II 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3218 

To improve the coordination of export promotion programs and to facilitate 

export opportunities for small businesses, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 22, 2012 

Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Ms. AYOTTE) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

A BILL 

To improve the coordination of export promotion programs 

and to facilitate export opportunities for small businesses, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Small Business Export Growth Act of 2012’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—IMPROVED COORDINATION OF EXPORT PROMOTION 

PROGRAMS 


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Sec. 101. Consolidation of duplicative export promotion activities; information 

about trade missions and trade fairs. 

Sec. 102. Clarification of roles of members of Trade Promotion Coordinating 

Committee. 

Sec. 103. Representative of State agencies on Trade Promotion Coordinating 

Committee. 

Sec. 104. Reports to Congress with respect to activities of Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee. 

Sec. 105. Report on improvements to Export.gov as a single window for export 

information. 

Sec. 106. Report on developing a single window for information about export 

control compliance. 

TITLE II—FACILITATION OF EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 

SMALL BUSINESSES 

Sec. 201. Definitions. 

Sec. 202. Promotion of exporting. 

Sec. 203. Small business export matchmaking pilot program. 

Sec. 204. Export control education. 

Sec. 205. Small business inter-agency task force on export financing. 

Sec. 206. Availability of State resource guides on Export.gov. 

1 TITLE I—IMPROVED COORDINA2 TION OF EXPORT PROMOTION 

3 PROGRAMS 

4 SEC. 101. CONSOLIDATION OF DUPLICATIVE EXPORT PRO5 MOTION ACTIVITIES; INFORMATION ABOUT 

6 TRADE MISSIONS AND TRADE FAIRS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2312(b) of the Export 

8 Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727(b)) is amend9 ed— 

10 (1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, including 

11 by identifying opportunities to consolidate or co-lo12 cate offices of agencies involved in such activities’’ 

13 after ‘‘export financing activities’’; 

14 (2) in paragraph (5)— 


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1 (A) by inserting ‘‘, including the use and 

2 coordination of electronic databases,’’ after ‘‘the 

3 appropriate levels and allocation of resources’’; 

4 and 

5 (B) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a 

6 semicolon; 

7 (3) by redesignating paragraph (6) as para8 graph (7); and 

9 (4) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol10 lowing: 

11 ‘‘(6) to the maximum extent practicable, pro12 vide a detailed listing of current and future Federal 

13 and State-led trade missions, trade fairs, and related 

14 activities to ensure better delivery of services to 

15 United States businesses; and’’. 

16 (b) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary 

17 of Commerce shall make available the information on Fed18 eral and State-led trade missions, trade fairs, and related 

19 activities described in paragraph (6) of section 2312(b) 

20 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988, as added by sub21 section (a)(4) of this section, on the website Export.gov 

22 or a successor website. 


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1 SEC. 102. CLARIFICATION OF ROLES OF MEMBERS OF 

2 TRADE PROMOTION COORDINATING COM3 MITTEE. 

4 Section 2312(c) of the Export Enhancement Act of 

5 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727(c)) is amended— 

6 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), 

7 and (6) as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (8), respec8 tively; 

9 (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol10 lowing: 

11 ‘‘(3) with respect to export promotion and ex12 port financing activities of each department or agen13 cy that is a member of the TPCC— 

14 ‘‘(A) clearly identify and explain the role of 

15 the department or agency; and 

16 ‘‘(B) describe the goals and objectives of 

17 the department or agency and explain the ra18 tionale for measuring and reporting on those 

19 goals and objectives;’’; 

20 (3) in paragraph (5) (as redesignated)— 

21 (A) by inserting ‘‘and Congress’’ after ‘‘the 

22 President’’; and 

23 (B) by striking ‘‘paragraph (3)’’ and in24 serting ‘‘paragraph (4)’’; 

25 (4) in paragraph (6) (as redesignated), by strik26 ing ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 


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1 (5) by inserting after paragraph (6) (as redesig2 nated) the following: 

3 ‘‘(7) include any recommendations of the Comp4 troller General of the United States that relate to 

5 coordination of the TPCC and departments and 

6 agencies that are members of the TPCC; and’’; and 

7 (6) in paragraph (8) (as redesignated), by strik8 ing ‘‘United States National Tourism Organization’’ 

9 and inserting ‘‘United States Travel Association’’. 

