without further appropriation solely to cover the costs of
examinations and other program oversight activities.’’.
Subtitle D—Microloan Program
SEC. 251. MICROLOAN PROGRAM EXTENSION.
(a) LOAN LIMITS.—Section 7(m)(3)(C) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(3)(C)) is amended by
striking ‘‘$2,500,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$3,500,000’’.
(b) 
LOAN
LOSS
RESERVE
FUND.—Section
7(m)(3)(D) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(m)(3)(D)) is amended by striking clauses (i) and (ii),
and inserting the following:
‘‘(i) during the initial 5 years of the
intermediary’s participation in the program
under this subsection, at a level equal to
not more than 15 percent of the outstand-
ing balance of the notes receivable owed to
the intermediary; and
‘‘(ii) in each year of participation
thereafter, at a level equal to not more
than the greater of—
‘‘(I) 2 times an amount reflecting
the total losses of the intermediary as
a result of participation in the pro-
gram under this subsection, as deter-
mined by the Administrator on a case-
by-case basis; or
‘‘(II) 10 percent of the outstand-
ing balance of the notes receivable
owed to the intermediary.’’.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section
7(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)) is
amended—
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking
‘‘DEMONSTRATION’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘demonstration’’ each place that
term appears;
(3) by striking ‘‘demonstration’’ each place that
term appears; and
(4) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘during fis-
cal years 1995 through 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘during
fiscal years 1998 through 2000’’.
TITLE III—WOMEN’S BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES
SEC. 301. REPORTS.
Section 404 of the Women’s Business Ownership Act
of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘, through the Small Business
Administration,’’ after ‘‘transmit’’;
(2) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating
paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs (1)
through (3), respectively; and
(3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated, by insert-
ing before the semicolon the following: ‘‘, including
a status report on the progress of the Interagency
Committee in meeting its responsibilities and duties
under section 402(a)’’.
SEC. 302. COUNCIL DUTIES.
Section 406 of the Women’s Business Ownership Act
of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended—
(1) in subsection (c), by inserting after ‘‘Ad-
ministrator’’ the following: ‘‘(through the Assistant
Administrator for the Office of Women’s Business
Ownership)’’; and
(2) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(6) submit to the President and to the Com-
mittee on Small Business of the Senate and the
Committee on Small Business of the House of Rep-
resentatives, an annual report containing—
‘‘(A) a detailed description of the activities
of the council, including a status report on the
Council’s progress toward meeting its duties
outlined in subsections (a) and (d) of section
406;
‘‘(B) the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the Council; and
‘‘(C) the Council’s recommendations for
such legislation and administrative actions as
the Council considers appropriate to promote
the development of small business concerns
owned and controlled by women.
‘‘(e) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS.—The annual report
required by subsection (d) shall be submitted not later
than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year.’’.
SEC. 303. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP.
Section 407 of the Women’s Business Ownership Act
of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘and Amend-
ments Act of 1994’’ and inserting ‘‘Act of 1997’’;
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and Amendments Act of
1994’’ and inserting ‘‘Act of 1997’’;
(B) by inserting after ‘‘the Administrator
shall’’ the following: ‘‘, after receiving the rec-
ommendations of the Chair and the Ranking
Member of the Minority of the Committees on
Small Business of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, ’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘9’’ and inserting ‘‘14’’;
(D) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘2’’ and
inserting ‘‘4’’;
(E) in paragraph (2)—
(i) by striking ‘‘2’’ and inserting ‘‘4’’;
and
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(F) in paragraph (3)—
(i) by striking ‘‘5’’ and inserting ‘‘6’’;
and
(ii) by striking ‘‘national’’.
SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 409 of the Women’s Business Ownership Act
of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 631 note) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘1995 through 1997’’ and in-
serting ‘‘1998 through 2000’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘$350,000’’ and inserting
‘‘$600,000’’, of which $200,000 shall be for grants
for research of women’s procurement or finance is-
sues.
SEC. 305. WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 29 of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 29. WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS.
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section—
‘‘(1) the term ‘small business concern owned
and controlled by women’, either startup or existing,
includes any small business concern—
‘‘(A) that is not less than 51 percent
owned by 1 or more women; and
‘‘(B) the management and daily business
operations of which are controlled by 1 or more
women; and
‘‘(2) the term ‘women’s business center site’
means the location of—
‘‘(A) a women’s business center; or
‘‘(B) 1 or more women’s business centers,
established in conjunction with another wom-
en’s business center in another location within
a State or region—
‘‘(i) that reach a distinct population
that would otherwise not be served;
‘‘(ii) whose services are targeted to
women; and
‘‘(iii) whose scope, function, and ac-
tivities are similar to those of the primary
women’s business center or centers in con-
junction with which it was established.
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY.—The Administration may provide
financial assistance to private organizations to conduct 5-
year projects for the benefit of small business concerns
owned and controlled by women. The projects shall pro-
vide—
‘‘(1) financial assistance, including training and
counseling in how to apply for and secure business
credit and investment capital, preparing and pre-
senting financial statements, and managing cash
flow and other financial operations of a business
concern;
‘‘(2) management assistance, including training
and counseling in how to plan, organize, staff, di-
rect, and control each major activity and function of
a small business concern; and
‘‘(3) marketing assistance, including training
and counseling in identifying and segmenting domes-
tic and international market opportunities, preparing
and executing marketing plans, developing pricing
strategies, locating contract opportunities, negotiat-
ing contracts, and utilizing varying public relations
and advertising techniques.
