I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 744 
To establish the National Commission on Women’s Business Ownership, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2011 
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to 
the Committees on Small Business and Oversight and Government Re-
form, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the National Commission on Women’s Business 
Ownership, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Business 
Ownership Act of 2011’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘National Commission on Women’s Business Ownership’’ 
(in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Commission shall— 
(1) review the status of women business owners 
across the United States and the progress made by 
women business owners since the 1980 White House 
Conference on Small Business; 
(2) review the role of the Federal Government 
in aiding and promoting women business owners; 
and 
(3) review data collection procedures with re-
spect to women-owned businesses, including for Fed-
eral initiatives and procurement, with the goal of 
recommending improvements to those procedures. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Based on the review con-
ducted under subsection (a), the Commission shall develop 
recommendations on— 
(1) private-sector initiatives for providing man-
agement and technical assistance to women business 
owners; 
(2) ways to create greater access to credit for 
women business owners; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(3) ways to enhance Federal procurement op-
portunities for women business owners. 
(c) BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.—For purposes of this 
Act, a business is owned by a woman if— 
(1) the sole owner is a woman; 
(2) 50 percent or more of the partners are 
women; or 
(3) 50 percent or more of the stock is owned 
by women, if the business is a corporation. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 9 members appointed as follows: 
(1) Three members appointed by the President. 
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives from a list of 15 indi-
viduals nominated for appointment by the chairman 
of the Committee on Small Business of the House 
of Representatives. 
(3) Three members appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate from a list of 15 individuals 
nominated for appointment by the chairman of the 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
of the Senate. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(1) IN GENERAL.—Individuals appointed under 
subsection (a) shall be specially qualified to serve on 
the Commission by virtue of their education, train-
ing, or experience and may not be officers or em-
ployees of the Federal Government or Members of 
Congress. 
(2) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—Of the 3 mem-
bers appointed under each of paragraphs (1), (2), 
and (3) of subsection (a)— 
(A) not more than 2 members appointed 
under each paragraph may be of the same polit-
ical party; 
(B) at least one member appointed under 
each paragraph shall be a woman; and 
(C) at least one member appointed under 
each paragraph shall be an individual who is a 
small business owner. 
(3) GEOGRAPHICAL BALANCE.—In making ap-
pointments under subsection (a), the appointing au-
thorities should give consideration to achieving geo-
graphical balance in the membership of the Commis-
sion. 
(c) TERM.—Each member of the Commission shall 
be appointed for the life of the Commission, except that 
if any member of the Commission becomes an officer or 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
employee of the Federal Government or a Member of Con-
gress that individual may continue as a member of the 
Commission for not longer than the 30-day period begin-
ning on the date that individual becomes an officer or em-
ployee or a Member of Congress. 
(d) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
(e) PAY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Commission 
shall serve without pay, except as provided in para-
graph (2). 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—While away from 
their homes or regular places of business in the per-
formance of services for the Commission, members 
of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
same manner as persons employed intermittently in 
the Government service are allowed travel expenses 
under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
(f) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings. 
(g) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Commission 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
shall be designated by the President. The term of office 
of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be the life 
of the Commission. 
(h) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet not less 
than 4 times, and not more than 6 times, each year. Meet-
ings shall be at the call of a majority of the members of 
the Commission. 
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall have 
a Director who shall be appointed by the Commis-
sion. The Commission, with the recommendation of 
the Director, may appoint and fix the pay of 4 addi-
tional personnel. 
(2) APPLICABILITY
OF
CERTAIN
LAWS.—The 
Director and staff of the Commission may be ap-
pointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the 
competitive service, and may be paid without regard 
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III 
of chapter 53 of that title, relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates, except that an indi-
vidual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of 
the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for 
grade GS–15 of the General Schedule. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(b) SERVICES.—The Commission may procure tem-
porary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 
title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals 
not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual 
rate of basic pay payable for grade GS–15 of the General 
Schedule. 
(c) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon the re-
quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal depart-
ment or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any 
of the personnel of that department or agency to the Com-
mission to assist the Commission in carrying out the du-
ties of the Commission under this Act. 
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, for the 
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and 
act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evi-
dence, as the Commission considers appropriate. 
(b) DELEGATION.—Any member or agent of the 
Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 
any action which the Commission is authorized to take by 
this section. 
(c) ACCESS
TO INFORMATION.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any department or agency of the 
United States information necessary to enable it to carry 
out this Act. Upon the request of the Chairperson of the 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
Commission, the head of a department or agency shall fur-
nish that information to the Commission. 
(d) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under the 
same conditions as other departments and agencies of the 
United States. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on 
a reimbursable basis, such administrative support services 
as the Commission may request. 
SEC. 7. REPORTS. 
The Commission shall transmit to the President and 
to Congress interim reports as the Commission considers 
appropriate and shall transmit a final report to the Presi-
dent and to Congress not later than 26 months after the 
date of the Commission’s first meeting. The final report 
shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and con-
clusions of the Commission, including recommendations 
for legislation and administrative actions the Commission 
considers appropriate. 
SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that 
the Commission transmits its final report to the President 
and to Congress. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:45 Feb 18, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H744.IH
H744
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS