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of the date of enactment of this division pursuant to 
section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe 
List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). 
(19) UNDER
SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under 
Secretary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Minority Business Development, who is appointed 
as described in section lll3(b) to administer this 
division. 
SEC. 100003. MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is within the Department of 
Commerce the Minority Business Development Agency. 
(b) UNDER SECRETARY.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT
AND
DUTIES.—The Agency 
shall be headed by the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Minority Business Development, who shall— 
(A) be appointed by the President, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate; 
(B) except as otherwise expressly provided, 
be responsible for the administration of this divi-
sion; and 
(C) report directly to the Secretary. 
(2) COMPENSATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Under Secretary 
shall be compensated at an annual rate of basic 
pay prescribed for level III of the Executive
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† HR 3684 EAS 
Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(B) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND-
MENT.—Section 5314 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and Under Sec-
retary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Travel and Tourism, and Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Minority Business Development’’. 
(3) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, 
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the 
United States to the Director of the Agency shall be 
deemed to be a reference to the Under Secretary. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report that describes— 
(1) the organizational structure of the Agency; 
(2) the organizational position of the Agency 
within the Department of Commerce; and 
(3) a description of how the Agency shall func-
tion in relation to the operations carried out by each 
other component of the Department of Commerce. 
(d) OFFICE OF BUSINESS CENTERS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established with-
in the Agency the Office of Business Centers.
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The Office of Business Centers 
shall be administered by a Director, who shall be ap-
pointed by the Under Secretary. 
(e) OFFICES OF THE AGENCY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the regional of-
fices that the Under Secretary is required to establish 
under paragraph (2), the Under Secretary shall estab-
lish such other offices within the Agency as are nec-
essary to carry out this division. 
(2) REGIONAL OFFICES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In order to carry out 
this division, the Under Secretary shall establish 
a regional office of the Agency for each of the re-
gions of the United States, as determined by the 
Under Secretary. 
(B) DUTIES.—Each regional office estab-
lished under subparagraph (A) shall expand the 
reach of the Agency and enable the Federal Gov-
ernment to better serve the needs of minority 
business enterprises in the region served by the 
office, including by— 
(i) understanding and participating in 
the business environment of that region; 
(ii) working with—
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(I) MBDA Business Centers that 
are located in that region; 
(II) resource and lending partners 
of other appropriate Federal agencies 
that are located in that region; and 
(III) Federal, State, and local 
procurement offices that are located in 
that region; 
(iii) being aware of business retention 
or expansion programs that are specific to 
that region; 
(iv) seeking out opportunities to col-
laborate with regional public and private 
programs that focus on minority business 
enterprises; and 
(v) promoting business continuity and 
preparedness. 
TITLE I—EXISTING INITIATIVES 
Subtitle A—Market Development, 
Research, and Information 
SEC. 100101. PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT. 
The Under Secretary shall, whenever the Under Sec-
retary determines such action is necessary or appropriate— 
(1) provide Federal assistance to minority busi-
ness enterprises operating in domestic and foreign
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† HR 3684 EAS 
markets by making available to those business enter-
prises, either directly or in cooperation with private 
sector entities, including community-based organiza-
tions and national nonprofit organizations— 
(A) resources relating to management; 
(B) technological and technical assistance; 
(C) financial, legal, and marketing services; 
and 
(D) services relating to workforce develop-
ment; 
(2) encourage minority business enterprises to es-
tablish joint ventures and projects— 
(A) with other minority business enter-
prises; or 
(B) in cooperation with public sector enti-
ties or private sector entities, including commu-
nity-based organizations and national nonprofit 
organizations, to increase the share of any mar-
ket activity being performed by minority busi-
ness enterprises; and 
(3) facilitate the efforts of private sector entities 
and Federal agencies to advance the growth of minor-
ity business enterprises.
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SEC. 100102. PUBLIC SECTOR DEVELOPMENT. 
The Under Secretary shall, whenever the Under Sec-
retary determines such action is necessary or appropriate— 
(1) consult and cooperate with public sector enti-
ties for the purpose of leveraging resources available 
in the jurisdictions of those public sector entities to 
promote the position of minority business enterprises 
in the local economies of those public sector entities, 
including by assisting public sector entities to estab-
lish or enhance— 
(A) programs to procure goods and services 
through minority business enterprises and goals 
for that procurement; 
(B) programs offering assistance relating 
to— 
(i) management; 
(ii) technology; 
(iii) law; 
(iv) financing, including accounting; 
(v) marketing; and 
(vi) workforce development; and 
(C) informational programs designed to in-
form minority business enterprises located in the 
jurisdictions of those public sector entities about 
the availability of programs described in this 
section;
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(2) meet with leaders and officials of public sec-
tor entities for the purpose of recommending and pro-
moting local administrative and legislative initiatives 
needed to advance the position of minority business 
enterprises in the local economies of those public sec-
tor entities; and 
(3) facilitate the efforts of public sector entities 
and Federal agencies to advance the growth of minor-
ity business enterprises. 
SEC. 100103. RESEARCH AND INFORMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to achieve the purposes of 
this division, the Under Secretary— 
(1) shall— 
(A) collect and analyze data, including data 
relating to the causes of the success or failure of 
minority business enterprises; 
(B) conduct research, studies, and surveys 
of— 
(i) economic conditions generally in 
the United States; and 
(ii) how the conditions described in 
clause (i) particularly affect the develop-
ment of minority business enterprises; and 
(C) provide outreach, educational services, 
and technical assistance in, at a minimum, the
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5 most commonly spoken languages in the 
United States to ensure that limited English 
proficient individuals receive culturally and lin-
guistically appropriate access to the services and 
information provided by the Agency; and 
(2) may perform an evaluation of programs car-
ried out by the Under Secretary that are designed to 
assist the development of minority business enter-
prises. 
(b) INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE.—The Under Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) establish and maintain an information clear-
inghouse for the collection and dissemination to rel-
evant parties (including business owners and re-
searchers) of demographic, economic, financial, mana-
gerial, and technical data relating to minority busi-
ness enterprises; and 
(2) take such steps as the Under Secretary may 
determine to be necessary and desirable to— 
(A) search for, collect, classify, coordinate, 
integrate, record, and catalog the data described 
in paragraph (1); and 
(B) in a manner that is consistent with sec-
tion 552a of title 5, United States Code, protect 
the privacy of the minority business enterprises
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† HR 3684 EAS 
to which the data described in paragraph (1) re-
lates. 
Subtitle B—Minority Business De-
velopment Agency Business Cen-
ter Program 
SEC. 100111. DEFINITION. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘MBDA Business Center Pro-
gram’’ means the program established under section 
lll113. 
SEC. 100112. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of the MBDA Business Center Program 
shall be to create a national network of public-private part-
nerships that— 
(1) assist minority business enterprises in— 
(A) accessing capital, contracts, and grants; 
and 
(B) creating and maintaining jobs; 
(2) provide counseling and mentoring to minor-
ity business enterprises; and 
(3) facilitate the growth of minority business en-
terprises by promoting trade. 
SEC. 100113. ESTABLISHMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the Agency 
a program—
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(1) that shall be known as the MBDA Business 
Center Program; 
(2) that shall be separate and distinct from the 
efforts 
of 
the 
Under 
Secretary 
under 
section 
lll101; and 
(3) under which the Under Secretary shall make 
Federal assistance awards to eligible entities to oper-
ate MBDA Business Centers, which shall, in accord-
ance with section lll114, provide technical assist-
ance and business development services, or specialty 
services, to minority business enterprises. 
(b) COVERAGE.—The Under Secretary shall take all 
necessary actions to ensure that the MBDA Business Center 
Program, in accordance with section lll114, offers the 
services described in subsection (a)(3) in all regions of the 
United States. 
