H.R. 2333 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2333 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 12, 2013 Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself and Mr. Reichert) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business A BILL To amend the Small Business Act to provide for the permanent establishment of the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Next STEP Act of 2013. 2. State trade and export promotion grant program The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended— (1) by redesignating section 47 as section 48; and (2) by inserting after section 46 the following: 47. State trade and export promotion grant program (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term eligible small business concern means a small business concern that— (A) has been in business for not less than the 1-year period ending on the date on which assistance is provided using a grant under this section; (B) is operating profitably, based on operations in the United States; (C) has demonstrated understanding of the costs associated with exporting and doing business with foreign purchasers, including the costs of freight forwarding, customs brokers, packing and shipping, as determined by the Associate Administrator; and (D) has in effect a strategic plan for exporting; (2) the term program means the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program established under subsection (b); (3) the term small business concern owned and controlled by women has the meaning given that term in section 3; (4) the term socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern has the meaning given that term in section 8(a)(4)(A); and (5) the term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. (b) Establishment of program The Associate Administrator for International Trade appointed under section 22(a)(2) (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Associate Administrator) shall establish a trade and export promotion program to be known as the State Trade and Export Promotion Grant Program, to make grants to States to carry out export programs that assist eligible small business concerns in— (1) participation in a foreign trade mission; (2) a foreign market sales trip; (3) a subscription to services provided by the Department of Commerce; (4) the payment of Web site translation fees; (5) the design of international marketing media; (6) a trade show exhibition; (7) participation in training workshops; or (8) any other export initiative determined appropriate by the Associate Administrator. (c) Grants (1) Joint review In carrying out the program, the Associate Administrator may make a grant to a State to increase the number of eligible small business concerns in the State that export or to increase the value of the exports by eligible small business concerns in the State. (2) Priority In making grants under this section, the Associate Administrator may give priority to an application by a State that proposes a program that— (A) focuses on eligible small business concerns as part of an export promotion program; (B) demonstrates success in promoting exports by— (i) socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns; (ii) small business concerns owned or controlled by women; and (iii) rural small business concerns; (C) promotes exports from a State that is not 1 of the 10 States with the highest percentage of exporters that are small business concerns, based upon the latest data available from the Department of Commerce; and (D) promotes new-to-market export opportunities to the People’s Republic of China for eligible small business concerns in the United States. (3) Limitations (A) Single application A State may not submit more than 1 application for a grant under the program in any 1 fiscal year. (B) Proportion of amounts The total value of grants under the program made during a fiscal year to the 10 States with the highest number of exporters that are small business concerns, based upon the latest data available from the Department of Commerce, shall be not more than 40 percent of the amounts appropriated for the program for that fiscal year. (4) Application A State desiring a grant under the program shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Associate Administrator may establish. (d) Competitive basis The Associate Administrator shall award grants under the program on a competitive basis. (e) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of an export program carried out using a grant under the program shall be— (1) for a State that has a high export volume, as determined by the Associate Administrator, not more than 65 percent; and (2) for a State that does not have a high export volume, as determined by the Associate Administrator, not more than 75 percent. (f) Non-Federal share The non-Federal share of the cost of an export program carried using a grant under the program shall be comprised of not less than 50 percent cash and not more than 50 percent of indirect costs and in-kind contributions, except that no such costs or contributions may be derived from funds from any other Federal program. (g) Annual reports The Associate Administrator shall submit an annual report to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives regarding the program, which shall include— (1) the number and amount of grants made under the program during the preceding year; (2) a list of the States receiving a grant under the program during the preceding year, including the activities being performed with that grant; and (3) the effect of each grant on exports by eligible small business concerns in the State receiving the grant. (h) Public Web Site The Associate Administrator shall establish and maintain, on a publicly accessible Internet Web site of the Administration— (1) a list of each grant awarded under the program, the amount of the grant, and the identity of the grantee State; and (2) grant management guidance for recipients including required forms, no-cost extension and carryover information, and a schedule for reimbursements to recipients. (i) Enhanced reporting requirements The Associate Administrator shall— (1) document and maintain all analyses, evaluations, and rationales used to award grants under this section; (2) ensure that the goals of recipients of those grants are consistent with the purposes of this section and hold them accountable for adhering to reporting requirements established under this section; (3) perform reviews of quarterly reports submitted by grant recipients under this section; and (4) in cases where grant recipients do not proposed performance goals, require grant recipients to provide the Associate Administrator with revised work plans and budget estimates to meet those goals. (j) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There are authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (2) Other amounts Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) shall be in addition to the amounts otherwise available to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. (3) Availability Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended. . 3. Repeal of pilot program Section 1207 of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 649b note) is hereby repealed.