SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Business 
Centers Improvements Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER 
PROGRAM. 
Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 29. WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ASSISTANT
ADMINISTRATOR.—The term 
‘Assistant Administrator’ means the Assistant Ad-
ministrator of the Office of Women’s Business Own-
ership established under subsection (k). 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) an organization described in section 
501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) 
of such Code; 
‘‘(B) a State, regional, or local economic 
development organization, so long as the orga-
nization certifies that grant funds received 
under this section will not be commingled with 
other funds; 
‘‘(C) an institution of higher education (as 
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), unless such in-
stitution is currently receiving a grant under 
section 21; 
‘‘(D) a development, credit, or finance cor-
poration chartered by a State, so long as the 
corporation certifies that grant funds received 
under this section will not be commingled with 
other funds; or 
‘‘(E) any combination of entities listed in 
subparagraphs (A) through (D). 
‘‘(3) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN OWNED AND 
CONTROLLED BY WOMEN.—The term ‘small business 
concern owned and controlled by women’ has the 
meaning given under section 3(n). 
‘‘(4) WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER.—The term 
‘women’s business center’ means the location at 
which counseling and training on the management, 
operations (including manufacturing, services, and 
retail), access to capital, international trade, Govern-
ment procurement opportunities, and any other mat-
ter that is needed to start, maintain, or expand a 
small business concern owned and controlled by 
women. 
‘‘(5) WOMEN’S
BUSINESS
CENTER
ASSOCIA-
TION.—The term ‘Women’s Business Center Asso-
ciation’ means a membership organization formed by 
women’s business centers to pursue matters of com-
mon concern. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a 
Women’s Business Center Program under which the 
Administrator may provide a grant to any eligible 
entity to operate one or more women’s business cen-
ters for the benefit of small business concerns owned 
and controlled by women. 
‘‘(2) USE OF FUNDS.—The women’s business 
centers shall be designed to provide counseling and 
training that meets the needs of the small business 
concerns owned and controlled by women, especially 
socially or economically disadvantaged women, and 
shall provide— 
‘‘(A) financial assistance, including train-
ing and counseling in how to apply for and se-
cure business credit and investment capital, 
preparing and presenting financial statements, 
and managing cash flow and other financial op-
erations of a small business concern; 
‘‘(B) management assistance, including 
training and counseling in how to plan, orga-
nize, staff, direct, and control each major activ-
ity and function of a small business concern; 
and 
‘‘(C) marketing assistance, including train-
ing and counseling in identifying and seg-
menting domestic and international market op-
portunities, preparing and executing marketing 
plans, developing pricing strategies, locating 
contract opportunities, negotiating contracts, 
and utilizing varying public relations and adver-
tising techniques. 
‘‘(3) TYPES OF GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL GRANT.—The amount of an 
initial grant, which shall be for a 5-year term, 
provided under this subsection to an eligible en-
tity shall be not more than $300,000 annually 
(as such amount is annually adjusted by the 
Administrator to reflect the change in infla-
tion). 
‘‘(B) CONTINUATION
GRANTS.—The Ad-
ministrator may award a continuation grant, 
which shall be for a 5-year term, of not more 
than $300,000 annually (as such amount is an-
nually adjusted by the Administrator to reflect 
the change in inflation) to an eligible entity 
that received an initial grant under subpara-
graph (A). There shall be no limitation on the 
number of continuation grants an eligible entity 
may receive under this section. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) INITIAL
GRANTS
AND
CONTINUATION 
GRANTS.—To receive an initial grant or continuation 
grant under this section, an eligible entity shall sub-
mit an application to the Administrator in such 
form, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Administrator may require, including— 
‘‘(A) a certification that the eligible enti-
ty— 
‘‘(i) has designated an executive direc-
tor or program manager, who may be com-
pensated using grant funds awarded under 
this section or other sources, to manage 
the women’s business center for which a 
grant under subsection (b) is sought; and 
‘‘(ii) meets accounting and reporting 
requirements established by the Director of 
the Office of Management and Budget; 
‘‘(B) information demonstrating the expe-
rience and effectiveness of the eligible entity 
in—
‘‘(i) providing counseling and training 
described under subsection (b)(2); 
‘‘(ii) providing training and services to 
a representative number of women who are 
socially or economically disadvantaged; and 
‘‘(iii) working with resource partners 
of the Administration and other entities; 
and 
‘‘(C) a 5-year plan that— 
‘‘(i) includes information relating to 
the assistance to be provided by the wom-
en’s business center in the area in which 
the women’s business center is located; 
‘‘(ii) describes the ability of the eligi-
ble entity to meet the needs of the market 
to be served by the women’s business cen-
ter, including the ability to obtain the 
matching funds required under subsection 
(e); and 
‘‘(iii) describes the ability of the eligi-
ble entity to provide counseling and train-
ing described under subsection (b)(2), in-
cluding to a representative number of 
women who are socially or economically 
disadvantaged.
‘‘(2) RECORD RETENTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall maintain a copy of each application sub-
mitted under this subsection for not less than 
5 years. 
‘‘(B) PAPERWORK REDUCTION.—The Ad-
ministrator shall take steps to reduce, to the 
maximum extent practicable, the paperwork 
burden associated with carrying out subpara-
graph (A). 
‘‘(d) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In selecting recipients of 
initial grants, the Administrator shall consider— 
‘‘(A) the experience of the applicant in pro-
viding entrepreneurial training; 
‘‘(B) the amount of time needed for the 
applicant to commence operation of a women’s 
business center; 
‘‘(C) in consultation with a Women’s Busi-
ness Center Association, the capacity of the ap-
plicant to meet the accreditation standards es-
tablished under subsection (k)(4) in a timely 
manner; 
‘‘(D) the ability of the applicant to sustain 
operations, including the applicant’s ability to
obtain sufficient non-Federal funds, for a 5- 
year period; 
‘‘(E) the proposed location of a women’s 
business center to be operated by the applicant 
and the location’s proximity to Veteran Busi-
ness Outreach Centers and to recipients of 
grants under section 8(b)(1) or 21; 
‘‘(F) the population density of the area to 
be served by the women’s business center oper-
ated by the applicant; and 
‘‘(G) the advice and counsel of a Women’s 
Business Center Association to determine areas 
with unmet needs and the likelihood that the 
recipient will become accredited. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(A) RULEMAKING.—The Administrator 
shall issue regulations to specify the criteria for 
review and selection of applicants under this 
subsection. 
‘‘(B) MODIFICATIONS PROHIBITED AFTER 
ANNOUNCEMENT.—With respect to a public an-
nouncement of any opportunity to be awarded 
a grant under this section made by the Admin-
istrator pursuant to subsection (l)(1), the Ad-
ministrator may not modify regulations issued
pursuant to subparagraph (A) with respect to 
such opportunity unless required to do so by an 
Act of Congress or an order of a Federal court. 
‘‘(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing 
in this paragraph may be construed as prohib-
iting the Administrator from modifying the reg-
ulations issued pursuant to subparagraph (A) 
(after providing an opportunity for notice and 
comment) as such regulations apply to an op-
portunity to be awarded a grant under this sec-
tion that the Administrator has not yet publicly 
announced pursuant to subsection (l)(1). 
‘‘(e) MATCHING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (5), 
upon approval of an application submitted under 
subsection (c), the eligible entity shall agree to ob-
tain contributions from non-Federal sources— 
‘‘(A) in the first and second year of the 
term of an initial grant, if applicable, 1 non- 
Federal dollar for each 2 Federal dollars; and 
‘‘(B) in each subsequent year of the term 
of an initial grant, if applicable, or for the term 
of a continuation grant, 1 non-Federal dollar 
for each Federal dollar.
‘‘(2) FORM OF MATCHING FUNDS.—Not more 
than one-half of non-Federal matching funds de-
scribed under paragraph (1) may be in the form of 
in-kind contributions that are budget line items only, 
including office equipment and office space. 
‘‘(3) 
SOLICITATION.—Notwithstanding 
any 
other provision of law, an eligible entity may— 
‘‘(A) solicit cash and in-kind contributions 
from private individuals and entities to be used 
to operate a women’s business center; and 
‘‘(B) use amounts made available by the 
Administrator under this section for the cost of 
such solicitation and management of the con-
tributions received. 
‘‘(4) DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS.—The Admin-
istrator may disburse an amount not greater than 
25 percent of the total amount of a grant awarded 
to an eligible entity before such eligible entity ob-
tains the non-Federal matching funds described 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(5) FAILURE TO OBTAIN MATCHING FUNDS.— 
If an eligible entity fails to obtain the required 
matching funds described under paragraph (1), the 
eligible entity may not be eligible to receive advance 
disbursements pursuant to paragraph (4) during the
remainder of the term, if applicable, of an initial 
grant awarded under this section. Before approving 
such eligible entity for a continuation grant under 
this section, the Administrator shall make a written 
determination, including the reasons for such deter-
mination, of whether the Administrator believes that 
the eligible entity will be able to obtain the requisite 
funding under paragraph (1) for such continuation 
grant. 
‘‘(6) WAIVER OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Upon request by an 
eligible entity, and in accordance with this para-
graph, the Administrator may waive, in whole 
or in part, the requirement to obtain non-Fed-
eral matching funds for a grant awarded under 
this section for the eligible entity for a 1-year 
term of the grant. The Administrator may not 
issue such a waiver for more than a total of 2 
consecutive 1-year terms. 
‘‘(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In determining 
whether to issue a waiver under this paragraph, 
the Administrator shall consider— 
‘‘(i) the economic conditions affecting 
the eligible entity;
‘‘(ii) the demonstrated ability of the 
eligible entity to raise non-Federal funds; 
and 
‘‘(iii) the performance of the eligible 
entity under the initial grant. 
‘‘(C) 
LIMITATION.—The 
Administrator 
may not issue a waiver under this paragraph if 
the Administrator determines that granting the 
waiver would undermine the credibility of the 
Women’s Business Center Program. 
‘‘(7) EXCESS
NON-FEDERAL
DOLLARS.—The 
amount of non-Federal dollars obtained by an eligi-
ble entity that is above the amount that is required 
to be obtained by the eligible entity under this sub-
section shall not be subject to the requirements of 
part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
any successor thereto, if such amount of non-Fed-
eral dollars— 
‘‘(A) is not used as matching funds for 
purposes of implementing the Women’s Busi-
ness Center Program; and 
‘‘(B) was not obtained using funds from 
the Women’s Business Center Program. 
‘‘(8) CARRYOVER.—Excess non-Federal dollars 
described in paragraph (7) may be used to satisfy
the matching funds requirement under paragraph 
(1) for the subsequent 1-year grant term, if applica-
ble, except that such amounts shall be subject to the 
requirements of part 200 of title 2, Code of Federal 
Regulations, or any successor thereto. 
‘‘(f) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) SEPARATION OF FUNDS.—An eligible enti-
ty shall— 
‘‘(A) operate a women’s business center 
under this section separately from other 
projects, if any, of the eligible entity; and 
‘‘(B) separately maintain and account for 
any grants received under this section. 
‘‘(2) EXAMINATION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIRED
SITE
VISIT.—Before re-
ceiving an initial grant under this section, each 
applicant shall have a site visit by an employee 
of the Administration, in order to ensure that 
the applicant has sufficient resources to provide 
the services for which the grant is being pro-
vided. 
‘‘(B) ANNUAL REVIEW.—An employee of 
the Administration shall—
‘‘(ii) is inadequate to remedy the 
problems identified in the annual examina-
tion to which the plan of action relates, the 
Assistant Administrator shall set forth 
such reasons in writing and provide such 
determination to the eligible entity within 
15 calendar days of such determination. 
