IB 

Union Calendar No. 188 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6441 

[Report No. 117–258] 

To amend the Small Business Act to improve the women’s business center 

program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 20, 2022 

Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas (for herself and Ms. TENNEY) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business 

MARCH 7, 2022 

Additional sponsors: Ms. NORTON, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. CASE, Mr. PAPPAS, 

Ms. SALAZAR, Ms. HOULAHAN, Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N, Mr. MFUME, 

Ms. SA ́NCHEZ, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. COOPER, and Mr. EVANS

MARCH 7, 2022 

Reported from the Committee on Small Business; committed to the Committee 

of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


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A BILL 

To amend the Small Business Act to improve the women’s 

business center program, and for other purposes. 


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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. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Business 

5 Centers Improvement Act of 2022’’. 

6 SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER 

7 PROGRAM. 

8 Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) 

9 is amended to read as follows: 

10 ‘‘SEC. 29. WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM. 

11 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

12 ‘‘(1) ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—The term 

13 ‘Assistant Administrator’ means the Assistant Ad14 ministrator of the Office of Women’s Business Own15 ership established under subsection (k). 

16 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en17 tity’ means— 

18 ‘‘(A) an organization described in section 

19 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 

20 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) 

21 of such Code; 

22 ‘‘(B) a State, regional, or local economic 

23 development organization, if the organization 

24 certifies that grant funds received under this 


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1 section will not be commingled with other 

2 funds; 

3 ‘‘(C) an institution of higher education (as 

4 defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 

5 Act of 1965), unless such institution is cur6 rently receiving a grant under section 21; 

7 ‘‘(D) a development, credit, or finance cor8 poration chartered by a State, if such corpora9 tion certifies that grant funds received under 

10 this section will not be commingled with other 

11 funds; or 

12 ‘‘(E) any combination of entities listed in 

13 subparagraphs (A) through (D). 

14 ‘‘(3) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN OWNED AND

15 CONTROLLED BY WOMEN.—The term ‘small business 

16 concern owned and controlled by women’ has the 

17 meaning given under section 3(n). 

18 ‘‘(4) RESOURCE PARTNERS.—The term ‘re19 source partners’ means small business development 

20 centers, chapters of the Service Corps of Retired Ex21 ecutives (established under section 8(b)(1)(B)), and 

22 Veteran Business Outreach Centers (described under 

23 section 32). 

24 ‘‘(5) WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER.—The term 

25 ‘women’s business center’ means the location at 


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1 which counseling and training on the management, 

2 operations (including manufacturing, services, and 

3 retail), access to capital, international trade, govern4 ment procurement opportunities, and any other mat5 ter that is needed to start, maintain, or expand a 

6 small business concern owned and controlled by 

7 women. 

8 ‘‘(6) WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER ASSOCIA9 TION.—The term ‘Women’s Business Center Asso10 ciation’ means a membership organization formed by 

11 women’s business centers to pursue matters of com12 mon concern. 

13 ‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.— 

14 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a 

15 Women’s Business Center Program under which the 

16 Administrator may enter into a cooperative agree17 ment with an eligible entity to provide a grant to 

18 such eligible entity to operate one or more women’s 

19 business centers for the benefit of small business 

20 concerns owned and controlled by women. 

21 ‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—A women’s business cen22 ter established using funds made available under 

23 this section shall be designed to provide entrepre24 neurial counseling and training that meets the needs 

25 of the small business concerns owned and controlled 


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1 by women, especially such concerns owned and con2 trolled by women who are both socially and economi3 cally disadvantaged (as defined under section 8(a)), 

4 and shall provide— 

5 ‘‘(A) financial assistance, including coun6 seling and training on how to— 

7 ‘‘(i) apply for and secure business 

8 credit and investment capital; 

9 ‘‘(ii) prepare and present financial 

10 statements; and 

11 ‘‘(iii) manage cash flow and other fi12 nancial operations of a small business con13 cern; 

14 ‘‘(B) management assistance, including 

15 counseling and training on how to plan, orga16 nize, staff, direct, and control each major activ17 ity and function of a small business concern; 

18 and 

19 ‘‘(C) marketing assistance, including coun20 seling and training on how to— 

21 ‘‘(i) identify and segment domestic 

22 and international market opportunities; 

23 ‘‘(ii) prepare and execute marketing 

24 plans; 

25 ‘‘(iii) develop pricing strategies; 


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1 ‘‘(iv) locate contract opportunities; 

2 ‘‘(v) negotiate contracts; and 

3 ‘‘(vi) use various public relations and 

4 advertising techniques. 

