annual basis when entering into individual 
negotiated agreements with women’s busi-
ness centers. 
‘‘(g) PROGRAM EXAMINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administration shall— 
‘‘(A) develop and implement an annual 
programmatic and financial examination of 
each eligible entity receiving a grant under this 
section, under which each such eligible entity 
shall provide to the Administration— 
‘‘(i) an itemized cost breakdown of ac-
tual expenditures for costs incurred during 
the preceding year; and 
‘‘(ii) documentation regarding the 
amount of matching assistance from non- 
Federal sources obtained and expended by 
the eligible entity during the preceding 
year in order to meet the requirements of 
subsection (e) and, with respect to any in- 
kind contributions described in subsection 
(e)(2) that were used to satisfy the re-
quirements of subsection (e), verification of 
the existence and valuation of those con-
tributions; and 
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‘‘(B) analyze the results of each such ex-
amination and, based on that analysis, make a 
determination regarding the programmatic and 
financial viability of each women’s business cen-
ter operated by the eligible entity. 
‘‘(2) CONDITIONS FOR CONTINUED FUNDING.— 
In determining whether to award a continuation 
grant to an eligible entity, the Administrator— 
‘‘(A) shall consider the results of the most 
recent examination of the eligible entity under 
paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) shall determine if— 
‘‘(i) the eligible entity has failed to 
provide, or provided inadequate, informa-
tion under paragraph (1)(A); or 
‘‘(ii) the eligible entity has failed to 
provide any information required to be pro-
vided by the women’s business center for 
purposes of the management report under 
subsection (m)(1), or the information pro-
vided by the center is inadequate; and 
‘‘(C) shall consider the accreditation status 
as described in subsection (k)(4). 
‘‘(h) NOTICE AND COMMENT REQUIRED.—The Ad-
ministrator may only make a change to the standards by 
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which an eligible entity obtains or maintains grants under 
this section, the standards for accreditation, or any other 
requirement for the operation of a women’s business cen-
ter if the Administrator first provides notice and the op-
portunity for public comment, as set forth in section 
553(b) of title 5, United States Code, without regard to 
any exceptions provided for under such section. 
‘‘(i) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An eligible entity that 
receives a grant under this section may enter into a 
contract with a Federal department or agency to 
provide specific assistance to small business concerns 
owned and controlled by women and other under-
served small business concerns, if performance of 
such a contract does not hinder the ability of the eli-
gible entity to carry out the terms of a grant re-
ceived under this section. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The authority of the 
Administrator to enter into contracts shall be in ef-
fect for each fiscal year only to the extent and in the 
amounts as are provided in advance in appropria-
tions Acts. After the Administrator has entered into 
a contract, either as a grant or a cooperative agree-
ment, with any applicant under this section, the Ad-
ministrator shall not suspend, terminate, or fail to 
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renew or extend any such contract unless the Ad-
ministrator provides the applicant with written noti-
fication setting forth the reasons therefore and af-
fords the applicant an opportunity for a hearing, ap-
peal, or other administrative proceeding under chap-
ter 5 of title 5, United States Code. 
‘‘(j) PRIVACY REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A women’s business center 
may not disclose the name, address, or telephone 
number of any individual or small business concern 
receiving assistance under this section without the 
consent of such individual or small business concern, 
unless— 
‘‘(A) the Administrator orders such disclo-
sure after the Administrator is ordered to make 
such a disclosure by a court in any civil or 
criminal enforcement action initiated by a Fed-
eral or State agency; or 
‘‘(B) the Administrator considers such a 
disclosure to be necessary for the purpose of 
conducting a financial audit of a women’s busi-
ness center, except that such a disclosure shall 
be limited to the information necessary for such 
audit. 
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‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION USE OF INFORMATION.— 
This subsection shall not— 
‘‘(A) restrict Administration access to 
women’s business center data; or 
‘‘(B) prevent the Administration from 
using information about individuals who use 
women’s business centers to conduct surveys of 
such individuals. 
‘‘(3) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall 
issue regulations to establish standards for disclo-
sures for purposes of a financial audit described 
under paragraph (1)(B). 
‘‘(k) OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 
within the Administration an Office of Women’s 
Business Ownership, which shall be responsible for 
the administration of the Administration’s programs 
for the development of women’s business enterprises 
(as defined in section 408 of the Women’s Business 
Ownership Act of 1988). The Office of Women’s 
Business Ownership shall be administered by an As-
sistant Administrator, who shall be appointed by the 
Administrator. 
‘‘(2) ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE OF-
FICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.— 
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‘‘(A) QUALIFICATION.—The position of As-
sistant Administrator shall be a Senior Execu-
tive Service position under section 3132(a)(2) 
of title 5, United States Code. The Assistant 
Administrator shall serve as a noncareer ap-
pointee (as defined in section 3132(a)(7) of 
that title). 