10 SEC. 103. REPRESENTATIVE OF STATE AGENCIES ON 

11 TRADE PROMOTION COORDINATING COM12 MITTEE. 

13 Section 2312(d) of the Export Enhancement Act of 

14 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727(d)) is amended— 

15 (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para16 graph (3); and 

17 (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol18 lowing: 

19 ‘‘(2) REPRESENTATIVE OF STATE AGENCIES.— 

20 In addition to the members specified in paragraph 

21 (1), there shall be one member of the TPCC that 

22 represents State agencies with responsibility for ex23 port promotion and export financing.’’. 


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1 SEC. 104. REPORTS TO CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO AC2 TIVITIES OF TRADE PROMOTION COORDI3 NATING COMMITTEE. 

4 Section 2312(f) of the Export Enhancement Act of 

5 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727(f)) is amended to read as follows: 

6 ‘‘(f) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 

7 ‘‘(1) REPORTS BY TPCC.—The chairperson of 

8 the TPCC shall prepare and submit to the appro9 priate congressional committees, not later than 

10 March 30 of each year, a report that— 

11 ‘‘(A) describes the strategic plan developed 

12 by the TPCC pursuant to subsection (c), the 

13 implementation of such plan, and any revisions 

14 thereto; and 

15 ‘‘(B) describes the implementation of sec16 tions 303 and 304 of the FREEDOM Support 

17 Act (22 U.S.C. 5823 and 5824) concerning 

18 funding for export promotion activities and the 

19 interagency working groups on energy of the 

20 TPCC. 

21 ‘‘(2) REPORTS BY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF DE22 PARTMENT OF COMMERCE.— 

23 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General 

24 of the Department of Commerce shall prepare 

25 and submit to the appropriate congressional 


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1 committees, not later than March 30 of each 

2 year, a report on the extent to which— 

3 ‘‘(i) the TPCC is successfully carrying 

4 out the duties described in subsection (b); 

5 and 

6 ‘‘(ii) the strategic plan described in 

7 subsection (c) is being implemented suc8 cessfully. 

9 ‘‘(B) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the 

10 report required under subparagraph (A), the 

11 Inspector General of the Department of Com12 merce shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 

13 consult with the inspector general of each other 

14 Federal department or agency that is a member 

15 of the TPCC. 

16 ‘‘(3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT17 TEES DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘ap18 propriate congressional committees’ means— 

19 ‘‘(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the 

20 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans21 portation, the Committee on Finance, the Com22 mittee on Foreign Relations, and the Com23 mittee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 

24 of the Senate; and 


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1 ‘‘(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the 

2 Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Com3 mittee on Financial Services, the Committee on 

4 Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Small Busi5 ness, and the Committee on Ways and Means 

6 of the House of Representatives.’’. 

7 SEC. 105. REPORT ON IMPROVEMENTS TO EXPORT.GOV AS 

8 A SINGLE WINDOW FOR EXPORT INFORMA9 TION. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

11 date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of Inter12 national Trade of the Small Business Administration 

13 shall, after consultation with the entities specified in sub14 section (b), submit to the Committee on Small Business 

15 and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee 

16 on Small Business of the House of Representatives a re17 port that includes the recommendations of the Director 

18 for improving the experience provided by the website Ex19 port.gov (or a successor website) as— 

20 (1) a comprehensive resource for information 

21 about exporting articles from the United States; and 

22 (2) a single website for exporters to submit all 

23 information required by the Federal Government 

24 with respect to the exportation of articles from the 

25 United States. 


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1 (b) ENTITIES SPECIFIED.—The entities specified in 

2 this subsection are— 

3 (1) small business concerns (as defined in sec4 tion 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) 

5 that are exporters; and 

6 (2) the President’s Export Council, State agen7 cies with responsibility for export promotion or ex8 port financing, district export councils, and trade as9 sociations. 