‘‘(C) AMENDMENT TO PLAN OF ACTION.— 
An eligible entity receiving a determination 
under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall have 30 cal-
endar days from the receipt of the determina-
tion to amend the plan of action to satisfy the 
problems identified by the Assistant Adminis-
trator and resubmit such plan to the Assistant 
Administrator. 
‘‘(D) AMENDED PLAN REVIEW BY THE AS-
SISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—Within 15 calendar 
days of the receipt of an amended plan of ac-
tion under subparagraph (C), the Assistant Ad-
ministrator shall either approve or reject such 
plan and provide such approval or rejection in 
writing to the eligible entity. 
‘‘(E) APPEAL
OF
ASSISTANT
ADMINIS-
TRATOR DETERMINATION.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—If the Assistant 
Administrator rejects an amended plan 
under subparagraph (D), the eligible entity 
shall have the opportunity to appeal such 
decision to the Administrator, who may 
delegate such appeal to an appropriate of-
ficer of the Administration. 
‘‘(ii) 
OPPORTUNITY
FOR
EXPLA-
NATION.—Any appeal described under 
clause (i) shall provide an opportunity for 
the eligible entity to provide, in writing, an 
explanation of why the eligible entity’s 
amended plan remedies the problems iden-
tified in the annual examination conducted 
under paragraph (2)(B). 
‘‘(iii) NOTICE OF DETERMINATION.— 
The Administrator shall provide to the eli-
gible entity a determination of the appeal, 
in writing, not later than 15 calendar days 
after the eligible entity files an appeal 
under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(iv) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO ACT.— 
If the Administrator fails to act on an ap-
peal made under this subparagraph within 
the 15-day period specified under clause
(iii), the eligible entity’s amended plan of 
action submitted under subparagraph (C) 
shall be deemed to be approved. 
‘‘(4) TERMINATION OF GRANT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator 
shall terminate a grant to an eligible entity 
under this section if the eligible entity fails to 
comply with— 
‘‘(i) a plan of action approved by the 
Assistant Administrator under paragraph 
(3)(B)(i); or 
‘‘(ii) an amended plan of action ap-
proved by the Assistant Administrator 
under paragraph (3)(D) or approved on 
appeal under paragraph (3)(E). 
‘‘(B) APPEAL OF TERMINATION.—An eligi-
ble entity shall have the opportunity to chal-
lenge the termination of a grant under subpara-
graph (A) on the record and after an oppor-
tunity for a hearing. 
‘‘(C) FINAL
AGENCY
ACTION.—A deter-
mination made pursuant to subparagraph (B) 
shall be considered final agency action for the 
purposes of chapter 7 of title 5, United States 
Code.
‘‘(5) CONSULTATION WITH MAJORITY WOMEN’S 
BUSINESS CENTER ASSOCIATION.—If a majority of 
women’s business centers that are operating pursu-
ant to agreements with the Administration are mem-
bers of an individual Women’s Business Center As-
sociation, the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) recognize the existence and activities 
of such Association; and 
‘‘(B) consult with the Association on, and 
negotiate with the Association in the develop-
ment of documents with respect to— 
‘‘(i) announcing the annual scope of 
activities pursuant to this section; 
‘‘(ii) requesting proposals to deliver 
assistance as provided in this section; and 
‘‘(iii) governing the general operations 
and administration of women’s business 
centers, specifically including the develop-
ment of regulations and a uniform nego-
tiated cooperative agreement for use on an 
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 
‘‘(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 
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 
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. 
‘‘(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.— 
‘‘(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 
(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 
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. 
‘‘(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-
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-
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; 
‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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 
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 
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— 
(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. 
Passed the House of Representatives October 21, 
2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 4405 
AN ACT 
To amend the Small Business Act to improve the 
women’s business center program, and for other 
purposes.