SEC. 100114. GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.—An MBDA Business Center (re-
ferred to in this subtitle as a ‘‘Center’’), with respect to the 
Federal financial assistance award made to operate the 
Center under the MBDA Business Center Program— 
(1) shall— 
(A) provide to minority business enterprises 
programs and services determined to be appro-
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† HR 3684 EAS 
priate by the Under Secretary, which may in-
clude— 
(i) referral services to meet the needs of 
minority business enterprises; and 
(ii) programs and services to accom-
plish 
the 
goals 
described 
in 
section 
lll101(1); 
(B) develop, cultivate, and maintain a net-
work of strategic partnerships with organizations 
that foster access by minority business enter-
prises to economic markets, capital, or contracts; 
(C) continue to upgrade and modify the 
services provided by the Center, as necessary, in 
order to meet the changing and evolving needs of 
the business community; 
(D) establish or continue a referral relation-
ship with not less than 1 community-based orga-
nization; and 
(E) collaborate with other Centers; and 
(2) in providing programs and services under 
the applicable MBDA Business Center agreement, 
may— 
(A) operate on a fee-for-service basis; or 
(B) generate income through the collection 
of—
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(i) client fees; 
(ii) membership fees; and 
(iii) any other appropriate fees pro-
posed by the Center in the application sub-
mitted by the Center under subsection (e). 
(b) TERM.—Subject to subsection (g)(3), the term of 
an MBDA Business Center agreement shall be not less than 
3 years. 
(c) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amount of financial as-
sistance provided by the Under Secretary under an 
MBDA Business Center agreement shall be not less 
than $250,000 for the term of the agreement. 
(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A Center shall match 
not less than 1⁄3 of the amount of the financial 
assistance awarded to the Center under the terms 
of the applicable MBDA Business Center agree-
ment, unless the Under Secretary determines 
that a waiver of that requirement is necessary 
after a demonstration by the Center of a substan-
tial need for that waiver. 
(B) FORM OF FUNDS.—A Center may meet 
the matching requirement under subparagraph 
(A) by using—
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(i) cash or in-kind contributions, with-
out regard to whether the contribution is 
made by a third party; or 
(ii) Federal funds received from other 
Federal programs. 
(3) USE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PRO-
GRAM INCOME.—A Center shall use— 
(A) all financial assistance awarded to the 
Center under the applicable MBDA Business 
Center agreement to carry out subsection (a); 
and 
(B) all income that the Center generates in 
carrying out subsection (a)— 
(i) to meet the matching requirement 
under paragraph (2) of this subsection; and 
(ii) if the Center meets the matching 
requirement under paragraph (2) of this 
subsection, to carry out subsection (a). 
(d) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.—The Under Secretary 
shall— 
(1) establish criteria that— 
(A) the Under Secretary shall use in deter-
mining whether to enter into an MBDA Business 
Center agreement with an eligible entity; and
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(B) may include criteria relating to whether 
an eligible entity is located in— 
(i) an area, the population of which is 
composed of not less than 51 percent so-
cially or economically disadvantaged indi-
viduals, as determined in accordance with 
data collected by the Bureau of the Census; 
(ii) a federally recognized area of eco-
nomic distress; or 
(iii) a State that is underserved with 
respect to the MBDA Business Center Pro-
gram, as defined by the Under Secretary; 
and 
(2) make the criteria and standards established 
under paragraph (1) publicly available, including— 
(A) on the website of the Agency; and 
(B) in each Notice of Funding Opportunity 
soliciting MBDA Business Center agreements. 
(e) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible entity desiring to 
enter into an MBDA Business Center agreement shall sub-
mit to the Under Secretary an application that includes— 
(1) a statement of— 
(A) how the eligible entity will carry out 
subsection (a); and
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(B) any experience or plans of the eligible 
entity with respect to— 
(i) assisting minority business enter-
prises to— 
(I) obtain— 
(aa) 
large-scale 
contracts, 
grants, or procurements; 
(bb) financing; or 
(cc) legal assistance; 
(II) 
access 
established 
supply 
chains; and 
(III) engage in— 
(aa) joint ventures, teaming 
arrangements, and mergers and 
acquisitions; or 
(bb) large-scale transactions 
in global markets; 
(ii) supporting minority business en-
terprises in increasing the size of the 
workforces of those enterprises, including, 
with respect to a minority business enter-
prise that does not have employees, aiding 
the minority business enterprise in becom-
ing an enterprise that has employees; and
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(iii) advocating for minority business 
enterprises; and 
(2) the budget and corresponding budget nar-
rative that the eligible entity will use in carrying out 
subsection (a) during the term of the applicable 
MBDA Business Center agreement. 
