shall include data relating to job
     creation, performance, and any other data determined
     appropriate by the Administrator with respect to the
     Administration's entrepreneurial development programs.
       ``(3) Coordination and alignment of sba entrepreneurial
     development programs.--The Administrator shall submit
     annually to Congress, in consultation with other Federal
     departments and agencies as appropriate, a report on
     opportunities to foster coordination, limit duplication, and
     improve program delivery for Federal entrepreneurial
     development programs.
       ``(4) Database of entrepreneurial development service
     providers.--The Administrator shall, after a period of 60
     days for public comment, establish a database of providers of
     entrepreneurial development services and, make such database
     available through the Administration's Web site. The database
     shall be searchable by industry, geography, and service
     required.
       ``(5) Community specialist.--The Administrator shall
     designate not less than one staff member in each
     Administration district office as a community specialist who
     has as their full-time responsibility working with local
     entrepreneurial development service providers to increase
     coordination with Federal resources. The Administrator shall
     develop benchmarks for measuring the performance of community
     specialists under this subsection.
       ``(6) Entrepreneurial development portal.--The
     Administrator shall publish a design for a Web-based portal
     to provide comprehensive information on the Administration's
     entrepreneurial development programs. After a period of 60
     days for public comment, the Administrator shall establish
     such portal and--
       ``(A) integrate under one Web portal, Small Business
     Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, SCORE,
     Veterans Business Centers, the Administration's distance
     learning program, and other programs as appropriate;
       ``(B) revise the Administration's primary Web site so that
     the Web portal described in subparagraph (A) is available as
     a link on the main Web page of the Web site;
       ``(C) increase consumer-oriented content on the
     Administration's Web site and focus on promoting access to
     business solutions, including marketing, financing, and human
     resources planning;
       ``(D) establish relevant Web content aggregated by industry
     segment, stage of business development, level of need, and
     include referral links to appropriate Administration
     services, including financing, training and counseling, and
     procurement assistance; and
       ``(E) provide style guidelines and links for visitors to
     the Administration's Web site to be able to comment on and
     evaluate the materials in terms of their usefulness.
       ``(7) Pilot programs.--The Administrator may not conduct
     any pilot program for a period of greater than 3 years if the
     program conflicts with, or uses the resources of, any of the
     entrepreneurial development programs authorized under section
     8(b)(1)(B), 21, 29, 32, or any other provision of this
     Act.''.

  TITLE VII--MODERNIZING THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM

     SEC. 701. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS OPERATIONAL
                   CHANGES.

       (a) Accreditation Requirement.--Section 21(a)(1) of the
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(1)) is amended as
     follows:
       (1) In the proviso, by inserting before ``institution'' the
     following: ``accredited''.
       (2) In the sentence beginning ``The Administration shall'',
     by inserting before ``institutions'' the following:
     ``accredited''.
       (3) By adding at the end the following new sentence: ``In
     this paragraph, the term `accredited institution of higher
     education' means an institution that is accredited as
     described in section 101(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)(5)).''.
       (b) Program Negotiations.--Section 21(a)(3) of the Small
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)) is amended in the matter
     preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting before ``agreed''
     the following: ``mutually''.
       (c) Contract Negotiations.--Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(A)) is amended by
     inserting after ``uniform negotiated'' the following:
     ``mutually agreed to''.
       (d) SBDC Hiring.--Section 21(c)(2)(A) of the Small Business
     Act (15 U.S.C. 648(c)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after
     ``full-time staff'' the following: ``, the hiring of which
     shall be at the sole discretion of the center without the
     need for input or approval from any officer or employee of
     the Administration''.
       (e) Content of Consultations.--Section 21(a)(7)(A) of the
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(7)(A)) is amended in the
     matter preceding clause (i) by inserting after ``under this
     section'' the following: ``, or the content of any
     consultation with such an individual or small business
     concern,''.
       (f) Amounts for Administrative Expenses.--Section
     21(a)(4)(C)(v)(I) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
     648(a)(4)(C)(v)(I)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(I) In general.--Of the amounts made available in any
     fiscal year to carry out this section, not more than $500,000
     may be used by the Administration to pay expenses enumerated
     in subparagraphs (B) through (D) of section 20(a)(1).''.
       (g) Non-Matching Portability Grants.--Section
     21(a)(4)(C)(viii) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
     648(a)(4)(C)(viii)) is amended by adding at the end the
     following: ``In the event of a disaster, the dollar
     limitation in the preceding sentence shall not apply.''.
       (h) Distribution to SBDCs.--Section 21(b) of the Small
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(b)) is amended by adding at the
     end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) Limitation on Distribution to Small Business
     Development Centers.--
       ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
     paragraph, the Administration shall not distribute funds to a
     Small Business Development Center if the State in which the
     Small Business Development Center is located is served by
     more than one Small Business Development Center.
       ``(B) Unavailability exception.--The Administration may
     distribute funds to a maximum of 2 Small Business Development
     Centers in any State if no applicant has applied to serve the
     entire State.
       ``(C) Grandfather clause.--The limitations in this
     paragraph shall not apply to any State in which more than one
     Small Business Development Center received funding prior to
     January 1, 2007.
       ``(D) Definition.--For the purposes of this paragraph, the
     term `Small Business Development Center' means the entity
     selected by the Administration to receive funds pursuant to
     the funding formula set forth in subsection (a)(4), without
     regard to the number of sites for service delivery such
     entity establishes or funds.''.
       (i) Women's Business Centers.--Section 21(a)(1) of the
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(1)), as amended, is
     further amended--
       (1) by striking ``and women's business centers operating
     pursuant to section 29''; and
       (2) by striking ``or a women's business center operating
     pursuant to section 29''.

     SEC. 702. ACCESS TO CREDIT AND CAPITAL.

       Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(o) Access to Credit and Capital Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a
     grant program for small business development centers in
     accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the
     program, a small business development center must be in good
     standing and comply with the other requirements of this
     section. Funds made available through the program shall be
     used to--
       ``(A) develop specialized programs to assist local small
     business concerns in securing capital and repairing damaged
     credit;
       ``(B) provide informational seminars on securing credit and
     loans;
       ``(C) provide one-on-one counseling with potential
     borrowers to improve financial presentations to lenders; and
       ``(D) facilitate borrowers' access to non-traditional
     financing sources, as well as traditional lending sources.
       ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award
     an entity more than $300,000 in grant funds under this
     subsection.
       ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in
     appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to
     carry out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the
     Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative
     agreements to carry out this subsection.
       ``(4) Authorization.--There is authorized to be
     appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes of
     carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years
     2010 and 2011.''.