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The Assistant Adminis-
trator shall administer the programs and serv-
ices of the Office of Women’s Business Owner-
ship and perform the following functions: 
‘‘(i) Recommend the annual adminis-
trative and program budgets of the Office 
and eligible entities receiving a grant 
under the Women’s Business Center Pro-
gram. 
‘‘(ii) Review the annual budgets sub-
mitted by each eligible entity receiving a 
grant under the Women’s Business Center 
Program. 
‘‘(iii) Collaborate with other Federal 
departments and agencies, State and local 
governments, not-for-profit organizations, 
and for-profit organizations to maximize 
utilization of taxpayer dollars and reduce 
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(or eliminate) any duplication among the 
programs overseen by the Office of Wom-
en’s Business Ownership and those of 
other entities that provide similar services 
to women entrepreneurs. 
‘‘(iv) Maintain a clearinghouse to pro-
vide for the dissemination and exchange of 
information between women’s business cen-
ters. 
‘‘(v) Serve as the vice chairperson of 
the Interagency Committee on Women’s 
Business Enterprise and as the liaison for 
the National Women’s Business Council. 
‘‘(3) MISSION.—The mission of the Office of 
Women’s Business Ownership shall be to assist 
women entrepreneurs to start, grow, and compete in 
global markets by providing quality support with ac-
cess to capital, access to markets, job creation, 
growth, and counseling by— 
‘‘(A) fostering participation of women en-
trepreneurs in the economy by overseeing a net-
work of women’s business centers throughout 
States and territories; 
‘‘(B) creating public-private partnerships 
to support women entrepreneurs and conduct 
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outreach and education to small business con-
cerns owned and controlled by women; and 
‘‘(C) working with other programs of the 
Administrator to— 
‘‘(i) ensure women are well-rep-
resented in those programs and being 
served by those programs; and 
‘‘(ii) identify gaps where participation 
by women in those programs could be in-
creased. 
‘‘(4) ACCREDITATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 
270 days after the date of enactment of this 
paragraph, the Administrator shall publish 
standards for a program to accredit eligible en-
tities that receive a grant under this section. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC
COMMENT; TRANSITION.— 
Before publishing the standards under subpara-
graph (A), the Administrator— 
‘‘(i) shall provide a period of not less 
than 60 days for public comment on such 
standards; and 
‘‘(ii) may not terminate a grant under 
this section absent evidence of fraud or 
other criminal misconduct by the recipient. 
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‘‘(C) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—The Ad-
ministrator may provide financial support, by 
contract or otherwise, to a Women’s Business 
Center Association to provide assistance in es-
tablishing the standards required under sub-
paragraph (A) or for carrying out an accredita-
tion program pursuant to such standards. 
‘‘(5) 
CONTINUATION
GRANT
CONSIDER-
ATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In determining wheth-
er to award a continuation grant under this sec-
tion, the Administrator shall consider the re-
sults of the annual programmatic and financial 
examination conducted under subsection (g) 
and the accreditation program. 
‘‘(B) ACCREDITATION
REQUIREMENT.— 
After the end of the 2-year period beginning on 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Administration may not award a continuation 
grant under this section unless the applicable 
eligible entity has been approved under the ac-
creditation program conducted pursuant to this 
subsection, except that the Assistant Adminis-
trator for the Office of Women’s Business Own-
ership may waive such accreditation require-
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ment, in the discretion of the Assistant Admin-
istrator, upon a showing that the eligible entity 
is making a good faith effort to obtain accredi-
tation. 
‘‘(6) ANNUAL
CONFERENCE.—Each women’s 
business center shall participate in annual profes-
sional development at an annual conference facili-
tated by a Women’s Business Center Association. 
‘‘(l) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER
THE 
WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.—The Adminis-
trator shall provide the following: 
‘‘(1) A public announcement of any opportunity 
to be awarded grants under this section, to include 
the selection criteria under subsection (d) and any 
applicable regulations. 
‘‘(2) To any applicant for a grant under this 
section that failed to obtain such a grant, an oppor-
tunity to debrief with the Administrator to review 
the reasons for the applicant’s failure. 
‘‘(3) To an eligible entity that receives an initial 
grant under this section, if a site visit or review of 
the eligible entity is carried out by an officer or em-
ployee of the Administration (other than the Inspec-
tor General), a copy of the site visit report or eval-
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uation, as applicable, within 30 calendar days of the 
completion of such visit or evaluation. 