5 ‘‘(3) TYPES OF GRANTS.— 

6 ‘‘(A) INITIAL GRANT.—The amount of an 

7 initial grant, which shall be for a 5-year term, 

8 provided under this subsection to an eligible en9 tity shall be not more than $300,000 annually 

10 (as such amount is annually adjusted by the 

11 Administrator to reflect the change in infla12 tion). 

13 ‘‘(B) CONTINUATION GRANTS.—The Ad14 ministrator may award a continuation grant, 

15 which shall be for a 5-year term, of not more 

16 than $300,000 annually (as such amount is an17 nually adjusted by the Administrator to reflect 

18 the change in inflation) to an eligible entity 

19 that received an initial grant under subpara20 graph (A). There shall be no limitation on the 

21 number of continuation grants an eligible entity 

22 may receive under this section. 

23 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.— 

24 ‘‘(1) INITIAL GRANTS AND CONTINUATION

25 GRANTS.—To receive an initial grant or continuation 


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1 grant under this section, an eligible entity shall sub2 mit an application to the Administrator in such 

3 form, in such manner, and containing such informa4 tion as the Administrator may require, including— 

5 ‘‘(A) a certification that the eligible enti6 ty— 

7 ‘‘(i) has designated an executive direc8 tor or program manager, who may be com9 pensated using grant funds awarded under 

10 this section or other sources, to manage 

11 each women’s business center for which a 

12 grant under subsection (b) is sought; and 

13 ‘‘(ii) meets accounting and reporting 

14 requirements established by the Director of 

15 the Office of Management and Budget; 

16 ‘‘(B) information demonstrating the expe17 rience and effectiveness of the eligible entity 

18 in— 

19 ‘‘(i) providing entrepreneurial coun20 seling and training described under sub21 section (b)(2); 

22 ‘‘(ii) providing training and services to 

23 a representative number of women who are 

24 both socially and economically disadvan25 taged; and 


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1 ‘‘(iii) working with resource partners, 

2 offices of the Administration, and other 

3 public and private entities engaging in en4 trepreneurial and small business develop5 ment; and 

6 ‘‘(C) a 5-year plan that— 

7 ‘‘(i) includes information relating to 

8 the assistance to be provided by each wom9 en’s business center in the area in which 

10 each such center is located; 

11 ‘‘(ii) describes the ability of the eligi12 ble entity to meet the needs of the market 

13 to be served by each women’s business cen14 ter; 

15 ‘‘(iii) describes the ability of the eligi16 ble entity to obtain the matching funds re17 quired under subsection (e); and 

18 ‘‘(iv) describes the ability of the eligi19 ble entity to provide entrepreneurial coun20 seling and training described under sub21 section (b)(2), including to a representative 

22 number of women who are both socially 

23 and economically disadvantaged. 

24 ‘‘(2) RECORD RETENTION.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator 

2 shall maintain a copy of each application sub3 mitted under this subsection for not less than 

4 5 years. 

5 ‘‘(B) PAPERWORK REDUCTION.—The Ad6 ministrator shall take steps to reduce, to the 

7 maximum extent practicable, the paperwork 

8 burden associated with carrying out subpara9 graph (A). 

10 ‘‘(d) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In selecting recipients of 

12 initial grants, the Administrator shall consider— 

13 ‘‘(A) the experience of the applicant in pro14 viding entrepreneurial counseling and training; 

15 ‘‘(B) the amount of time needed for the 

16 applicant to commence operation of a women’s 

17 business center; 

18 ‘‘(C) in consultation with a Women’s Busi19 ness Center Association, the capacity of the ap20 plicant to meet the accreditation standards es21 tablished under subsection (k)(4) in a timely 

22 manner; 

23 ‘‘(D) the ability of the applicant to sustain 

24 operations, including the applicant’s ability to 


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1 obtain matching funds under subsection (e), for 

2 a 5-year period; 

3 ‘‘(E) the proposed location of a women’s 

4 business center to be operated by the applicant 

5 and the location’s proximity to Veteran Busi6 ness Outreach Centers and to recipients of 

7 grants under section 8(b)(1) or 21; 

8 ‘‘(F) the population density of the area to 

9 be served by the women’s business center oper10 ated by the applicant; and 

11 ‘‘(G) the advice and counsel of a Women’s 

12 Business Center Association to determine areas 

13 with unmet needs and the likelihood that the 

14 recipient will become accredited. 

15 ‘‘(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.— 

16 ‘‘(A) RULEMAKING.—The Administrator 

17 shall issue regulations to specify the criteria for 

18 review and selection of applicants under this 

19 subsection. 

20 ‘‘(B) MODIFICATIONS PROHIBITED AFTER

21 ANNOUNCEMENT.—With respect to a public an22 nouncement of any opportunity to be awarded 

23 a grant under this section made by the Admin24 istrator pursuant to subsection (l)(1), the Ad25 ministrator may not modify regulations issued 


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1 pursuant to subparagraph (A) with respect to 

2 such opportunity unless required to do so by an 

3 Act of Congress or an order of a Federal court. 

4 ‘‘(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 

5 in this paragraph may be construed as prohib6 iting the Administrator from modifying the reg7 ulations issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) 

8 (after providing an opportunity for notice and 

9 comment) as such regulations apply to an op10 portunity to be awarded a grant under this sec11 tion that the Administrator has not yet publicly 

12 announced pursuant to subsection (l)(1). 

13 ‘‘(e) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.— 

14 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (5), 

15 upon approval of an application submitted under 

16 subsection (c), the eligible entity shall agree to ob17 tain contributions from non-Federal sources— 

18 ‘‘(A) in the first and second year of the 

19 term of an initial grant, if applicable, 1 non20 Federal dollar for every 2 Federal dollars; and 

21 ‘‘(B) in each subsequent year of the term 

22 of an initial grant, if applicable, or for the term 

23 of a continuation grant, 1 non-Federal dollar 

24 for each Federal dollar. 


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1 ‘‘(2) FORM OF MATCHING FUNDS.—Not more 

2 than one-half of non-Federal matching funds de3 scribed under paragraph (1) may be in the form of 

4 in-kind contributions that are budget line items only, 

5 including office equipment and office space. 

6 ‘‘(3) SOLICITATION.—Notwithstanding any 

7 other provision of law, an eligible entity may— 

8 ‘‘(A) solicit cash and in-kind contributions 

9 from private individuals and entities to be used 

10 to operate a women’s business center; and 

11 ‘‘(B) use amounts made available by the 

12 Administrator under this section for the cost of 

13 such solicitation and management of the con14 tributions received. 

15 ‘‘(4) DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.—The Admin16 istrator may disburse an amount not greater than 

17 25 percent of the total amount of a grant awarded 

18 to an eligible entity before such eligible entity ob19 tains the matching funds described under paragraph 

20 (1). 

21 ‘‘(5) FAILURE TO OBTAIN MATCHING FUNDS.— 

22 If an eligible entity fails to obtain the required 

23 matching funds described under paragraph (1), the 

24 eligible entity may not be eligible to receive advance 

25 disbursements pursuant to paragraph (4) during the 


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1 remainder of the term, if applicable, of an initial 

2 grant awarded under this section. Before approving 

3 such eligible entity for a continuation grant under 

4 this section, the Administrator shall make a written 

5 determination, including the reasons for such deter6 mination, of whether the Administrator believes that 

7 the eligible entity will be able to obtain the requisite 

8 matching funding under paragraph (1) for such con9 tinuation grant. 

10 ‘‘(6) WAIVER OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Upon request by an 

12 eligible entity and in accordance with this para13 graph, the Administrator may waive, in whole 

14 or in part, the requirement to obtain matching 

15 funds under paragraph (1) for a grant awarded 

16 under this section for the eligible entity for a 1- 

17 year term of the grant. 

18 ‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining 

19 whether to issue a waiver under this paragraph, 

20 the Administrator shall consider— 

21 ‘‘(i) the economic conditions affecting 

22 the eligible entity; 

23 ‘‘(ii) the demonstrated ability of the 

24 eligible entity to raise non-Federal funds; 

25 and 


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1 ‘‘(iii) the performance of the eligible 

2 entity under the initial grant. 

3 ‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—The Administrator 

4 may not issue a waiver under this paragraph if 

5 the Administrator determines that granting the 

6 waiver would undermine the credibility of the 

7 Women’s Business Center Program. 

8 ‘‘(7) EXCESS NON-FEDERAL DOLLARS.—The 

9 amount of non-Federal dollars obtained by an eligi10 ble entity that is greater than the amount that is re11 quired to be obtained by the eligible entity under 

12 this subsection shall not be subject to the require13 ments of part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal Regu14 lations, or any successor thereto, if such amount of 

15 non-Federal dollars— 

16 ‘‘(A) is not used as matching funds for 

17 purposes of implementing the Women’s Busi18 ness Center Program; and 

19 ‘‘(B) was not obtained by using funds 

20 granted under the Women’s Business Center 

21 Program. 

22 ‘‘(8) CARRYOVER.—An eligible entity may use 

23 excess non-Federal dollars described in paragraph 

24 (7) to satisfy the matching funds requirement under 

25 paragraph (1) for the subsequent 1-year grant term, 


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1 if applicable, except that such amounts shall be sub2 ject to the requirements of part 200 of title 2, Code 

3 of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto. 