[[Page H5852]]

     SEC. 703. PROCUREMENT TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE.

       Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as
     amended, is further amended by adding at the end the
     following new subsection:
       ``(p) Procurement Training and Assistance.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a
     grant program for small business development centers in
     accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the
     program, a small business development center must be in good
     standing and comply with the other requirements of this
     section. Funds made available through the program shall be
     used to--
       ``(A) work with local agencies to identify contracts that
     are suitable for local small business concerns;
       ``(B) prepare small businesses to be ready as
     subcontractors and prime contractors for contracts made
     available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
     2009 (Public Law 111-5) through training and business
     advisement, particularly in the construction trades; and
       ``(C) provide technical assistance regarding the Federal
     procurement process, including assisting small business
     concerns to comply with federal regulations and bonding
     requirements.
       ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award
     an entity more than $300,000 in grant funds under this
     subsection.
       ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in
     appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to
     carry out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the
     Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative
     agreements to carry out this subsection.
       ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes
     of carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years
     2010 and 2011.''.

     SEC. 704. GREEN ENTREPRENEURS TRAINING PROGRAM.

       Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as
     amended, is further amended by adding at the end the
     following new subsection:
       ``(q) Green Entrepreneurs Training Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a
     grant program for small business development centers in
     accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the
     program, a small business development center must be in good
     standing and comply with the other requirements of this
     section. Funds made available through the program shall be
     used to--
       ``(A) provide education classes and one-on-one instruction
     in starting a business in the fields of energy efficiency,
     green technology, or clean technology;
       ``(B) coordinate such classes and instruction, to the
     extent practicable, with local community colleges and local
     professional trade associations; and
       ``(C) assist and provide technical counseling to
     individuals seeking to start a business in the fields of
     energy efficiency, green technology, or clean technology.
       ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award
     an entity more than $300,000 in grant funds under this
     subsection.
       ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in
     appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to
     carry out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the
     Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative
     agreements to carry out this subsection.
       ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes
     of carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years
     2010 and 2011.''.

     SEC. 705. MAIN STREET STABILIZATION.

       Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as
     amended, is further amended by adding the following new
     subsection at the end thereof:
       ``(r) Main Street Stabilization.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a
     grant program for small business development centers in
     accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the
     program, a small business development center must be in good
     standing and comply with the other requirements of this
     section. Funds made available through the program shall be
     used to--
       ``(A) establish a statewide small business helpline within
     every State and United States territory to provide immediate
     expert information and assistance to small business concerns;
       ``(B) develop a portfolio of online survival and growth
     tools and resources that struggling small business concerns
     can utilize through the Internet;
       ``(C) develop business advisory capacity to provide expert
     consulting and education to assist small businesses at-risk
     of failure and to, in areas of high demand, shorten the
     response time of small business development centers, and, in
     rural areas, support added outreach in remote communities;
       ``(D) deploy additional resources to help specific industry
     sectors with a high presence of small business concerns,
     which shall be targeted toward clusters of small businesses
     with similar needs and build upon best practices from earlier
     assistance;
       ``(E) develop a formal listing of financing options for
     small business capital access; and
       ``(F) deliver services that help dislocated workers start
     new businesses.
       ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award
     an entity more than $250,000 in grant funds under this
     subsection.
       ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in
     appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to
     carry out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the
     Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative
     agreements to carry out this subsection.
       ``(4) Authorization.--There is authorized to be
     appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes of
     carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years
     2010 and 2011.''.

     SEC. 706. PROHIBITION ON PROGRAM INCOME BEING USED AS
                   MATCHING FUNDS.

       Section 21(a)(4)(B) (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(B)) is amended by
     inserting after ``Federal program'' the following: ``and
     shall not include any funds obtained through the assessment
     of fees to small business clients''.

     SEC. 707. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note),
     as amended by sections 403(c) and 504 of this Act, is further
     amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new
     subsection:
       ``(h) Small Business Development Centers.--There is
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Small Business
     Development Center Program under section 21 $150,000,000 for
     fiscal year 2010 and $160,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.''.

  The CHAIR. No amendment to the committee amendment is in order except
those printed in House Report 111-121. Each amendment may be offered
only in the order printed in the report, by a Member designated in the
report, shall be considered read, shall be debatable for the time
specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent of the amendment, shall not be subject to
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the
question.

                              {time}  1515


                Amendment No. 1 Offered by Ms. Velazquez

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 1 offered by Ms. Velazquez:
       Page 9, beginning line 19, strike ``with respect to the
     benefits of self-employment'' and insert ``to promote self-
     employment opportunities''.
       Page 9, line 21, strike ``tailored''.
       Page 12, line 20, strike ``high-quality''.
       Page 14, line 9, insert after ``Veterans Business
     Centers,'' the following: ``SCORE chapters,''.
       Page 16, line 21, strike ``capital'' and insert
     ``financing''.
       Page 16, line 24, strike ``aggressively''.
       Page 33, line 9, strike ``the performance''.
       Page 33, line 13, strike ``relating'' and insert
     ``related''.
       Page 36, beginning line 13, strike ``as a catalyst for job
     creation for'' and insert ``to create jobs during''.
       Page 36, line 14, strike ``2009 and 2010'' and insert
     ``2010 and 2011''.
       Page 7, after line 22 insert the following:
       ``(v) Providing one-on-one or group counseling to owners of
     small business concerns who are members of the reserve
     components of the armed forces, as specified in section 10101
     of title 10, United States Code, to assist such owners to
     effectively prepare their small businesses for periods when
     such owners are deployed in support of a contingency
     operation.''.
       Page 6, line 22, strike ``(10)'' and insert ``(11)''.
       Page 6, after line 21 insert the following:
       ``(10) Rural areas.--The Director shall submit annually to
     the Administrator a report on whether a sufficient
     percentage, as determined by the Director, of veterans in
     rural areas have adequate access to a veterans business
     center. If the Director submits a report under this paragraph
     that does not demonstrate that a sufficient percentage of
     veterans in rural areas have adequate access to a veterans
     business center, the Director shall give priority during the
     one year period following the date of the submission of such
     report to applications for designations and grants under this
     subsection that will establish veterans business centers in
     rural areas.''.
       Page 31, line 12, insert after ``community'' the following:
     ``, strategies for increasing job placement of women in
     nontraditional occupations''.
       Page 47, line 8, strike ``and''.
       Page 47, line 12, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
       Page 47, after line 12, insert the following new
     subparagraph:
       ``(D) provide services that assist low-income or dislocated
     workers to start businesses in the fields of energy
     efficiency, green technology, or clean technology.''.
       Page 47, line 4, insert after ``clean technology'' the
     following: ``and in adapting a business to include such
     fields''.
       Page 47, line 12, insert after ``clean technology'' the
     following: ``and to individuals seeking to adapt a business
     to include such fields''.
       Page 27, line 18, insert after ``per year.'' the following:
     ``Projects receiving assistance under this subparagraph that
     possess the capacity to train existing or potential business
     owners in the fields of green technology, clean technology,
     or energy efficiency shall receive the maximum award under
     this subparagraph.''.
       Page 29, after line 5 insert the following:
       ``(E) the capacity of the project to train existing or
     potential business owners in the fields of green technology,
     clean technology, or energy efficiency;''.
       Page 29, line 6, strike ``(E)'' and insert ``(F)''.