10 SEC. 106. REPORT ON DEVELOPING A SINGLE WINDOW FOR 

11 INFORMATION ABOUT EXPORT CONTROL 

12 COMPLIANCE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

14 date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Counsel for 

15 Advocacy of the Small Business Administration shall sub16 mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 

17 assessing the benefits of developing a website to serve as— 

18 (1) a comprehensive resource for complying 

19 with and information about the export control laws 

20 and regulations of the United States; and 

21 (2) a single website for exporters to submit all 

22 information required by the Federal Government 

23 with respect to export controls. 


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1 (b) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES

2 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con3 gressional committees’’ means— 

4 (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

5 Transportation and the Committee on Small Busi6 ness and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and 

7 (2) the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

8 and the Committee on Small Business of the House 

9 of Representatives. 

10 TITLE II—FACILITATION OF EX11 PORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 

12 SMALL BUSINESSES 

13 SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 

14 In this title— 

15 (1) the terms ‘‘Administration’’ and ‘‘Adminis16 trator’’ mean the Small Business Administration 

17 and the Administrator thereof, respectively; 

18 (2) the term ‘‘region of the Administration’’ has 

19 the meaning given that term in section 3(u) of the 

20 Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(u)); and 

21 (3) the term ‘‘small business concern’’ has the 

22 meaning given that term under section 3 of the 

23 Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 


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1 SEC. 202. PROMOTION OF EXPORTING. 

2 Section 22(c)(11) of the Small Business Act (15 

3 U.S.C. 649(c)(11)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, which shall 

4 include conducting not fewer that 1 outreach event each 

5 fiscal year in each State that promotes exporting as a 

6 business development opportunity for small business con7 cerns’’ before the semicolon. 

8 SEC. 203. SMALL BUSINESS EXPORT MATCHMAKING PILOT 

9 PROGRAM. 

10 (a) PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—The Adminis11 trator shall establish a pilot program to conduct, in each 

12 region of the Administration, matchmaking events that 

13 are designed to facilitate contact between small business 

14 concerns and potential foreign buyers or international cli15 ents. 

16 (b) PROGRAM.—The Administrator— 

17 (1) shall conduct at least 1 matchmaking event 

18 in each region of the Administration each year; and 

19 (2) may hold a matchmaking event in coordina20 tion with an outreach event required under section 

21 22(c)(11) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 

22 649(c)(11)), as amended by section 202 of this Act. 

23 (c) SUNSET.—The authority of the Administrator 

24 under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2015. 


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1 SEC. 204. EXPORT CONTROL EDUCATION. 

2 Section 22 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 649) 

3 is amended— 

4 (1) by redesignating subsection (l) as subsection 

5 (m); and 

6 (2) by inserting after subsection (k) the fol7 lowing: 

8 ‘‘(l) EXPORT CONTROL EDUCATION.—The Associate 

9 Administrator shall ensure that all programs of the Ad10 ministration to support exporting by small business con11 cerns place a priority on educating small business concerns 

12 about Federal export control regulations.’’. 

13 SEC. 205. SMALL BUSINESS INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE ON 

14 EXPORT FINANCING. 

15 The Administrator, the Secretary of Agriculture, the 

16 Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Over17 seas Private Investment Corporation shall jointly establish 

18 a Small Business Inter-Agency Task Force on Export Fi19 nancing to— 

20 (1) review and improve Federal export finance 

21 programs for small business concerns; and 

22 (2) coordinate the activities of the Federal Gov23 ernment to assist small business concerns seeking to 

24 export. 


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1 SEC. 206. AVAILABILITY OF STATE RESOURCE GUIDES ON 

2 EXPORT.GOV. 

3 The Secretary of Commerce shall make available on 

4 the website Export.gov (or a successor website) informa5 tion on the resources relating to export promotion and ex6 port financing available in each State— 

7 (1) organized by State; and 

8 (2) including information on State agencies 

9 with responsibility for export promotion or export fi10 nancing and district export councils and trade asso11 ciations located in the State. 

Æ 


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