‘‘(c) CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION.—
‘‘(1) NON-FEDERAL
CONTRIBUTIONS.—As a
condition of receiving financial assistance authorized
by this section, the recipient organization shall agree
to obtain, after its application has been approved
and notice of award has been issued, cash contribu-
tions from non-Federal sources as follows:
‘‘(A) In the first and second years, 1 non-
Federal dollar for each 2 Federal dollars.
‘‘(B) In the third year, 1 non-Federal dol-
lar for each Federal dollar.
‘‘(C) In the fourth and fifth years, 2 non-
Federal dollars for each Federal dollar.
‘‘(2) 
FORM
OF
NON-FEDERAL
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Not more than one-half of the non-Federal
sector matching assistance may be in the form of in-
kind contributions which are budget line items only,
including but not limited to office equipment and of-
fice space.
‘‘(3) FORM OF FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.—The
financial assistance authorized pursuant to this sec-
tion may be made by grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement and may contain such provision, as nec-
essary, to provide for payments in lump sum or in-
stallments, and in advance or by way of reimburse-
ment. The Administration may disburse up to 25
percent of each year’s Federal share awarded to a
recipient organization after notice of the award has
been issued and before the non-Federal sector
matching funds are obtained.
‘‘(4) FAILURE TO OBTAIN PRIVATE FUNDING.—
If any recipient of assistance fails to obtain the re-
quired non-Federal contribution during any project,
it shall not be eligible thereafter for advance dis-
bursements pursuant to paragraph (3) during the
remainder of that project, or for any other project
for which it is or may be funded by the Administra-
tion, and prior to approving assistance to such orga-
nization for any other projects, the Administration
shall specifically determine whether the Administra-
tion believes that the recipient will be able to obtain
the requisite non-Federal funding and enter a writ-
ten finding setting forth the reasons for making
such determination.
‘‘(d) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—A women’s business
center may enter into a contract with a Federal depart-
ment or agency to provide specific assistance to women
and other underserved small business concerns. Perform-
ance of such contract should not hinder the women’s busi-
ness centers in carrying out the terms of the grant re-
ceived by the women’s business centers from the Adminis-
tration.
‘‘(e) SUBMISSION OF 5-YEAR PLAN.—Each applicant
organization initially shall submit a 5-year plan to the Ad-
ministration on proposed fundraising and training activi-
ties, and a recipient organization may receive financial as-
sistance under this program for a maximum of 5 years
per women’s business center site.
‘‘(f) CRITERIA.—The Administration shall evaluate
and rank applicants in accordance with predetermined se-
lection criteria that shall be stated in terms of relative im-
portance. Such criteria and their relative importance shall
be made publicly available and stated in each solicitation
for applications made by the Administration. The criteria
shall include—
‘‘(1) the experience of the applicant in conduct-
ing programs or ongoing efforts designed to impart
or upgrade the business skills of women business
owners or potential owners;
‘‘(2) the present ability of the applicant to com-
mence a project within a minimum amount of time;
‘‘(3) the ability of the applicant to provide
training and services to a representative number of
women who are both socially and economically dis-
advantaged; and
‘‘(4) the location for the women’s business cen-
ter site proposed by the applicant.
‘‘(g) OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.—
There is established within the Administration an Office
of Women’s Business Ownership, which shall be respon-
sible for the administration of the Administration’s pro-
grams for the development of women’s business enter-
prises (as that term is defined in section 408 of the Wom-
en’s Business Ownership Act of 1988). The Office of
Women’s Business Ownership shall be administered by an
Assistant Administrator, who shall be appointed by the
Administrator.
‘‘(h) REPORT.—The Administrator shall prepare and
submit an annual report to the Committees on Small Busi-
ness of the House of Representatives and the Senate on
the effectiveness of all projects conducted under the au-
thority of this section. Such report shall provide informa-
tion concerning—
‘‘(1) the number of individuals receiving assist-
ance;
‘‘(2) the number of startup business concerns
formed;
‘‘(3) the gross receipts of assisted concerns;
‘‘(4) increases or decreases in profits of assisted
concerns; and
‘‘(5) the employment increases or decreases of
assisted concerns.
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 per year to
carry out the projects authorized by this section. Amounts
appropriated pursuant to this subsection are to be used
exclusively for grant awards and not for costs incurred by
the Administration for the management and administra-
tion of the program. Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the Administration may use such expedited acquisi-
tion methods as it deems appropriate, through the Assist-
ant Administrator of the Office of Women’s Business
Ownership, to achieve the purposes of this section, except
that the Administration shall ensure that all small busi-
ness sources are provided a reasonable opportunity to sub-
mit proposals.’’.
(b) APPLICABILITY.—Any organization conducting a
3-year project under section 29 of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 656) on the day before the date of enactment
of this Act, may extend the term of that project to a total
term of 5 years and receive financial assistance in accord-
ance with section 29(c) of the Small Business Act (as
amended by this title) subject to procedures established
by the Administrator in coordination with the Office of
Women’s Business Ownership established under section
29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) (as amend-
ed by this title).
SEC. 306. OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.
Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(i) ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE OFFICE
OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established
the position of Assistant Administrator for the Of-
fice of Women’s Business Ownership (hereafter in
this section referred to as the ‘Assistant Adminis-
trator’) who shall serve without regard to the provi-
sions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap-
pointments in the competitive service.
‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES.—
‘‘(A) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The responsibil-
ities of the Assistant Administrator shall be to
administer the programs and services of the Of-
fice of Women’s Business Ownership estab-
lished to assist women entrepreneurs in the
areas of—
‘‘(i) starting and operating a small
business;
‘‘(ii) development of management and
technical skills;