[[Page H5853]]

       Page 29, line 7, strike ``(F)'' and insert ``(G)''.
       Page 32, after line 12 insert the following:

     SEC. 406. APPLICANT EVALUATION CRITERIA.

       Section 29(f) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(f))
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3) by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (4) by striking the period and inserting
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) whether the applicant has the capacity to train
     existing or potential business owners in the fields of green
     technology, clean technology, or energy efficiency.''.
       Page 5, line 13, after ``hardship.'' insert the following:
     ``The Director may waive the matching funds requirement under
     this paragraph with respect to veterans business centers that
     serve communities with a per capita income less than 75
     percent of the national per capita income and an unemployment
     rate at least 150 percent higher than the national
     average.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentlewoman from New
York (Ms. Velazquez) and a Member opposed each will control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
  The manager's amendment makes technical and conforming changes to the
underlying legislation. It also incorporates several important
amendments offered by Ms. Markey, Mr. Carney, Mr. Polis, Ms. Pingree,
and Mr. Cardoza.
  Across all areas of the legislation, these amendments sharpen the
provisions, making them more effective in assisting our entrepreneurs.
In particular, these amendments strengthen provisions dealing with
veterans, rural entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, and green
technology.
  I would like to thank my colleagues who contributed these changes and
allowed them to be included in the manager's amendment. Ultimately, we
have a manager's amendment that will improve this legislation and, more
importantly, foster entrepreneurship and job growth.
  Mr. Chairman, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this
amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim time on the gentlelady's
amendment.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Missouri is
recognized for 10 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, Chairwoman Velazquez's amendment makes very
much needed technical changes to the bill. In addition, the amendments
clarify and strengthen the ability of Reservists and veterans to access
the full range of SBA training and education programs. I fully support
those changes.
  The amendments also provide for more detailed criteria in evaluating
applications for the Women's Business Center. These additional criteria
will help the SBA select the worthiest of the applicant pool.
  I have to say, Mr. Chairman, I know there's a lot of thank-yous going
around today, but I do sincerely want to thank the gentlelady,
Chairwoman Velazquez, because she spent a lot of time working on issues
facing rural America, and it's kind of a hard area to understand in a
lot of cases. And I appreciate that. I know a lot of people appreciate
that. It doesn't go unnoticed at all.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez).
  The amendment was agreed to.


           Amendment No. 2 Offered by Ms. Markey of Colorado

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. As the designee for Mr. Polis, I have an
amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 2 offered by Ms. Markey of Colorado:
       Page 27, line 1, insert after ``concern'' the following:
     ``, including implementing cost saving energy techniques''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentlewoman from
Colorado (Ms. Markey) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my
colleagues' amendment. I thank Representative Shuler, Representative
Velazquez, and members of the Small Business Committee and their staff
for bringing forward this legislation that will promote
entrepreneurship at a time when our Nation needs it most.
  As a former small business owner, I know that starting a new business
is an exciting experience. I know also that with the steep learning
curve involved in managing and building a business, all too important
details are left unattended. It is these details, however, that can
determine whether a business will succeed or fail.
  The educational and networking programs established by this bill will
help small business owners attend to these details with the assistance
of dedicated professionals.
  Each community and each business presents a unique set of challenges
and rewards. By creating specialized Small Business Development
Centers, the modest funds we allocate in this bill will yield strong
results through targeted counseling and training. This amendment simply
adds training on reducing operating expenses through energy savings to
the existing list of educational programs under this bill.
  Entrepreneurs will greatly benefit from targeted training on energy
use, a detail that represents 19 percent of the cost of running a small
business. This high recurring cost can be inconsistent, unpredictable,
and fluctuate seasonally.
  High energy costs in periods of reduced revenue can be a frustrating
challenge for a small business--but it's also avoidable.
  Many communities and utilities offer programs to help businesses
reduce energy consumption and many also offer tax breaks and incentives
to reduce energy use. Some of the incentive programs available include
assistance in acquiring efficient office hardware and installing
renewable energy projects, but they can also help business owners with
simple solutions, such as installing fluorescent light bulbs, turning
off unused equipment, and closing doors and windows.
  However, as common sense as it may seem to turn off a light when not
in use, during the intense activity of starting a new business,
ordering inventory, and hiring new employees, the lack of attention
paid to an open window can quickly morph from a harmless oversight to
an expensive habit.
  Mr. Chairman, I want to remind my colleagues that 19 percent paid for
energy is 19 percent that is not being reinvested in the business. That
is 19 percent less cushion a business owner has in the event of an
economic downturn. Nineteen percent may seem small, but it could be
smaller.
  Energy, of course, is a necessary expense. Compared to good employees
and quality projects, however, this expenditure yields marginal
returns. There is a reason that our utility companies call us valued
customers and don't call us wise investors. Imagine if that 19 percent
could be 9 percent.
  To put it a better way, what if we could offer entrepreneurs an
additional 10 percent capital? That 10 percent of additional resources
can be invested in aspects of the operation that generate revenue.
  The accumulated cost savings from moving the thermostat just a few
degrees and reinvesting those funds into the business over time can be
the difference between new supplies, expanding, or hiring a new
employee.
  This amendment strengthens our investment in small businesses by
helping them with low-cost ways to improve their operations and
increase their profits. The most exciting aspect of small business is
the spirit of entrepreneurship, but finding creative solutions to
reduce costs and save energy are possible only when business owners are
made aware of the opportunities available to them.
  This amendment, by simply creating awareness of energy-saving
techniques and programs, will help small businesses thrive. Reducing
energy consumption is not only smart environmental policy, it is sound
economic policy.