‘‘(m) ANNUAL MANAGEMENT REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator shall 
prepare and submit to the Committee on Small 
Business of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
of the Senate an annual report on the effectiveness 
of women’s business centers operated through a 
grant awarded under this section. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
‘‘(A) information concerning, with respect 
to each women’s business center established 
pursuant to a grant awarded under this section, 
the most recent analysis of the annual pro-
grammatic and financial examination of the ap-
plicable eligible entity, as required under sub-
section (g)(1)(B), and the subsequent deter-
mination made by the Administration under 
that subsection; 
‘‘(B) the number of persons advised and 
trained through the Women’s Business Center 
Program; 
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‘‘(C) the total number of hours of advising 
and training through the Program; 
‘‘(D) the demographics of Program partici-
pants to include gender, race, and age of each 
such participant; 
‘‘(E) the number of Program participants 
who are veterans; 
‘‘(F) the number of new businesses started 
by participants in the Program; 
‘‘(G) to the extent practicable, the number 
of jobs supported, created or retained with as-
sistance from women’s business centers; 
‘‘(H) the amount of capital secured by par-
ticipants in the Program, including through 
loans and equity investment; 
‘‘(I) the number of participants in the Pro-
gram receiving financial assistance, including 
the type and dollar amount, under the loan pro-
grams of the Administration; 
‘‘(J) an estimate of gross receipts, includ-
ing to the extent practicable a description of 
any change in revenue of small business con-
cerns assisted through the Program; 
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‘‘(K) to the maximum extent practicable, 
increases or decreases in revenues for the as-
sisted small business concerns; 
‘‘(L) the number of referrals made to other 
resources and programs of the Administration; 
‘‘(M) the results of satisfaction surveys of 
participants, including a summary of any com-
ments received from such participants; and 
‘‘(N) any recommendations by the Admin-
istrator to improve the delivery of services by 
women’s business centers. 
‘‘(n) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administration to carry out this 
section, 
to 
remain 
available 
until 
expended, 
$31,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2023. 
‘‘(2) USE OF AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), amounts made available 
under this subsection for fiscal year 2020, and 
each fiscal year thereafter, may only be used for 
grant awards and may not be used for costs in-
curred by the Administration in connection with 
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the management and administration of the pro-
gram under this section. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.—Of the amount made 
available under this subsection for a fiscal year, 
the following amounts shall be available for 
costs incurred by the Administration in connec-
tion with the management and administration 
of the program under this section: 
‘‘(i) For the first fiscal year beginning 
after the date of the enactment of this sub-
paragraph, 2.65 percent. 
‘‘(ii) For the second fiscal year begin-
ning after the date of the enactment of 
this subparagraph and each fiscal year 
thereafter through fiscal year 2023, 2.5 
percent. 
‘‘(3) 
EXPEDITED
ACQUISITION.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Adminis-
trator may use such expedited acquisition methods 
as the Administrator determines to be appropriate to 
carry out this section, except that the Administrator 
shall ensure that all small business sources are pro-
vided a reasonable opportunity to submit proposals. 
‘‘(4) 
ACCREDITATION
AND
ANNUAL
CON-
FERENCE.—Not less than $500,000 of the amounts 
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appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for a fiscal 
year shall be available for purposes of carrying out 
subsection (k), of which no less than $50,000 shall 
be available to support an annual conference de-
scribed under subsection (k)(6).’’. 
SEC. 3. EFFECT ON EXISTING GRANTS. 
(a) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—A nonprofit organiza-
tion receiving a grant under section 29(m) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day 
before the date of enactment of this Act, shall continue 
to receive the grant under the terms and conditions in ef-
fect for the grant on the day before the date of enactment 
of this Act, except that the nonprofit organization may 
not apply for a continuation of the grant under section 
29(m)(5) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
656(m)(5)), as in effect on the day before the date of en-
actment of this Act. 
(b) LENGTH OF CONTINUATION GRANT.—The Ad-
ministrator of the Small Business Administration may 
award a grant under section 29 of the Small Business Act, 
as amended by this Act, to a nonprofit organization receiv-
ing a grant under section 29(m) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day before 
the date of enactment of this Act, for the period— 
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(1) beginning on the day after the last day of 
the grant agreement under such section 29(m); and 
(2) ending at the end of the third fiscal year be-
ginning after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. REGULATIONS. 
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator of Small Business Ad-
ministration shall issue such rules as are necessary to 
carry out section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
656), as amended by this Act, and ensure that a period 
of public comment for such rules is not less than 60 days. 
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Union Calendar No. 190 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 4405 
[Report No. 116–239] 
A BILL 
To amend the Small Business Act to improve the 
women’s business center program, and for other 
purposes. 
OCTOBER 17, 2019 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
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