(f) NOTIFICATION.—If the Under Secretary grants an 
application of an eligible entity submitted under subsection 
(e), the Under Secretary shall notify the eligible entity that 
the application has been granted not later than 150 days 
after the last day on which an application may be sub-
mitted under that subsection. 
(g) PROGRAM EXAMINATION; ACCREDITATION; EXTEN-
SIONS.— 
(1) EXAMINATION.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially 
thereafter, the Under Secretary shall conduct a pro-
grammatic financial examination of each Center. 
(2) ACCREDITATION.—The Under Secretary may 
provide financial support, by contract or otherwise, to 
an association, not less than 51 percent of the mem-
bers of which are Centers, to— 
(A) pursue matters of common concern with 
respect to Centers; and
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(B) develop an accreditation program with 
respect to Centers. 
(3) EXTENSIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Under Secretary 
may extend the term under subsection (b) of an 
MBDA Business Center agreement to which a 
Center is a party, if the Center consents to the 
extension. 
(B) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—If the Under 
Secretary extends the term of an MBDA Busi-
ness Center agreement under paragraph (1), the 
Under Secretary shall, in the same manner and 
amount in which financial assistance was pro-
vided during the initial term of the agreement, 
provide financial assistance under the agreement 
during the extended term of the agreement. 
(h) MBDA INVOLVEMENT.—The Under Secretary may 
take actions to ensure that the Agency is substantially in-
volved in the activities of Centers in carrying out subsection 
(a), including by— 
(1) providing to each Center training relating to 
the MBDA Business Center Program; 
(2) requiring that the operator and staff of each 
Center— 
(A) attend—
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(i) a conference with the Agency to es-
tablish the services and programs that the 
Center will provide in carrying out the re-
quirements before the date on which the 
Center begins providing those services and 
programs; and 
(ii) training provided under para-
graph (1); 
(B) receive necessary guidance relating to 
carrying out the requirements under subsection 
(a); and 
(C) work in coordination and collaboration 
with the Under Secretary to carry out the 
MBDA Business Center Program and other pro-
grams of the Agency; 
(3) facilitating connections between Centers 
and— 
(A) Federal agencies other than the Agency, 
as appropriate; and 
(B) other institutions or entities that use 
Federal resources, such as— 
(i) small business development centers, 
as that term is defined in section 3(t) of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(t));
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(ii) women’s business centers described 
in section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 656); 
(iii) eligible entities, as that term is 
defined in section 2411 of title 10, United 
States Code, that provide services under the 
program carried out under chapter 142 of 
that title; and 
(iv) entities participating in the Hol-
lings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
Program established under section 25 of the 
National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k); 
(4) monitoring projects carried out by each Cen-
ter; and 
(5) establishing and enforcing administrative 
and reporting requirements for each Center to carry 
out subsection (a). 
(i) REGULATIONS.—The Under Secretary shall issue 
and publish regulations that establish minimum standards 
regarding verification of minority business enterprise status 
for clients of entities operating under the MBDA Business 
Center Program.
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SEC. 100115. MINIMIZING DISRUPTIONS TO EXISTING MBDA 
BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM. 
The Under Secretary shall ensure that each Federal 
assistance award made under the Business Centers program 
of the Agency, as is in effect on the day before the date of 
enactment of this Act, is carried out in a manner that, to 
the greatest extent practicable, prevents disruption of any 
activity carried out under that award. 
SEC. 100116. PUBLICITY. 
In carrying out the MBDA Business Center Program, 
the Under Secretary shall widely publicize the MBDA Busi-
ness Center Program, including— 
(1) on the website of the Agency; 
(2) via social media outlets; and 
(3) by sharing information relating to the 
MBDA Business Center Program with community- 
based organizations, including interpretation groups 
where necessary, to communicate in the most common 
languages spoken by the groups served by those orga-
nizations.
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† HR 3684 EAS 
TITLE II—NEW INITIATIVES TO 
PROMOTE ECONOMIC RESIL-
IENCY FOR MINORITY BUSI-
NESSES 
SEC. 100201. ANNUAL DIVERSE BUSINESS FORUM ON CAP-
ITAL FORMATION. 
(a) RESPONSIBILITY OF AGENCY.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annu-
ally thereafter, the Under Secretary shall conduct a Govern-
ment-business forum to review the current status of prob-
lems and programs relating to capital formation by minor-
ity business enterprises. 
(b) PARTICIPATION IN FORUM PLANNING.—The Under 
Secretary shall invite the heads of other Federal agencies, 
such as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chairman 
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 
organizations representing State securities commissioners, 
representatives of leading minority chambers of commerce, 
not less than 1 certified owner of a minority business enter-
prise, business organizations, and professional organiza-
tions concerned with capital formation to participate in the 
planning of each forum conducted under subsection (a). 
(c) PREPARATION OF STATEMENTS AND REPORTS.—
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(1) REQUESTS.—The Under Secretary may re-
quest that any head of a Federal agency, department, 
or organization, including those described in sub-
section (b), or any other group or individual, prepare 
a statement or report to be delivered at any forum 
conducted under subsection (a). 
(2) COOPERATION.—Any head of a Federal agen-
cy, department, or organization who receives a re-
quest under paragraph (1) shall, to the greatest extent 
practicable, cooperate with the Under Secretary to 
fulfill that request. 
(d) TRANSMITTAL OF PROCEEDINGS AND FINDINGS.— 
The Under Secretary shall— 
(1) prepare a summary of the proceedings of 
each forum conducted under subsection (a), which 
shall include the findings and recommendations of the 
forum; and 
(2) transmit the summary described in para-
graph (1) with respect to each forum conducted under 
subsection (a) to— 
(A) the participants in the forum; 
(B) Congress; and 
(C) the public, through a publicly available 
website.
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† HR 3684 EAS 
(e) REVIEW OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS; 
PUBLIC STATEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A Federal agency to which a 
finding or recommendation described in subsection 
(d)(1) relates shall— 
(A) review that finding or recommendation; 
and 
(B) promptly after the finding or rec-
ommendation is transmitted under subsection 
(d)(2)(C), issue a public statement— 
(i) assessing the finding or rec-
ommendation; and 
(ii) disclosing the action, if any, the 
Federal agency intends to take with respect 
to the finding or recommendation. 
(2) JOINT STATEMENT PERMITTED.—If a finding 
or recommendation described in subsection (d)(1) re-
lates to more than 1 Federal agency, the applicable 
Federal agencies may, for the purposes of the public 
statement required under paragraph (1)(B), issue a 
joint statement. 
SEC. 100202. AGENCY STUDY ON ALTERNATIVE FINANCING 
SOLUTIONS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro-
vide information relating to alternative financing solutions
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† HR 3684 EAS 
to minority business enterprises, as those business enter-
prises are more likely to struggle in accessing, particularly 
at affordable rates, traditional sources of capital. 
(b) STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall— 
(1) conduct a study on opportunities for pro-
viding alternative financing solutions to minority 
business enterprises; and 
(2) submit to Congress, and publish on the 
website of the Agency, a report describing the findings 
of the study carried out under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 100203. EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RELATING TO 
MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. 
(a) DUTIES.—The Under Secretary shall, whenever the 
Under Secretary determines such action is necessary or ap-
propriate— 
(1) promote the education and training of so-
cially or economically disadvantaged individuals in 
subjects directly relating to business administration 
and management; 
(2) encourage institutions of higher education, 
leaders in business and industry, and other public 
sector entities and private sector entities, particularly 
minority business enterprises, to—