[[Page H5854]]

  I ask my colleagues to support this amendment and this important
bill. I once again thank Representative Shuler, Chairwoman Velazquez,
and members of the Small Business Committee
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I
ask to claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York is
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, as our Nation transitions to a green
economy, America's entrepreneurs are leading the way. Entrepreneurs
make up 90 percent of the renewable energy sector that is harnessing
wind and solar power, as well as producing biofuels. Small companies
are also dominant in the field of energy efficiency, and they're
finding better, cleaner ways to use existing fuel sources.
  The renewable energy and efficiency sectors are leading a new way for
growth. They are expected to account for one out of every four jobs by
2030. Small businesses are also instrumental in efforts promoting
energy efficiency in both existing and new buildings.
  The amendment offered by the gentlelady from Colorado will build on
this role. It clarifies that Women's Business Centers may utilize their
resources to promote cost-saving energy techniques. That is a valuable
change to the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this
amendment.
  I now yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments that he
might have.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. Markey).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Paulsen

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Mr. PAULSEN. I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 3 offered by Mr. Paulsen:
       At the end of title I, insert the following new section:

     SEC. 103. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY OF SMALL BUSINESS
                   CONCERNS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY VETERANS.

       The Comptroller General shall carry out a study on the
     effects of this Act and the amendments made by this Act on
     small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans and
     submit to Congress a report on the results of such study.
     Such report shall include the recommendations of the
     Comptroller General with respect to how this Act and the
     amendments made by this Act may be implemented to more
     effectively serve small business concerns owned and
     controlled by veterans.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
  Mr. PAULSEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First of all, I'd like to thank the chair of the subcommittee. Mr.
Chairman, growing small businesses must be a top priority in order to
turn this economy around. Our military veterans that own businesses
face their own unique challenges--and the government must ensure that
the programs in place to assist these veterans are achieving their
goals.
  I recently took part in a Minnesota Defense Alliance event where I
was briefed by several small-to-medium-sized businesses in Minnesota
that do work related to defense issues. Many of these companies were
veteran-owned.
  One of the concerns that was raised by a few of the participants was
that the programs currently available to veteran-owned businesses are
not effective and do not meet their needs. Because of these concerns, I
authored this amendment, which would require the GAO to study the
effectiveness of the legislation in growing and assisting veteran-owned
companies and businesses.
  My amendment also requires the GAO to offer suggestions to Congress
as to how we can better assist veteran-owned business.
  The government needs to do a better job of spending our taxpayer
money wisely. So one of the best things that we can do for any business
right now is to increase the availability of capital for growth.
  Small businesses have created two of every three net new jobs in the
United States since the 1970s, and certainly all the members of the
Small Business Committee know this. Small businesses are also
responsible for roughly half of the privately generated GDP in the
United States.
  I support the underlying legislation, and I believe it will go a long
way in assisting and growing small businesses at a time when our
Nation's economy needs a boost. Specifically, I'm interested in the new
grant program for Small Business Development Centers to develop
programs which help local small firms in securing capital and repairing
damaged credit.
  I want to thank Mr. Shuler and the rest of the Small Business
Committee for their work as well. I'm extremely pleased that this bill
provides the assistance for veteran-owned business, and I urge my
colleagues to vote ``yes'' for this amendment and ``yes'' on the
underlying legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I
ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York is
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for offering this
amendment. All of us on both sides of the aisle want to make sure that
these programs meet the needs of our entrepreneurs. I think we're doing
good work with this legislation. But, as with many government programs,
we must ensure there is sufficient oversight.
  It is important that we carefully monitor how taxpayer dollars are
spent and what effect they're having. Most of all, we must be sure that
these programs accomplish what Congress intended.
  The amendment in question will provide this oversight. It requires
the Government Accountability Office to report on the effectiveness of
ED programs for veterans.
  I welcome this additional oversight. If Congress is going to ensure
veterans are receiving the help they need from the SBA, we must make
sure these new programs are functioning correctly. I will encourage my
colleagues to vote for this amendment.
  Now I yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any comments that he
may have.
  Mr. GRAVES. I appreciate the gentlelady from New York yielding me
time. Mr. Chairman, I think this is a great amendment, and I support
it.

                              {time}  1530

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. We are prepared to accept the amendment.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAULSEN. We had one additional speaker, but I'm not sure if he's
going to make it. So I just want to encourage support as well. I thank
the gentlewoman for her support of the amendment and all the members of
the Small Business Committee to truly help veteran-owned businesses
grow and create jobs as well.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment
offered by my friend from Minnesota. As a veteran I support the
underlying goal of this legislation to create opportunities for
veteran-operated small businesses.
  It is important in this global economy to train and provide guidance
in business administration for our veterans. Veteran Business Centers
and grant assistance should expand the economic playing field for these
businesses.
  However, if the Congress authorizes these programs it is our duty to
the taxpayer to oversee their progress. This amendment calls for the
Government Accountability Office to study and report on the
effectiveness of these programs. We need to ask the question: ``Is
money spent on veteran owned small businesses helping these
businesses?'' ``How can these programs be improved?''
  I look forward to having those answers and thank the Gentleman from
Minnesota for offering this amendment. I encourage my colleagues to
support its adoption and yield back.
  Mr. PAULSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H5855]]

