H.R. 4041 – Reading Mode

IIB

112th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4041

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 4, 2012

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

AN ACT

To amend the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to further enhance the promotion of exports of United States goods and services, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Export Promotion Reform Act.

Improved coordination export promotion activities of Federal agencies

Section 2312 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (relating to the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee; 15 U.S.C. 4727) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (5), by striking and after the semicolon;

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:

(6)

in making the assessments under paragraph (5), review the proposed annual budget of each agency described in paragraph (5), under procedures established by the Committee for such review, before the agency submits that budget to the Office of Management and Budget and the President for inclusion in the budget of the United States submitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code; and

;

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively; and

(B)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

in conducting the review and developing the plan under paragraph (2), take into account recommendations from a representative number of United States exporters, in particular small businesses and medium-sized businesses, and representatives of United States workers;

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(g)

Executive order and regulations

The President shall issue an executive order and such regulations as are necessary to provide the chairperson of the TPCC with the authority to ensure that the TPCC carries out each of its duties under subsection (b) and develops and implements the strategic plan under subsection (c).

(h)

Definition

In this section, the term small business means a small business concern as defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).

Effective deployment of U.S. Commercial Service resources

Section 2301(c)(4) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (relating to the United States and Foreign Commercial Service; 15 U.S.C. 4721(c)(4)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) as subparagraphs (C) through (G), respectively; and

(2)

by striking (4) Foreign offices.—(A) The Secretary may and inserting the following:

(4)

Foreign offices

(A)

(i)

In consultation with the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, the Secretary shall conduct a global assessment of overseas markets to determine those with the greatest potential for increasing United States exports, and to deploy the Commercial Service personnel and other resources on the basis of the global assessment.

(ii)

The assessment conducted under clause (i) shall take into account recommendations from a representative number of United States exporters, in particular small- and medium-sized businesses, and representatives of United States workers.

(iii)

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Export Promotion Reform Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress results of the global assessment conducted under clause (i) and a plan for deployment of Commercial Service personnel and other resources on the basis of the global assessment.

(iv)

The Secretary shall conduct an assessment and deployment described in clause (i) not less than once in every 5-year period.

(B)

The Secretary may

Strengthened U.S. commercial diplomacy in support of U.S. exports

(a)

Development of plan

Section 207(c) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3927(c)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: , including through the development of a plan, drafted in consultation with the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, for effective diplomacy to remove or reduce obstacles to exports of United States goods and services.

(b)

Assessments and promotions

Section 603(b) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4003(b)) is amended, in the second sentence, by inserting after expertise the following: and (with respect to members of the Service with responsibilities relating to economic affairs) of the effectiveness of efforts to promote the export of United States goods and services in accordance with a commercial diplomacy plan developed pursuant to section 207(c),.

(c)

Inspector General

Section 209(b) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3929(b)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end;

(2)

by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:

(5)

the effectiveness of commercial diplomacy relating to the promotion of exports of United States goods and services; and

Passed the House of Representatives May 30, 2012.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk