,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cfai ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #bb1 #bjac,ms4 ,bass introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,small ,business ,a ,,bill ,to amend and extend ,the ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,step ,a ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,state trade and export promotion grant program ,the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fca et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating section #dg as section #dh2 and 7#b7 by inserting after section #df the following3 #dg4 ,state trade and export promotion grant program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term eligible small business concern means a small business concern that-- 7,a7 has been in business for not less than the #a-year period ending on the date on which assistance is provided using a grant under this section2 7,b7 is operating profitably1 based on operations in the ,united ,states2 7,c7 has demonstrated understanding of the costs associated with exporting and doing business with foreign purchasers1 including the costs of freight forwarding1 customs brokers1 packing and shipping1 as determined by the ,associate ,administrator2 and 7,d7 has in effect a strategic plan for exporting2 7#b7 the term program means the ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program established under subsection 7b72 7#c7 the term small business concern owned and controlled by women has the meaning given that term in section #c of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb72 7#d7 the term socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern has the meaning given that term in section #h7;a77#d77;,a7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fecg7;a77#d77;,a772 and 7#e7 the term ,state means each of the several ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 and ,american ,samoa4 7b7 ,establishment of program ,the ,associate ,administrator shall establish a trade and export promotion program to be known as the ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program1 to make grants to ,states to carry out export programs that assist eligible small business concerns in-- 7#a7 participation in a foreign trade mission2 7#b7 a foreign market sales trip2 7#c7 a subscription to services provided by the ,department of ,commerce2 7#d7 the payment of website translation fees2 7#e7 the design of international marketing media2 7#f7 a trade show exhibition2 7#g7 participation in training workshops2 or 7#h7 any other export initiative determined appropriate by the ,associate ,administrator4 7c7 ,grants 7#a7 ,joint review ,in carrying out the program1 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 ,state4 7#b7 ,considerations ,in making grants under this section1 the ,associate ,administrator may give priority to an application by a ,state that proposes a program that-- 7,a7 focuses on eligible small business concerns as part of an export promotion program2 7,b7 demonstrates success in promoting exports by-- 7i7 socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns2 7ii7 small business concerns owned or controlled by women2 and 7iii7 rural small business concerns2 7,c7 promotes exports from a ,state that is not #a of the #aj ,states with the highest percentage of exporters that are small business concerns1 based upon the latest data available from the ,department of ,commerce2 and 7,d7 promotes new-to-market export opportunities to ,sub-,saharan ,africa for eligible small business concerns in the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,limitations 7,a7 ,single application ,a ,state may not submit more than #a application for a grant under the program in any #a fiscal year4 7,b7 ,proportion of amounts ,the total value of grants under the program made during a fiscal year to the #aj ,states with the highest number of exporters that are small business concerns1 based upon the latest data available from the ,department of ,commerce1 shall be not more than #dj percent of the amounts appropriated for the program for that fiscal year4 7#d7 ,application ,a ,state desiring a grant under the program shall submit an application at such time1 in such manner1 and accompanied by such information as the ,associate ,administrator may establish4 7d7 ,competitive basis ,the ,associate ,administrator shall award grants under the program on a competitive basis4 7e7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of an export program carried out using a grant under the program shall be-- 7#a7 for a ,state that has a high export volume1 as determined by the ,associate ,administrator1 not more than #fe percent2 and 7#b7 for a ,state that does not have a high export volume1 as determined by the ,associate ,administrator1 not more than #ge percent4 7f7 ,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 #ej percent cash and not more than #ej percent of indirect costs and in-kind contributions1 except that no such costs or contributions may be derived from funds from any other ,federal program4 7g7 ,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 ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program1 which shall include-- 7#a7 the description of the program and the selection process conducted by ,states to award grants to small business concerns2 7#b7 the number and amount of grants made under the program during the preceding year2 7#c7 a list of the ,states receiving a grant under the program during the preceding year1 including the activities being performed with grant2 7#d7 the effect of each grant on exports by eligible small business concerns in the ,state receiving the grant2 and 7#e7 the number of grants and amounts awarded under the program covering exports to ,sub-,saharan ,africa4 7h7 ,reviews by inspector general 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,inspector ,general of the ,administration shall conduct a review of-- 7,a7 the extent to which recipients of grants under the program are measuring the performance of the activities being conducted and the results of the measurements2 and 7,b7 the overall management and effectiveness of the program4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than the date that is #b years after the date of enactment of this section1 and every #b years thereafter1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,administration shall submit to the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,small ,business of the ,house of ,representatives a report regarding the review conducted under paragraph 7#a74 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program #cj1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year after the date of enactment of this section4 4