  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Boccieri

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 4 offered by Mr. Boccieri:
       Page 7, insert after line 22 the following:
       ``(v) Developing specialized programs to assist unemployed
     veterans to become entrepreneurs.''.
       Page 10, line 21, insert after ``Director.'' the following:
     ``Such event shall include education and training with
     respect to improving outreach to veterans in areas of high
     unemployment.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Boccieri) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield myself as much time as I
may consume.
  Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 2352, the
Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act. I want to thank Chairwoman
Velazquez and Congressman Shuler for their vision in this landmark
piece of legislation that will help restore our economy to what it has
always been.
  My amendment does two things, Mr. Chair. It allows veterans centers
to receive grants to develop specialized programs that assist
unemployed veterans, reservists and surviving spouses by becoming
entrepreneurs. And it requires a Veterans Development Summit to provide
training for veterans centers to improve their outreach to veterans in
areas of high unemployment.
  I strongly support the underlying bill and its creation of the
Veterans Business Center program. By expanding assistance and training
to veteran entrepreneurs, we can increase the number of successful
small businesses and, thereby, create jobs, taking these highly
skilled, highly trained individuals and helping them. Providing them
with the opportunity to create jobs and create businesses is the right
way to go.
  The purpose of my amendment is to ensure that we are targeting
outreach to unemployed veterans, reservists and surviving spouses.
  Let's go over a few facts, Mr. Chair. While the economy continues to
be tough for all Americans, it seems that young veterans are among the
hardest hit. One out of nine Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are now out
of work, and the total number of unemployed veterans of the two wars
roughly averages about 170,000. It is about the same number as U.S.
troops deployed to those wars, according to the Department of Labor.
The 11.2 percent jobless rate for veterans who served in Iraq and
Afghanistan rose 4 percentage points in the past year. That's
significantly higher than the corresponding 8.8 percent for nonveterans
in the same age group. On the battlefield, we pledge to leave no
soldier behind. As a Nation, it should be our pledge that when they
return home, we leave no veteran behind, and that includes making sure
that every veteran has a job when they return.
  I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Chairman.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I
ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York is
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his amendment. The
legislation on the floor today places a high priority on helping
veterans who wish to transition from the military to entrepreneurship.
As I have noted, this bill for the first time creates a nationwide
network of Veterans Business Centers. As our servicemen and -women
return home from Afghanistan and Iraq, many of them will look to launch
their own businesses as the next step in their careers. This network of
Veterans Business Centers will aid them as they make that move. For
many veterans, entrepreneurship is a logical next step. Already today,
veterans comprise 14 percent of self-employed people. Service-disabled
veterans make up 7 percent of small businesses. The underlying
legislation would help these veterans who own their own firms as well
as assist veterans seeking to start their own enterprises. The
amendment before us helps to refine and improve the veterans provisions
contained in this bill.
  Specifically, the amendment requires that the new veterans centers
offer specialized services to help unemployed veterans. In addition,
the amendment will help the SBA improve outreach and education to
veterans in high unemployment areas, and it would mean that the SBA
will dedicate resources to assist those veterans who need help the
most. In short, this amendment will do right by those who have served
our Nation.
  I now yield to the ranking member, the gentleman from Missouri, for
any comments that he may have.
  Mr. GRAVES. Thank you, Madam Chair, for yielding me time.
  Mr. Chairman, the area where you are seeing a lot of veterans right
now come back and, obviously, set up a lot of small businesses is a
rapidly growing area. This provision in the bill is well overdue, in my
opinion. It just goes along with the whole nature of the bill, to
modernize so many of the SBA programs. I support the amendment.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Mr. Chairman, I recognize the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Driehaus) for as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. DRIEHAUS. I thank the gentleman for his amendment and the
underlying bill. I rise to support the amendment and the underlying
bill.
  We heard just a little while ago the gentlewoman from Colorado talk
about the pitfalls in creating small businesses and the challenges that
entrepreneurs face. This is about identifying those challenges and
helping veterans, as they return, think through the issues of creating
a viable business plan, assistance with product development, providing
assistance in marketing, learning how to access capital necessary to
make their businesses successful. In sum, this is about leveraging the
skills that so many of our men and women have learned, so many of our
men and women have utilized overseas so that when they return home,
they can put those skills to work in terms of small business
development, in terms of coming together and driving this economy and
creating new jobs. This is the direction we should be heading.
  I support the amendment.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. If the gentleman is prepared to yield back, we are
prepared to accept the amendment.
  Mr. BOCCIERI. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Boccieri).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Himes

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Mr. HIMES. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 5 offered by Mr. Himes:
       Page 12, line 15, strike ``section 46'' and insert
     ``section 47''.
       Page 50, after line 16, add the following new title:

          TITLE VIII--MICROENTERPRISE TRAINING CENTER PROGRAM

     SEC. 801. MICROENTERPRISE TRAINING CENTER PROGRAM.

       The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended
     by inserting after section 45, as added by section 301(b) of
     this Act, the following:

     ``SEC. 46. MICROENTERPRISE TRAINING CENTER PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish and
     carry out a microenterprise training center program for the
     purpose of providing low-income and unemployed individuals
     with training and counseling with respect to starting a
     microenterprise.
       ``(b) Number and Location of Centers.--In carrying out the
     program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall
     establish

[[Page H5856]]

     10 microenterprise training centers, which, to the extent
     practicable, shall be located in a manner that promotes the
     geographic diversity of such centers. The Administrator shall
     give priority in locating such centers to areas with high
     proportions of low-income and unemployed individuals.
       ``(c) Function.--In carrying out the program under
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that
     microenterprise training centers provide training and
     resources to individuals seeking to start a new
     microenterprise, including through the provision of classes,
     one-on-one instruction, and other services the Administrator
     determines appropriate.
       ``(d) Coordination.--The Administrator shall coordinate the
     program established under subsection (a) with other programs
     of the Administration that may provide support to
     microenterprises.
       ``(e) Definition of Microenterprise.--In this section, the
     term `microenterprise' means a business with not more than 6
     employees and begun with an initial investment of not more
     than $40,000.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Himes) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut.
  Mr. HIMES. Mr. Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Entrepreneurship in low-income areas is hindered not just by a lack
of capital but by a lack of skills and training. Business skills
training in low-income communities works. A recent Center For
Employment Training study of 5,000 workers showed an average income
boost of $7,500 to $26,000 for individuals receiving 28 weeks of
business training. My amendment directs the SBA to invest in 10
Microenterprise Training Centers to provide training and resources to
individuals seeking to start new small businesses, including expert-led
classes, group workshops and one-on-one instruction. It authorizes no
specific amount of new funds. We will look to make a small addition to
the SBA operating budget later in the appropriations process.
  This amendment is about spurring job creation in low-income
communities, those communities that need jobs, that need small
businesses most. These are the communities that are hardest hit by
economic downturns, the last to recover and, in many instances, the
communities that, absent jobs, draw on the public purse for the kind of
public support that they need. So in the spirit of this bill, and with
the support of the Small Business Committee, I urge my colleagues'
positive consideration of this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chair, I rise to claim time in opposition to the
gentleman's amendment.
  The CHAIR. The gentleman from Missouri is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I certainly concur with the gentleman that
it is important to make sure that individuals wishing to start a very
small business have access to appropriate training and technical
assistance. However, where I part company with the gentleman is the
need to create a program that duplicates services already available
through the SBA. Microloan intermediaries are required by section 7(m)
of the Small Business Act to provide counseling and training to
individuals wanting to start microenterprises. In addition, such
services also are available from Small Business Development Centers,
Women's Business Centers, Tribal Business Centers and Veterans Business
Centers. Nothing exists in the record before the committee that
suggests individuals who are interested in starting microenterprises do
not have access to necessary training and technical assistance. So
creating another program that duplicates existing efforts through the
SBA is not a sound use of scarce taxpayer dollars.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIMES. I yield to the gentlelady from New York.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentleman from
Connecticut for this great amendment.
  We often hear discussion of the concept of ``welfare to work.'' Well,
the amendment before us will move many Americans from ``welfare to
entrepreneurship.'' Studies consistently demonstrate that
entrepreneurship provides a path out of poverty for many Americans. In
particular, we have seen that for many impoverished women, launching
their own small business can mean a chance at a bright future. This
amendment will provide entrepreneurial development resources to those
communities that have been hardest hit by this recession by creating
Microenterprise Training Centers. These centers will let Americans
interested in starting a very small business, such as a home-based
business, access valuable classes, one-on-one instruction and other
guidance. These resources will help launch the smallest small
businesses, those with six or less employees and that start with
$40,000 or less in capital. Under the amendment, the SBA will establish
these training centers. The administrator is instructed to place them
in parts of the country that have a high proportion of low-income and
unemployed individuals.
  Mr. Chairman, when economic downturns like the current one hit, those
communities that are already hurting often carry the brunt of the pain.
Those areas already struggling with high unemployment suffer the most
when jobs become even more scarce. The amendment before us will provide
additional options for Americans living in these communities. It will
mean that those living in poverty will have a better chance to secure
their economic independence and build a better life for themselves. The
Microloans Program is a program that lends to businesses and those who
want to start up a business. These are microenterprises that will
provide technical assistance and guidance for those who want to start
up a business. It's different.
  I commend the gentleman for offering this amendment.
  Mr. HIMES. I thank the gentlelady from New York for her statement and
for her terrific leadership on this bill.
  I would just note to my colleague from Missouri that he is absolutely
right to be concerned about safeguarding taxpayer dollars and avoiding
duplicative efforts. However, I would point out that this amendment
creates a program targeted and tailored to low-income and unemployed
individuals and, therefore, doesn't duplicate the SBA's currently
existing programs, which are largely tied to the lending that is often
not extended to lower income and unemployed individuals. In fact, there
are very few Federal resources available for lower income individuals
seeking to start a business. The Microloan Program that the gentleman
refers to is built around loans and actually in previous budgets has
been zeroed out. So I believe and feel this personally, having spent a
year helping microbusinesses in the Bronx and seeing personally how
very economically powerful small businesses can be in distressed
communities, that we can find our way to support this amendment and
make it part of a very good and useful bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Connecticut (Mr. Himes).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Kratovil