4 ‘‘(f) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.— 

5 ‘‘(1) SEPARATION OF FUNDS.—An eligible enti6 ty shall— 

7 ‘‘(A) operate a women’s business center 

8 under this section separately from other 

9 projects, if any, of the eligible entity; and 

10 ‘‘(B) separately maintain and account for 

11 any grant funds received under this section. 

12 ‘‘(2) EXAMINATION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 

13 ‘‘(A) REQUIRED SITE VISIT.—Before re14 ceiving an initial grant under this section, each 

15 applicant shall have a site visit by an employee 

16 of the Administration, in order to ensure that 

17 the applicant has sufficient resources to provide 

18 the services for which the grant is being pro19 vided. 

20 ‘‘(B) ANNUAL REVIEW.—An employee of 

21 the Administration shall— 

22 ‘‘(i) conduct an annual programmatic 

23 and financial examination of each eligible 

24 entity, as described in subsection (g); and 


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1 ‘‘(ii) provide the results of such exam2 ination to the eligible entity. 

3 ‘‘(3) REMEDIATION OF PROBLEMS.— 

4 ‘‘(A) PLAN OF ACTION.—If an examination 

5 of an eligible entity conducted under paragraph 

6 (2)(B) identifies any problems, the eligible enti7 ty shall, within 45 calendar days of receiving a 

8 copy of the results of such examination, provide 

9 the Assistant Administrator with a plan of ac10 tion, including specific milestones, for cor11 recting such problems. 

12 ‘‘(B) PLAN OF ACTION REVIEW BY THE AS13 SISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—The Assistant Ad14 ministrator shall review each plan of action sub15 mitted under subparagraph (A) within 30 cal16 endar days of receiving such plan. If the Assist17 ant Administrator determines that such plan— 

18 ‘‘(i) will bring the eligible entity into 

19 compliance with all the terms of a coopera20 tive agreement described in subsection (b), 

21 the Assistant Administrator shall approve 

22 such plan; or 

23 ‘‘(ii) is inadequate to remedy the 

24 problems identified in the annual examina25 tion to which the plan of action relates, the 


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1 Assistant Administrator shall set forth 

2 such reasons in writing and provide such 

3 determination to the eligible entity within 

4 15 calendar days of such determination. 

5 ‘‘(C) AMENDMENT TO PLAN OF ACTION.— 

6 An eligible entity receiving a determination 

7 under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall have 30 cal8 endar days from the receipt of the determina9 tion to amend the plan of action to satisfy the 

10 problems identified by the Assistant Adminis11 trator and resubmit such plan to the Assistant 

12 Administrator. 

13 ‘‘(D) AMENDED PLAN REVIEW BY THE AS14 SISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—Within 15 calendar 

15 days of the receipt of an amended plan of ac16 tion under subparagraph (C), the Assistant Ad17 ministrator shall either approve or reject such 

18 plan and provide such approval or rejection in 

19 writing to the eligible entity. 

20 ‘‘(E) APPEAL OF ASSISTANT ADMINIS21 TRATOR DETERMINATION.— 

22 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If the Assistant 

23 Administrator rejects an amended plan 

24 under subparagraph (D), the eligible entity 

25 shall have the opportunity to appeal such 


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1 decision to the Administrator, who may 

2 delegate such appeal to an appropriate of3 ficer of the Administration. 

4 ‘‘(ii) OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPLA5 NATION.—Any appeal described under 

6 clause (i) shall provide an opportunity for 

7 the eligible entity to provide, in writing, an 

8 explanation of why the eligible entity’s 

9 amended plan remedies the problems iden10 tified in the annual examination conducted 

11 under paragraph (2)(B). 

12 ‘‘(iii) NOTICE OF DETERMINATION.— 

13 The Administrator shall provide to the eli14 gible entity a determination of the appeal, 

15 in writing, not later than 15 calendar days 

16 after the eligible entity files an appeal 

17 under this subparagraph. 

18 ‘‘(iv) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO ACT.— 

19 If the Administrator fails to act on an ap20 peal made under this subparagraph within 

21 the 15-day period specified under clause 

22 (iii), the eligible entity’s amended plan of 

23 action submitted under subparagraph (C) 

24 shall be deemed to be approved. 

25 ‘‘(4) TERMINATION OF GRANT.— 


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1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator 

2 shall terminate a grant to an eligible entity 

3 under this section if the eligible entity fails to 

4 comply with— 

5 ‘‘(i) a plan of action approved by the 

6 Assistant Administrator under paragraph 

7 (3)(B)(i); or 

8 ‘‘(ii) an amended plan of action ap9 proved by the Assistant Administrator 

10 under paragraph (3)(D) or approved on 

11 appeal under paragraph (3)(E). 

12 ‘‘(B) APPEAL OF TERMINATION.—An eligi13 ble entity shall have the opportunity to chal14 lenge the termination of a grant under subpara15 graph (A) on the record and after an oppor16 tunity for a hearing. 

17 ‘‘(C) FINAL AGENCY ACTION.—A deter18 mination made pursuant to subparagraph (B) 

19 shall be considered final agency action for the 

20 purposes of chapter 7 of title 5, United States 

21 Code. 

22 ‘‘(5) CONSULTATION WITH MAJORITY WOMEN’S

23 BUSINESS CENTER ASSOCIATION.—If on the date of 

24 the enactment of this subsection, a majority of wom25 en’s business centers that are operating pursuant to 


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1 agreements with the Administration are members of 

2 an individual Women’s Business Center Association, 

3 the Administrator shall— 

4 ‘‘(A) recognize the existence and activities 

5 of such Association; and 

6 ‘‘(B) consult with the Association on, and 

7 negotiate with the Association in the develop8 ment of documents with respect to— 

9 ‘‘(i) announcing the annual scope of 

10 activities pursuant to this section; 

11 ‘‘(ii) requesting proposals to deliver 

12 assistance as provided in this section; and 

13 ‘‘(iii) governing the general operations 

14 and administration of women’s business 

15 centers, specifically including the develop16 ment of regulations and a uniform nego17 tiated cooperative agreement for use on an 

18 annual basis when entering into individual 

19 cooperative agreements with women’s busi20 ness centers. 

21 ‘‘(6) ENFORCEMENT.— 

22 ‘‘(A) GRANTS.—The Assistant Adminis23 trator shall develop policies and procedures to 

24 minimize the possibility of awarding a grant to 

25 an eligible entity that will operate a women’s 


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1 business center that likely will not remain in 

2 compliance with program and financial require3 ments. 

4 ‘‘(B) INDIVIDUAL COOPERATIVE AGREE5 MENTS.—The Assistant Administrator shall en6 force the terms of any individual cooperative 

7 agreement described in paragraph (5)(B)(iii). 

8 ‘‘(g) PROGRAM EXAMINATION.— 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administration shall— 

10 ‘‘(A) develop and implement an annual 

11 programmatic and financial examination of 

12 each eligible entity receiving a grant under this 

13 section, under which each such eligible entity 

14 shall provide to the Administration— 

15 ‘‘(i) an itemized cost breakdown of ac16 tual expenditures for costs incurred during 

17 the preceding year; and 

18 ‘‘(ii) documentation regarding the 

19 amount of matching assistance from non20 Federal sources obtained and expended by 

21 the eligible entity during the preceding 

22 year in order to meet the requirements of 

23 subsection (e) and, with respect to any in24 kind contributions described in subsection 

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1 quirements of subsection (e), verification of 

2 the existence and valuation of those con3 tributions; and 

4 ‘‘(B) analyze the results of each such ex5 amination and, based on that analysis, make a 

6 determination regarding the programmatic and 

7 financial viability of each women’s business cen8 ter operated by the eligible entity. 

9 ‘‘(2) CONDITIONS FOR CONTINUED FUNDING.— 

10 In determining whether to award a continuation 

11 grant to an eligible entity, the Administrator— 

12 ‘‘(A) shall consider the results of the most 

13 recent examination of the eligible entity under 

14 paragraph (1); 

15 ‘‘(B) shall determine if— 

16 ‘‘(i) the eligible entity has failed to 

17 provide, or provided inadequate, informa18 tion under paragraph (1)(A); or 

19 ‘‘(ii) the eligible entity has failed to 

20 provide any information required to be pro21 vided by a women’s business center for 

22 purposes of the management report under 

23 subsection (m)(1), or the information pro24 vided by the center is inadequate; and 


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1 ‘‘(C) shall consider the accreditation status 

2 as described in subsection (k)(4). 

3 ‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT.—The Assistant 

4 Administrator shall work with the Women’s Busi5 ness Center Association recognized under subsection 

6 (f)(5) (as applicable) to develop, implement, and 

7 maintain policies and procedures for conducting fi8 nancial examinations under this subsection and to 

9 maintain internal controls that ensure that such fi10 nancial examinations are conducted properly. 

11 ‘‘(h) NOTICE AND COMMENT REQUIRED.—The Ad12 ministrator may only make a change to the standards by 

13 which an eligible entity obtains or maintains grants under 

14 this section, the standards for accreditation, or any other 

15 requirement for the operation of a women’s business cen16 ter if the Administrator first provides notice and the op17 portunity for public comment, as set forth in section 

18 553(b) of title 5, United States Code, without regard to 

19 any exceptions provided for under such section. 

20 ‘‘(i) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 

21 ‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An eligible entity that 

22 receives a grant under this section may enter into a 

23 contract with a Federal department or agency to 

24 provide specific assistance to small business concerns 

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1 served small business concerns, if performance of 

2 such a contract does not hinder the ability of the eli3 gible entity to carry out the terms of a grant re4 ceived under this section. 

5 ‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The authority of the 

6 Administrator to enter into contracts shall be in ef7 fect for each fiscal year only to the extent and in the 

8 amounts as are provided in advance in appropria9 tions Acts. After the Administrator has entered into 

10 a contract, either as a grant or a cooperative agree11 ment, with any applicant under this section, the Ad12 ministrator shall not suspend, terminate, or fail to 

13 renew or extend any such contract unless the Ad14 ministrator provides the applicant with written noti15 fication setting forth the reasons therefore and af16 fords the applicant an opportunity for a hearing, ap17 peal, or other administrative proceeding under chap18 ter 5 of title 5, United States Code. 

19 ‘‘(j) PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A women’s business center 

21 may not disclose the name, address, or telephone 

22 number of any individual or small business concern 

23 receiving assistance under this section without the 

24 consent of such individual or small business concern, 

25 unless— 


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1 ‘‘(A) the Administrator orders such disclo2 sure after the Administrator is ordered to make 

3 such a disclosure by a court in any civil or 

4 criminal enforcement action initiated by a Fed5 eral or State agency; or 

6 ‘‘(B) the Administrator considers such a 

7 disclosure to be necessary for the purpose of 

8 conducting a financial audit of a women’s busi9 ness center, except that such a disclosure shall 

10 be limited to the information necessary for such 

11 audit. 

12 ‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION USE OF INFORMATION.— 

13 This subsection shall not— 

14 ‘‘(A) restrict Administration access to 

15 women’s business center data; or 

16 ‘‘(B) prevent the Administration from 

17 using information about individuals who use 

18 women’s business centers to conduct surveys of 

19 such individuals. 

20 ‘‘(3) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall 

21 issue regulations to establish standards for disclo22 sures for purposes of a financial audit described 

23 under paragraph (1)(B). 

24 ‘‘(k) OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 

2 within the Administration an Office of Women’s 

3 Business Ownership, which shall be responsible for 

4 the administration of the Administration’s programs 

5 for the development of women’s business enterprises 

6 (as defined in section 408 of the Women’s Business 

7 Ownership Act of 1988). The Office of Women’s 

8 Business Ownership shall be administered by an As9 sistant Administrator, who shall be appointed by the 

10 Administrator. 

11 ‘‘(2) ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE OF12 FICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.— 

13 ‘‘(A) QUALIFICATION.—The position of As14 sistant Administrator shall be a Senior Execu15 tive Service position under section 3132(a)(2) 

16 of title 5, United States Code. The Assistant 

17 Administrator shall serve as a noncareer ap18 pointee (as defined in section 3132(a)(7) of 

19 that title). 

20 ‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The Assistant Adminis21 trator shall administer the programs and serv22 ices of the Office of Women’s Business Owner23 ship and perform the following functions: 

24 ‘‘(i) Recommend the annual adminis25 trative and program budgets of the Office 


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1 and eligible entities receiving a grant 

2 under the Women’s Business Center Pro3 gram. 

4 ‘‘(ii) Review the annual budgets sub5 mitted by each eligible entity receiving a 

6 grant under the Women’s Business Center 

7 Program. 

8 ‘‘(iii) Collaborate with other Federal 

9 departments and agencies, State and local 

10 governments, not-for-profit organizations, 

11 and for-profit organizations to maximize 

12 utilization of taxpayer dollars and reduce 

13 (or eliminate) any duplication among the 

14 programs overseen by the Office of Wom15 en’s Business Ownership and those of 

16 other entities that provide similar services 

17 to women entrepreneurs. 

18 ‘‘(iv) Maintain a clearinghouse to pro19 vide for the dissemination and exchange of 

20 information between women’s business cen21 ters. 

22 ‘‘(v) Serve as the vice chairperson of 

23 the Interagency Committee on Women’s 

24 Business Enterprise and as the liaison for 

25 the National Women’s Business Council. 


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1 ‘‘(3) MISSION.—The mission of the Office of 

2 Women’s Business Ownership shall be to assist 

3 women entrepreneurs to start, grow, and compete in 

4 global markets by providing quality support with ac5 cess to capital, access to markets, job creation, 

6 growth, and counseling by— 

7 ‘‘(A) fostering participation of women en8 trepreneurs in the economy by overseeing a net9 work of women’s business centers throughout 

10 States and territories; 

11 ‘‘(B) creating public-private partnerships 

12 to support women entrepreneurs and conduct 

13 outreach and education to small business con14 cerns owned and controlled by women; and 

15 ‘‘(C) working with other programs of the 

16 Administrator to— 

17 ‘‘(i) ensure women are well-rep18 resented in those programs and being 

19 served by those programs; and 

20 ‘‘(ii) identify gaps where participation 

21 by women in those programs could be in22 creased. 

23 ‘‘(4) ACCREDITATION PROGRAM.— 

24 ‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 

25 270 days after the date of enactment of this 


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1 paragraph, the Administrator shall publish 

2 standards for a program to accredit eligible en3 tities that receive a grant under this section. 

4 ‘‘(B) PUBLIC COMMENT; TRANSITION.— 

5 Before publishing the standards under subpara6 graph (A), the Administrator— 

7 ‘‘(i) shall provide a period of not less 

8 than 60 days for public comment on such 

9 standards; and 

10 ‘‘(ii) may not terminate a grant under 

11 this section absent evidence of fraud or 

12 other criminal misconduct by the recipient. 

13 ‘‘(C) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—The Ad14 ministrator may provide financial support, by 

15 contract or otherwise, to a Women’s Business 

16 Center Association to provide assistance in es17 tablishing the standards required under sub18 paragraph (A) or for carrying out an accredita19 tion program pursuant to such standards. 

20 ‘‘(5) CONTINUATION GRANT CONSIDER21 ATIONS.— 

22 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In determining wheth23 er to award a continuation grant under this sec24 tion, the Administrator shall consider the re25 sults of the annual programmatic and financial 


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1 examination conducted under subsection (g) 

2 and the accreditation program. 

3 ‘‘(B) ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT.— 

4 After the end of the 2-year period beginning on 

5 the date of enactment of this subsection, the 

6 Administration may not award a continuation 

7 grant under this section unless the applicable 

8 eligible entity has been approved under the ac9 creditation program conducted pursuant to this 

10 subsection, except that the Assistant Adminis11 trator for the Office of Women’s Business Own12 ership may waive such accreditation require13 ment, in the discretion of the Assistant Admin14 istrator, upon a showing that the eligible entity 

15 is making a good faith effort to obtain accredi16 tation. 

17 ‘‘(6) ANNUAL CONFERENCE.—Each women’s 

18 business center shall participate in annual profes19 sional development at an annual conference facili20 tated by a Women’s Business Center Association. 

21 ‘‘(l) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE

22 WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.—The Adminis23 trator shall provide the following: 

24 ‘‘(1) A public announcement of any opportunity 

25 to be awarded grants under this section, to include 


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1 the selection criteria under subsection (d) and any 

2 applicable regulations. 

3 ‘‘(2) To any applicant for a grant under this 

4 section that failed to obtain such a grant, an oppor5 tunity to debrief with the Administrator to review 

6 the reasons for the applicant’s failure. 

7 ‘‘(3) To an eligible entity that receives an initial 

8 grant under this section, if a site visit or review of 

9 the eligible entity is carried out by an officer or em10 ployee of the Administration (other than the Inspec11 tor General), a copy of the site visit report or eval12 uation, as applicable, within 30 calendar days of the 

13 completion of such visit or evaluation. 

14 ‘‘(m) ANNUAL MANAGEMENT REPORT.— 

15 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 

16 prepare and submit to the Committee on Small 

17 Business of the House of Representatives and the 

18 Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 

19 of the Senate an annual report on the effectiveness 

20 of women’s business centers operated through a 

21 grant awarded under this section. 

22 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 

23 paragraph (1) shall include— 

24 ‘‘(A) information concerning, with respect 

25 to each women’s business center established 


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1 pursuant to a grant awarded under this section, 

2 the most recent analysis of the annual pro3 grammatic and financial examination of the ap4 plicable eligible entity, as required under sub5 section (g)(1)(B), and the subsequent deter6 mination made by the Administration under 

7 that subsection; 

8 ‘‘(B) the number of persons counseled and 

9 trained through the Women’s Business Center 

10 Program; 

11 ‘‘(C) the total number of hours of coun12 seling and training through the Program; 

13 ‘‘(D) the demographics of Program partici14 pants to include gender, race, and age of each 

15 such participant; 

16 ‘‘(E) the number of Program participants 

17 who are veterans; 

18 ‘‘(F) the number of new businesses started 

19 by participants in the Program; 

20 ‘‘(G) to the extent practicable, the number 

21 of jobs supported, created or retained with as22 sistance from women’s business centers; 

23 ‘‘(H) the amount of capital secured by par24 ticipants in the Program, including through 

25 loans and equity investment; 


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1 ‘‘(I) the number of participants in the Pro2 gram receiving financial assistance, including 

3 the type and dollar amount, under the loan pro4 grams of the Administration; 

5 ‘‘(J) an estimate of gross receipts, includ6 ing to the extent practicable a description of 

7 any change in revenue of small business con8 cerns assisted through the Program; 

9 ‘‘(K) to the maximum extent practicable, 

10 increases or decreases in revenues for the as11 sisted small business concerns; 

12 ‘‘(L) the number of referrals made to other 

13 resources and programs of the Administration; 

14 ‘‘(M) the results of satisfaction surveys of 

15 participants, including a summary of any com16 ments received from such participants; and 

17 ‘‘(N) any recommendations by the Admin18 istrator to improve the delivery of services by 

19 women’s business centers. 

20 ‘‘(n) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 

22 appropriated to the Administration to carry out this 

23 section, to remain available until expended, 

24 $31,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 

25 2025. 


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1 ‘‘(2) USE OF AMOUNTS.— 

2 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

3 subparagraph (B), amounts made available 

4 under this subsection for fiscal year 2022, and 

5 each fiscal year thereafter, may only be used for 

6 grant awards and may not be used for costs in7 curred by the Administration in connection with 

8 the management and administration of the pro9 gram under this section. 

10 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.—Of the amount made 

11 available under this subsection for a fiscal year, 

12 the following amounts shall be available for 

13 costs incurred by the Administration in connec14 tion with the management and administration 

15 of the program under this section: 

16 ‘‘(i) For the first fiscal year beginning 

17 after the date of the enactment of this sub18 paragraph, 2.65 percent. 

19 ‘‘(ii) For the second fiscal year begin20 ning after the date of the enactment of 

21 this subparagraph and each fiscal year 

22 thereafter through fiscal year 2025, 2.5 

23 percent. 

24 ‘‘(3) EXPEDITED ACQUISITION.—Notwith25 standing any other provision of law, the AdminisVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:10 Mar 08, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6441.RH H6441

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1 trator may use such expedited acquisition methods 

2 as the Administrator determines to be appropriate to 

3 carry out this section, except that the Administrator 

4 shall ensure that all small business sources are pro5 vided a reasonable opportunity to submit proposals. 

6 ‘‘(4) ACCREDITATION AND ANNUAL CON7 FERENCE.—Not less than $500,000 of the amounts 

8 appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal 

9 year shall be available for purposes of carrying out 

10 subsection (k), of which no less than $50,000 shall 

11 be available to support an annual conference de12 scribed under subsection (k)(6).’’. 

13 SEC. 3. EFFECT ON EXISTING GRANTS. 

14 (a) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—A nonprofit organiza15 tion receiving a grant under section 29(m) of the Small 

16 Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day 

17 before the date of enactment of this Act, shall continue 

18 to receive the grant under the terms and conditions in ef19 fect for the grant on the day before the date of enactment 

20 of this Act, except that the nonprofit organization may 

21 not apply for a continuation of the grant under section 

22 29(m)(5) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 

23 656(m)(5)), as in effect on the day before the date of en24 actment of this Act. 


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1 (b) LENGTH OF CONTINUATION GRANT.—The Ad2 ministrator of the Small Business Administration may 

3 award a grant under section 29 of the Small Business Act, 

4 as amended by this Act, to a nonprofit organization receiv5 ing a grant under section 29(m) of the Small Business 

6 Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day before 

7 the date of enactment of this Act, for the period— 

8 (1) beginning on the day after the last day of 

9 the grant agreement under such section 29(m); and 

10 (2) ending at the end of the third fiscal year be11 ginning after the date of enactment of this Act. 

12 SEC. 4. REGULATIONS. 

13 Not later than 270 days after the date of the enact14 ment of this Act, the Administrator of Small Business Ad15 ministration shall issue such rules as are necessary to 

16 carry out section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 

17 656), as amended by this Act, and ensure that a period 

18 of public comment for such rules is not less than 60 days. 


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Union Calendar No. 188 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6441 

[Report No. 117–258] 

A BILL 

To amend the Small Business Act to improve the 

purposes. women’s business center program, and for other 

MARCH 7, 2022 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


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