,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #biij ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #i1 #bjad ,ms4 ,cantwell 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,mrs4 ,shaheen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,utilization ,program for ,american ,small ,businesses ,act or the ,,step ,,up for ,american ,small ,businesses ,act 4 #b4 ,state trade and export promotion 7a7 ,in general ,section #bb of the ,small ,business ,act is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7l7 as subsection 7m72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7k7 the following3 7l7 ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection-- 7,a7 the term eligible small business concern means a business concern that-- 7i7 is organized or incorporated in the ,united ,states2 7ii7 is operating in the ,united ,states2 7iii7 meets-- 7,i7 the applicable industry-based small business size standard established under section #c2 or 7,,ii7 the alternate size standard applicable to the program under section #g7;a7 of this ,act and the loan programs under title ,v of the ,small ,business ,investment ,act of #aieh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fie et seq472 7iv7 has been in business for not less than #a year1 as of the date on which assistance using a grant under this subsection commences2 7v7 is export ready1 as determined by the ,associate ,administrator2 and 7vi7 has access to sufficient resources to bear the costs associated with exporting and doing business with foreign purchasers1 including the costs of packing1 shipping1 freight forwarding1 and customs brokers2 7,b7 the term program means the ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program established under paragraph 7#b72 7,c7 the term rural small business concern means an eligible small business concern located in a rural area1 as that term is defined in section #acic7;a77#b7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 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 #fcg7;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 7#b7 ,establishment of program ,the ,associate ,administrator shall establish a trade and export promotion grant program1 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 7,h7 a reverse trade mission2 7,i7 procurement of foreign consultancy services 7after consultation with the ,department of ,commerce to avoid duplication72 or 7,j7 any other export initiative determined appropriate by the ,associate ,administrator4 7#c7 ,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 and to increase the value of the exports by eligible small business concerns in the ,state4 7,b7 ,considerations ,in making grants under this subsection1 the ,associate ,administrator may give priority to an application by a ,state that proposes an export program that-- 7i7 focuses on eligible small business concerns as part of an export promotion program2 7ii7 demonstrates intent to promote exports by-- 7,i7 socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns2 7,,ii7 small business concerns owned or controlled by women2 and 7,,iii7 rural small business concerns2 7iii7 promotes exports from a ,state that is not #a of the #aj ,states with the highest percentage of exporters that are eligible small business concerns1 based upon the most recent data available from the ,department of ,commerce2 and 7iv7 includes-- 7,i7 activities which have resulted in the highest return on investment based on the most recent year2 and 7,,ii7 the adoption of shared best practices included in the annual report of the ,administration4 7,c7 ,limitations 7i7 ,single application ,a ,state may not submit more than #a application for a grant under the program in any #a fiscal year4 7ii7 ,proportion of amounts ,the total value of grants made under the program during a fiscal year to the #aj ,states with the highest percentage of exporters that are eligible small business concerns1 based upon the most recent 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 7iii7 ,duration ,the ,associate ,administrator shall award a grant under this program for a period of not more than #b years4 7,d7 ,application 7i7 ,in general ,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 7ii7 ,consultation to reduce duplication ,a ,state desiring a grant under the program shall-- 7,i7 before submitting an application under clause 7i71 consult with applicable trade agencies of the ,federal ,government on the scope and mission of the activities the ,state proposes to carry out using the grant1 to ensure proper coordination and reduce duplication in services2 and 7,,ii7 document the consultation conducted under subclause 7,i7 in the application submitted under clause 7i74 7#d7 ,competitive basis ,the ,associate ,administrator shall award grants under the program on a competitive basis4 7#e7 ,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 7#f7 ,non-,federal ,share ,the non-,federal share of the cost of an export program carried out 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 7#g7 ,reports 7,a7 ,initial report ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,associate ,administrator 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 report1 which shall include-- 7i7 a description of the structure of and procedures for the program2 7ii7 a management plan for the program2 and 7iii7 a description of the merit-based review process to be used in the program4 7,b7 ,annual reports 7i7 ,in general ,the ,associate ,administrator shall publish on the website of the ,administration an annual report regarding the program1 which shall include-- 7,i7 the number and amount of grants made under the program during the preceding year2 7,,ii7 a list of the ,states receiving a grant under the program during the preceding year1 including the activities being performed with each grant2 7,,iii7 the effect of each grant on exports by eligible small business concerns in the ,state receiving the grant2 7,,iv7 the total return on investment for each ,state2 and 7,v7 a description of best practices by ,states that showed high returns on investment and significant progress in helping more eligible small business concerns to export4 7ii7 ,notice to ,congress ,on the date on which the ,associate ,administrator publishes a report under clause 7i71 the ,associate ,administrator shall notify the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,small ,business of the ,house of ,representatives that the report has been published4 7#h7 ,reviews by inspector general 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,inspector ,general of the ,administration shall conduct a review of-- 7i7 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 7ii7 the overall management and effectiveness of the program4 7,b7 ,reports 7i7 ,pilot program ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of the ,,step ,,up for ,american ,small ,businesses ,act1 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 use of amounts made available under the ,state ,trade and ,export ,promotion ,grant ,program under section #abjg of the ,small ,business ,jobs ,act of #bjaj 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdi;b note74 7ii7 ,new ,,step program ,not later than #ah months after the date on which the first grant is awarded under this subsection1 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 subparagraph 7,a74 7#i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the program #cj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjae through #bjai4 4 7b7 ,membership of representatives of ,state trade promotion agencies on trade promotion coordinating committee ,section #bcab of the ,export ,enhancement ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #dgbg7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraph 7#b7 as paragraph 7#c72 and 7,b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#a7 the following3 7#b7 ,representatives from ,state trade promotion agencies 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,,tpcc shall also include #a or more members appointed by the ,president1 after consultation with associations representing ,state trade promotion agencies1 who are representatives of ,state trade promotion agencies4 7,b7 ,term ,a member appointed under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be appointed for a term of #b years4 7,c7 ,personnel matters 7i7 ,no compensation ,a member of the ,,tpcc appointed under subparagraph 7,a7 shall serve without compensation4 7ii7 ,travel expenses ,a member of the ,,tpcc appointed under subparagraph 7,a7 shall be allowed travel expenses1 including per diem in lieu of subsistence1 at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter ,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 while away from the homes or regular place of business of the member in the performance of services for the ,,tpcc4 7iii7 ,administrative assistance ,the ,secretary of ,commerce1 or the head of another agency1 as appropriate1 shall make available to a member of the ,,tpcc appointed under subparagraph 7,a7 administrative services and assistance1 including a security clearance1 as the member may reasonably require to carry out services for the ,,tpcc4 2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7e71 in the first sentence1 by inserting 7other than members described in subsection 7d77#b77 after ,members of the ,,tpcc4