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Mr. KRATOVIL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 6 offered by Mr. Kratovil:
       Page 12, line 15, strike ``section 46'' and insert
     ``section 47''.
       Page 50, after line 16, add the following new title:

          TITLE VIII--RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL

     SEC. 801. RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL.

       The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended
     by inserting after section 45, as added by section 301(b) of
     this Act, the following:

     ``SEC. 46. RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a
     rural entrepreneurship advisory council (hereinafter referred
     to in this section as the `council').
       ``(b) Composition.--The Administrator shall ensure that the
     council is composed of appropriate officials from the
     Administration, the rural development programs of the
     Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce and
     of representatives, who volunteer for the council, from the
     academic, small business, agriculture, and high-tech
     communities.
       ``(c) Functions.--
       ``(1) Initial report.--Not later than 90 days after the
     date of the enactment of this section, the council shall
     submit to the Administrator and to Congress a report on the
     following:
       ``(A) Entrepreneurship in rural communities compared to
     urban communities.

[[Page H5857]]

       ``(B) Potential barriers to entrepreneurship for
     individuals in rural communities.
       ``(C) Effective Federal policies that are expanding
     entrepreneurship in rural communities.
       ``(D) Recommendations for Federal policies to foster
     entrepreneurship in rural communities and to ensure that
     rural entrepreneurs have equal access to technical
     assistance, entrepreneurial opportunities, and educational
     outreach.
       ``(2) Advice.--The council shall provide ongoing advice to
     the Administrator with respect to rural entrepreneurship and
     make recommendations to foster rural entrepreneurs, including
     through the effective use of broadband technology.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Kratovil) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. KRATOVIL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
  I would like to congratulate the Small Business Committee chairwoman,
Ms. Velazquez, and lead sponsor, Congressman Heath Shuler, for bringing
H.R. 2352, the Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, to
the floor today. This legislation will arm small businesses and
entrepreneurs, who are the lifeblood of our economy, to grow and
prosper.
  Investing in America's small businessmen and -women will help our
economy recover. Small businesses create approximately four out of five
new jobs. These small businesses are the backbone of the economy. They
are the mom-and-pop stores on the Main Streets in small towns across
America. But they are also individuals who are willing to take a risk
and begin their own small high-tech companies.
  I, like many Members of the House of Representatives, represent a
largely rural district. A drive up and down Route 50 in my district
reveals a landscape dotted with car dealerships that have closed their
doors, restaurants that have gone out of business, empty hotel parking
lots and store fronts with more vacancy than occupants. Although these
images are not unique to rural areas, they deliver a much deeper blow
to rural areas that rely on these small businesses for a greater
percentage of local revenue and regional commerce than metropolitan and
suburban areas.
  For this reason, I have offered an amendment that would establish a
rural entrepreneurship advisory council within the Small Business
Administration. The council will be comprised of appropriate officials
from the SBA, the rural development programs of the Department of
Agriculture and the Department of Commerce, as well as representatives
from the academic, small business, agriculture and high-tech sectors.
The council is tasked with providing a report to Congress on rural
entrepreneurship, specifically a report on entrepreneurship in rural
communities compared to urban communities, potential barriers for
individuals in rural communities, effective Federal policies that are
expanding entrepreneurship in rural communities, and recommendations
for Federal policies to foster entrepreneurship in rural communities
and to ensure that rural entrepreneurs have equal access to technical
assistance, entrepreneurial opportunities and educational outreach.
  The council will also provide ongoing advice to the SBA administrator
on issues related to rural entrepreneurship and how to foster rural
entrepreneurs, including the effective use of broadband technology.
This is a simple, commonsense amendment that will ensure our Nation's
rural entrepreneurs are not left behind.
  I urge support of the amendment as well as the underlying bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I
ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York is
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Maryland will greatly expand the reach of entrepreneurial
development programs. Too often small business owners or prospective
entrepreneurs cannot access these programs because they live in a rural
or remote area. For those small businesses in these parts of America,
the nearest Small Business Development Center or Women's Business
Center is often many miles away. This can prevent small businesses from
accessing the services that we are improving and reauthorizing in the
underlying bill.
  The amendment offered by the gentleman from Maryland will further
ensure that the SBA pays attention to the needs of rural America.
Specifically, it creates a rural entrepreneurship advisory council at
the Small Business Administration. Drawing from the expertise of the
Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce, this panel
will see to it that ED services provided by the SBA are effective for
rural small businesses.
  In many rural areas, many small businesses are particularly
important. Often they are the community's largest employer. This
amendment will ensure that the SBA's entrepreneurial development
programs are meeting the needs of rural America.
  I urge the adoption of the amendment.
  And I now yield to the gentleman from Missouri for any remarks that
he might have.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment, and I have no
opposition. I thank the gentlelady.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. If the gentleman is prepared to yield back, we are
prepared to accept the amendment.
  Mr. KRATOVIL. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Kratovil).
  The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
  Mr. KRATOVIL. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on
the amendment offered by the gentleman from Maryland will be postponed.


           Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Murphy of New York

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 7 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Mr. MURPHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the
desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 7 offered by Mr. Murphy of New York:
       Page 4, line 11, strike ``$150,000'' and insert the
     following: ``$200,000''.
       Page 4, line 18, strike ``$100,000'' and insert the
     following: ``$150,000''.
       Page 6, line 24, strike ``$10,000,000'' and insert the
     following: ``$12,000,000''.
       Page 6, line 25, strike ``$12,000,000'' and insert the
     following: ``$14,000,000''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Murphy) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. MURPHY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
  Like so many other Members here today, I rise to speak in favor of
this bill and in particular an amendment that I think will make it
stronger. For many years, I have been a small business owner, a founder
of small businesses, and for the last 8 years, I have been investing in
small businesses all over New York. I have seen the challenges that
small business people face, and I'm well aware of the needs that they
have as they start these businesses. And in particular in this troubled
economic time, what those of us that work in the small business world
know is that many more entrepreneurs will turn to their own efforts to
start small businesses. We will see a lot more small businesses founded
by entrepreneurs in these troubled economic times as people can't find
jobs and they are getting laid off from bigger companies.
  In particular, you have got that combined with the veterans that are
coming back from our efforts overseas. And as we draw down in Iraq, a
large number of veterans will be coming back and mustering out looking
for job opportunities. What they are going to need is help because they
are going to go and try to start small businesses. And it is a
difficult task.
  My amendment would increase the funding for the Veterans Business
Centers that are already contemplated in

[[Page H5858]]

this bill. Instead of $150,000 for each of the first 5 years, they
would be allocated up to $200,000. And instead of $100,000 thereafter
for 3 additional years, they could go up to $150,000. I think it is
critical that we make sure that we have enough of these Veterans
Business Centers, like the one that we already have in the Albany area
near my district, to help as many veterans as we can when they come
back.
  There is a great need out there. I saw this myself. I started my
first business when I was 24 years old. People ask me, What would you
do differently if you did it again? And every time I say, The thing I
would do differently is I would turn to get more advice from
experienced people early on. That is exactly what these centers will
provide for our veterans. And I ask that people support this amendment
to make sure we have the funding for them.
  And I reserve the remainder of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I
ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York is
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York for
offering this amendment, as I believe it will help to improve the bill.
As we all know, and we have seen and we heard that veteran
entrepreneurship is on the rise, meaning that these services are in
greater and greater demand.
  The existing Veterans Business Outreach Centers have seen a 61
percent increase in veterans' requests for their services. Women's
Business Centers report a 103 percent increase in veterans' requests.
Clearly there is a hunger out there for these type of initiatives. And
as more of our men and women return from Iraq and Afghanistan, the need
for veterans' entrepreneurial development programs can be expected to
grow.
  By increasing the resources that are available for our former
servicemen and -women, this amendment will help many of them launch
their own businesses.
  I will now yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) for any
comments that he wishes to make.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I have no opposition to the amendment and
support it; and I thank the gentlelady for yielding time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman is prepared to yield
back, we are prepared to accept this amendment.
  Mr. MURPHY of New York. I yield back.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of this amendment,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Murphy).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                   Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Nye

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 8 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Mr. NYE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 8 offered by Mr. Nye:
       Page 12, line 15, strike ``section 46'' and insert
     ``section 47''.
       Page 50, after line 16, add the following new title:

               TITLE VIII--MILITARY ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM

     SEC. 801. MILITARY ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM.

       The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended
     by inserting after section 45, as added by section 301(b) of
     this Act, the following:

     ``SEC. 46. MILITARY ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish and
     carry out a program to provide business counseling and
     entrepreneurial development assistance to members of the
     Armed Forces to facilitate the development of small business
     concerns.
       ``(b) Liaison.--In carrying out the program described in
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall establish a liaison
     to facilitate outreach to members of the Armed Forces with
     respect to business counseling and entrepreneurial
     development assistance.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
     to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this
     section $1,000,000 for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Nye) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. NYE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Job Creation
Through Entrepreneurship Act. In fact, I authored title I, the Veterans
Business Centers provision, and I am in strong support of the title as
it is. Today, however, I would like to make a minor addition to that
bill, the Military Entrepreneurs Program.
  Mr. Chairman, it takes a special kind of person to be an
entrepreneur. Small business ownership takes leadership. And in times
like these, it takes resilience. So it is not surprising that, as they
reenter civilian life, many of our returning servicemembers decide to
launch their own enterprises. After all, these are the same attributes
that they have exhibited while serving our Nation.
  Our veterans leave the military with valuable skills and experience.
But they often don't have the resources to apply those skills to the
challenge of starting and running a small business. This bill will make
sure our veterans have the support they need to launch successful small
businesses. And by supporting our veterans and our small businesses, we
will help create jobs and get our economy going again.
  The cornerstone of this effort will be a new nationwide network of
services dedicated to veteran entrepreneurs called Veteran Business
Centers. Establishing this joint public-private network will provide
veterans with the dedicated counseling and business training they need
to launch new enterprises or grow existing businesses. By creating a
new program to assist veterans in accessing capital and securing loans
and credit, we will help them overcome some of the most significant
hurdles blocking them from becoming successfully self-employed.
  By creating a new program to help our veterans to navigate the
procurement process, they will be able to compete more effectively in
the Federal marketplace.
  The Recovery Act is expected to create work in many sectors that are
veteran dominated, like engineering, telecommunications, project
management and construction. This bill will help veteran entrepreneurs
take advantage of these opportunities.
  In coordination with these new Veteran Business Centers, this
amendment, the Military Entrepreneurs Program, will direct the SBA to
provide servicemembers transitioning to civilian life entrepreneurial
information, training and financial guidance, the things they need to
start up a business.
  This amendment specifically targets young entrepreneurs and
proactively reaches out to them, letting them know the immense
resources that are available to them. This ensures our returning
warfighters have the know-how to land firmly on their feet after they
have honorably served our country.
  Our veterans made every sacrifice necessary to defend liberty,
justice and American values; and they deserve every chance at a fair
shot at the American Dream. For that reason, the Veteran Business
Centers provision has the support of both the American Legion and the
Veterans of Foreign Wars.
  I strongly urge passage of this amendment and the bill.
  And I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, while not opposed to the amendment, I
ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York is
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, let me start by saying that the
gentleman from Virginia has been enormously helpful in crafting this
legislation. He authored the bill on which title I is based. That
measure establishes a portfolio of entrepreneurial development services
for our Nation's veterans.
  The amendment that he is now offering will go even further. As we
have already noted, members of our Armed Forces are natural candidates
for entrepreneurship. They exhibit the dedication, resolve and
leadership skills that it takes to launch a new enterprise. In many
cases, they make excellent Federal contractors as they are familiar
with the procurement process or are in fields in high demand by the
government.

