In times of economic crisis, including the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 and ensuing economic downturn, Congress often has debated on how best to promote U.S. commercial exports as a policy tool for economic growth and job creation. Congressional interest in U.S. export promotion policy has risen with President Obama's announcement of a National Export Initiative (NEI) in his 2010 State of the Union Address. The NEI is a strategy for doubling U.S. exports by 2014 in order to help generate 2 million new jobs in the United States through increased coordination and funding of federal export promotion activities; greater financing for U.S. exporters; increased government advocacy on behalf of U.S. exporters; and negotiation of new trade agreements and stronger enforcement of existing U.S. trade agreements. With the increased focus on export promotion efforts, some Members of Congress have placed greater priority on understanding the functions, coordination, and budgets of federal government agencies involved in export promotion. Such an understanding may support increased congressional oversight of U.S. export promotion policy and related legislative activity. It also may assist Members of Congress in supporting the efforts of their constituents to learn about federal export promotion services and to become involved in exporting. The 113 th Congress could conduct oversight and legislate on a range of export promotion issues. This report provides an overview of the federal agencies that participate in U.S. export promotion efforts and the issues that they raise for Congress. While this report focuses on the role of the federal government in promoting exports, it is important to acknowledge that state and local governments, as well as businesses, also have an important role in promoting exports. The federal government conducts a wide variety of services that contribute to export promotion. Some of these services directly assist U.S. companies to overcome information and market entry barriers related to exporting. Export assistance services: The U.S. government provides export assistance services, such as distribution of trade-related information to exporters, foreign country market research, and counseling to both new and seasoned exporters. The federal government also conducts business matchmaking services, including trade missions (official business development missions led by senior U.S. government leaders to foreign countries) and reverse trade missions (bringing foreign buyers to the United States to meet with U.S. firms). Key agencies that offer direct export assistance include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Commerce, Department of State, Small Business Administration (SBA), and Trade and Development Agency (TDA). Feasibility studies: The U.S. government conducts feasibility studies, which evaluate the economic, financial, technical, and other aspects of proposed projects in foreign countries that may generate exports of U.S. goods and services. USDA and the TDA both conduct such studies. Export financing and insurance: U.S. government agencies may finance and insure U.S. exports to foreign countries for a number reasons, including (1) to assume commercial and political risks that exporters or private financial institutions are unwilling or unable to undertake alone; (2) to overcome maturity and other limitations in private sector export financing; and (3) to counter officially backed export credit financing offered to foreign exporters by their governments. USDA takes the lead on agricultural export financing, while the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) is the lead agency for providing financing and insurance for non-agricultural exports. Export financing for small business exporters is available from the Ex-Im Bank and SBA. Related to exports also is the role of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) in financing and insuring U.S. private investment for projects overseas. For example, OPIC-supported investment in infrastructure projects in developing and emerging markets may lead to the sale of U.S. goods and services for these projects and in these markets more broadly. Government-to-government advocacy: In many situations, U.S. companies face direct competition from foreign enterprises with access to greater foreign financing, subsidies, and other forms of support from their governments. The United States may use diplomatic tools to advocate on behalf of U.S. companies to ensure that they can compete on a level playing field with foreign competitors in export markets. Key agencies involved in such efforts are the Departments of Commerce and State and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The federal government also promotes exports in broader ways, such as through negotiating new multilateral, regional, and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and monitoring the implementation and enforcement of existing trade agreements. Such efforts work to address constraints, barriers, and unfair trade practices faced by U.S. exporters, including foreign countries' tariff and other import policies, export subsidies, inadequate protection of intellectual property rights, barriers to exports of services and foreign direct investment, and anti-competitive practices. They also help to develop foreign markets for U.S. goods and services. The lead agency in such efforts is the USTR. Other agencies, including the Departments of Commerce and State, also play a role in FTA negotiations and enforcement. In addition, the U.S. government conducts activities that may help to promote exports indirectly. Government programs, such as OPIC, that are not charged directly with the promotion of U.S. exports may contribute to the expansion of exports through their activities. The export promotion functions of the federal government are distributed across a range of agencies. This section focuses on 9 key agencies involved in federal export promotion activities. The USDA, through its Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) , carries out five programs to develop export markets for U.S. agricultural products. These programs are authorized in farm bills, the most recent being the 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ), which expired on September 30, 2012. "Fiscal cliff" legislation ( H.R. 8 , P.L. 112-240 ) extended the 2012 farm bill, including its provisions for export market development, through September 30, 2013, at funding levels in effect at the end of FY2012. Congress is expected to continue work on a five-year farm bill during 2013. In addition to administering USDA's export market development programs, FAS also administers export credit programs that guarantee the commercial bank financing of up to $5.5 billion of U.S. agricultural exports annually and can make available export subsidies for dairy products. These authorities also were extended through the end of FY2013 by P.L. 112-240 . Finally, FAS provides information, counseling, and assistance to potential U.S. exporters of agricultural products. Funding levels for all of USDA's export promotion, export financing, and subsidy programs are specified in farm bills and financed through the borrowing authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) . They are thus not subject to annual appropriations, although such legislation has on occasion limited funding for these programs or placed other restrictions on their operation. The Foreign Market Development Program (FMDP) aims to develop long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural products. FMDP funds are allocated each fiscal year mainly to non-profit U.S. agricultural and trade organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope. FMDP agreements with private organizations also are sometimes approved. FMDP promotes generic U.S. commodities, rather than brand-name products. Activities financed include consumer promotions, market research, technical assistance, and trade servicing. The 2008 farm bill ( P.L. 110-246 ) authorized funding of $34.5 million annually for each fiscal year from FY2008 through FY2012. "Fiscal cliff" legislation ( P.L. 112-240 ) continues FMDP funding at $34.5 million through FY2013. The Market Access Program (MAP) helps U.S. producers, exporters, private companies, and other trade organizations to finance promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products, both generic and branded products. Activities financed include consumer promotions, market research, technical assistance, and trade servicing. The 2008 farm bill made organic produce eligible for the program for the first time, and funds the program at $200 million each fiscal year from FY2008 through FY2012. "Fiscal cliff" legislation ( P.L. 112-240 ) continues MAP funding at $200 million through FY2013. Both MAP and FMDP work in partnership with the private sector. Both reimburse program participants for a portion of the cost of carrying out overseas export promotions. One estimate is that government funding accounts for 37% of export promotion under these two programs while private sector funding accounts for 63%. The Emerging Markets Program (EMP) funds technical assistance activities to promote exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and products to emerging markets. An emerging market is any country that "is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through the food, agriculture, or rural business sectors of the economy of the country," and "has the potential to provide a viable and significant market for United States commodities or products of United States agricultural commodities." Activities funded by the EMP include feasibility studies, market research, sectoral assessments, orientation visits, specialized training, and business workshops. Funding is set at $10 million each fiscal year from FY2008 through FY2013. The Qua lity Samples Program (QSP) helps U.S. agricultural trade organizations provide small samples of their agricultural products to potential importers in emerging markets overseas. Focusing on industry and manufacturing, as opposed to end-use consumers, QSP allows manufacturers overseas to assess how U.S. food and fiber products can meet their production need best. Funding for QSP has averaged $2 million annually in recent years.