[[Page H5859]]

  This amendment takes a very proactive approach by reaching out to
members of the military before they are discharged easing their
transition back into civilian life.
  Today, too many Americans who have worn the uniform of our Nation
find themselves unemployed after separating from the service. With this
amendment, we create another option, another career path for members of
our military.
  I thank the gentleman from Virginia for offering this amendment and
for all of his work on this bill.
  And I now yield to the ranking member from Missouri for any comments
that he might have.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I have no opposition to the amendment. I
support it. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. If the gentleman is prepared to yield back, we are
prepared to accept the amendment.
  Mr. NYE. I yield back.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I urge the adoption of the amendment, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Nye).
  The amendment was agreed to.

                              {time}  1600


                 Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Schauer

  The CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9 printed in
House Report 111-121.
  Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 9 offered by Mr. Schauer:
       Page 50, after line 16, add the following new section:

     SEC. 708. SMALL MANUFACTURERS TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as
     amended, is further amended by adding at the end the
     following new subsection:
       ``(s) Small Manufacturers Transition Assistance Program.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a
     grant program for small business development centers in
     accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the
     program, a small business development center must be in good
     standing and comply with the other requirements of this
     section. Funds made available through the program shall be
     used to--
       ``(A) provide technical assistance and expertise to small
     manufacturers with respect to changing operations to another
     industry sector or reorganizing operations to increase
     efficiency and profitability;
       ``(B) assist marketing of the capabilities of small
     manufacturers outside the principal area of operations of
     such manufacturers;
       ``(C) facilitate peer-to-peer and mentor-protege
     relationships between small manufacturers and corporations
     and Federal agencies; and
       ``(D) conduct outreach activities to local small
     manufacturers with respect to the availability of the
     services described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
       ``(2) Definition of small manufacturer.--In this
     subsection, the term `small manufacturer' means a small
     business concern engaged in an industry specified in sectors
     31, 32, or 33 of the North American Industry Classification
     System in section 121.201 of title 13, Code of Federal
     Regulations.
       ``(3) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award
     an entity more than $250,000 in grant funds under this
     subsection.
       ``(4) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in
     appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to
     carry out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the
     Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative
     agreements to carry out this subsection.
       ``(5) Authorization.--There is authorized to be
     appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes of
     carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years
     2010 and 2011.''.

  The CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 457, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Schauer) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. SCHAUER. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
  Mr. Chair, I rise to a offer an amendment to address a pressing need
in my community and in many communities around the country. We need to
help small businesses succeed in this difficult economy. It's not
enough to simply survive this downturn; we need to expand and grow
jobs, and small businesses are the best way to do that. I'm so pleased
that this bill has been brought forward. I thank the chair for her
leadership and the sponsor of this bill to address these pressing
needs.
  In Michigan, we've been fighting this economic fight for 9 years. One
of the bright spots in our fight has been the Small Business
Development Center program. In my State, our SBDC has a great record of
achievement. In 2007, more than 11,000 businesses were served by this
program, and these companies created more than 3,000 jobs. In 2008,
more than 12,000 businesses were assisted through SBDCs. These
businesses included 515 veteran-owned businesses, 2,200 female-owned
businesses, and 2,500 startups. Counseling provided by SBDCs helped
create more than 3,400 new jobs in Michigan, despite the economic
turmoil that my State has been facing.
  Clearly, this program works, and my amendment grows this program to
help small manufacturers that have been pummeled by this recession.
Specifically, Mr. Chair, my amendment creates a $2.5 million pool of
funds to establish a grant program. It's a new section in the Small
Business Act to create the Small Manufacturers Transition Assistance
Program to provide technical assistance and expertise to small
manufacturers that are seeking opportunities in different industrial
sectors.
  For example, if a small machine shop wants to shift from automotive
contracting to aviation or aerospace contracting, my amendment provides
funding for Small Business Development Centers to provide help with
that transition.
  And this isn't just a hypothetical situation. This is a very real one
in my State where struggling manufacturers are looking to new
opportunities to survive and grow.
  The SBDCs have had real success in this area, but more resources are
needed during these tough times for American manufacturing. That is why
I offer this amendment to create the Small Manufacturers Transition
Assistance Program. Mr. Chair, these are services that 11,000 to 12,000
businesses a year use in my State, and they're desperately needed at
this time. I hope my colleagues will support this amendment.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I am not opposed to the amendment. I ask
unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.
  The CHAIR. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York is
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. The amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan
is a well-thought-out proposal. In fact, earlier this month, the House
Small Business Committee conducted a hearing regarding how small parts
suppliers and manufacturers are coping given the current problems in
the automobile industry. What we heard is troubling. Experts predict
that half of the Nation's auto suppliers will be shut down by 2012.
Many have already closed their doors.
  These factories are vital not just to the automotive sector but to
our overall economy. Parts suppliers alone employ 3.2 million workers.
We know that the three big car manufacturers are suffering, but these
are the smaller of the smaller, and they need our help. So it is very
important what this amendment will do.
  In the past, these manufacturers have supplied the American
automobile industry, and I believe they can continue to have a bright
future. By modernizing their facilities and entering new markets, they
can keep offering good-paying jobs to millions of Americans while
maintaining a strong manufacturing base in this country.
  If we have learned any one thing from the current economic crisis, it
is that economic stability starts from the bottom up, not the other way
around. By stabilizing small manufacturers and part suppliers, we can
help the larger firms in the automotive industry. In that process, we
will protect millions of jobs. The amendment before us will further
this goal.
  I urge its adoption, and I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.
Graves) for any comments he wishes to make.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Chairman, I have no opposition to the amendment. I
associate myself with the remarks of the gentlelady from New York.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. If the gentleman is prepared to yield back.

[[Page H5860]]

  Mr. SCHAUER. I thank my colleagues for their support.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. I urge adoption of the amendment, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
  The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Schauer).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.
  The motion was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Murphy of New York) having assumed the chair, Mr. Holden, Chair of the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2352) to
amend the Small Business Act, and for other purposes, had come to no
resolution thereon.

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