,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #gjc #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cjig ,report ,no4 #aad-cic ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #bc1 #bjaf,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,heller1 ,mr4 ,nelson1 and ,mr4 ,coons7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,december #f1 #bjaf,reported by ,mr4 ,thune1 with an amendment,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,select,u,s,a program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,select,u,s,a ,authorization ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,establishment of ,select,u,s,a 7a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,department of ,commerce the ,select,u,s,a program 7in this ,act referred to as ,select,u,s,a71 a ,government-wide program to attract and retain investment in the ,united ,states economy4 7b7 ,executive director ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall designate a senior staff member of the ,department of ,commerce to be the ,executive ,director of ,select,u,s,a1 who shall coordinate activities relating to business investment decisions within the ,department of ,commerce and with other ,federal agencies with responsibility for such activities4 7c7 ,mission ,select,u,s,a shall-- 7#a7 facilitate business investment in the ,united ,states in order to create jobs1 spur economic growth1 and promote ,united ,states competitiveness2 7#b7 provide enhanced coordination of ,federal activities in order to increase the impact of ,federal resources that support domestic and foreign investment in the ,united ,states2 7#c7 in providing assistance1 work to maximize impact on business investment1 job creation1 and economic growth2 and 7#d7 work on behalf of the entire ,united ,states and exercise strict neutrality1 except as specified in subsection 7e71 with regard to specific locations within the ,united ,states4 7d7 ,functions ,select,u,s,a shall-- 7#a7 coordinate outreach and engagement by the ,federal ,government to promote the ,united ,states as the premier location to operate a business2 7#b7 endeavor to coordinate and avoid duplication with other ,federal agencies2 7#c7 serve as an ombudsman that facilitates the resolution of issues involving ,federal programs or activities related to pending investments2 7#d7 provide information to domestic and foreign firms on-- 7,a7 the investment climate in the ,united ,states2 7,b7 ,federal programs and incentives available to investors2 and 7,c7 ,state and local economic development organizations2 and 7#e7 report periodically to the ,president1 through the ,national ,economic ,council1 the ,domestic ,policy ,council1 and the ,national ,security ,staff1 on outreach activities of ,select,u,s,a1 requests for information received by ,select,u,s,a1 and efforts of ,select,u,s,a to resolve issues4 7e7 ,increased opportunities for rural areas and smaller ,states ,select,u,s,a shall endeavor-- 7#a7 to increase foreign direct investment opportunities for rural areas and smaller ,states2 and 7#b7 to make its services increasingly available to rural areas and smaller ,states1 including through-- 7,a7 teleconferencing2 7,b7 geographic positioning of conferences and events of ,select,u,s,a1 when practicable2 and 7,c7 increased attention by staff of ,select,u,s,a4 7f7 ,participation of other agencies ,all ,federal agencies with responsibility for activities relating to business investment decisions shall cooperate with ,select,u,s,a1 as requested by the ,executive ,director1 to support the objectives of ,select,u,s,a4 #c4 ,federal interagency investment working group 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established the ,federal ,interagency ,investment ,working ,group 7in this section referred to as the ,working ,group71 which shall be convened and chaired by the ,executive ,director of ,select,u,s,a1 in coordination with the ,director of the ,national ,economic ,council4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,working ,group shall consist of senior officials from-- 7#a7 agencies represented on the ,trade ,promotion ,coordinating ,committee established by section #bcab of the ,export ,enhancement ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #dgbg72 and 7#b7 such other agencies as the ,secretary of ,commerce may designate4 7c7 ,functions ,the ,working ,group shall coordinate activities to promote business investment and respond to specific issues that affect business investment decisions4 #d4 ,reports and notifications to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,not later than ,december #ca of each year1 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall submit to ,congress a report on the activities of ,select,u,s,a during the preceding fiscal year4 7b7 ,contents ,each report submitted under subsection 7a7 shall include1 for the period covered by the report1 the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the outreach activities of ,select,u,s,a4 7#b7 ,a statement of the funds used by ,select,u,s,a4 7#c7 ,an assessment of the number of foreign firms that located in the ,united ,states using the services provided by ,select,u,s,a1 including the economic effect of such locations for the ,united ,states1 and an assessment of related services provided by ,select,u,s,a to ,state1 local1 regional1 and tribal economic development organizations and international investors4 7#d7 ,a description of the progress made by the ,united ,states in increasing its share of foreign direct investment from the ,asia and ,pacific regions4 7#e7 ,a description of the efforts of ,select,u,s,a in promoting foreign direct investment in rural areas or smaller ,states4 7#f7 ,a description of the efforts of ,select,u,s,a in coordinating with other ,federal agencies1 including the ,united ,states and ,foreign ,commercial ,service established under section #bcja of the ,export ,enhancement ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #dgba71 the ,department of ,state1 and the ,foreign ,agricultural ,service of the ,department of ,agriculture4 7#g7 ,any findings that are made by ,select,u,s,a in conducting its activities and are relevant to promoting the ,united ,states as a destination for foreign direct investment4 #e4 ,government ,accountability ,office assessment of effectiveness of ,select,u,s,a 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report assessing the effectiveness of ,select,u,s,a in increasing1 encouraging1 and supporting foreign direct investment in the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,recommendations ,the report required by subsection 7a7 shall include recommendations for ways ,select,u,s,a may-- 7#a7 increase foreign direct investment in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 better coordinate with other ,federal agencies and other entities2 7#c7 better serve rural areas and smaller ,states1 including by tailoring activities to those areas and ,states2 7#d7 increase foreign direct investment in those areas and ,states2 and 7#e7 more effectively use its resources4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations for ,select,u,s,a ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out ,select,u,s,a such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year #bjag and each fiscal year thereafter4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,select,u,s,a ,authorization ,act of #bjaf4 #b4 ,establishment of ,select,u,s,a 7a7 ,in general ,there is established in the ,department of ,commerce the ,select,u,s,a program 7in this ,act referred to as ,select,u,s,a71 a ,government-wide program to attract and retain investment in the ,united ,states economy4 7b7 ,executive director ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall designate a senior staff member of the ,department of ,commerce to be the ,executive ,director of ,select,u,s,a1 who shall coordinate activities relating to business investment decisions within the ,department of ,commerce and with other ,federal agencies with responsibility for such activities4 7c7 ,mission ,select,u,s,a shall-- 7#a7 facilitate business investment in the ,united ,states in order to create jobs1 spur economic growth1 and promote ,united ,states competitiveness2 7#b7 provide enhanced coordination of ,federal activities in order to increase the impact of ,federal resources that support domestic and foreign investment in the ,united ,states2 7#c7 in providing assistance1 work to maximize impact on business investment1 job creation1 and economic growth2 and 7#d7 work on behalf of the entire ,united ,states and exercise strict neutrality1 except as specified in subsection 7e71 with regard to specific locations within the ,united ,states4 7d7 ,functions ,select,u,s,a shall-- 7#a7 coordinate outreach and engagement by the ,federal ,government to promote the ,united ,states as the premier location to operate a business2 7#b7 endeavor to coordinate and avoid duplication with other ,federal agencies2 7#c7 serve as an ombudsman that facilitates the resolution of issues involving ,federal programs or activities related to pending investments2 7#d7 provide information to domestic and foreign firms on-- 7,a7 the investment climate in the ,united ,states2 7,b7 ,federal programs and incentives available to investors2 and 7,c7 ,state and local economic development organizations2 and 7#e7 report periodically to the ,president1 through the ,national ,economic ,council1 the ,domestic ,policy ,council1 and the ,national ,security ,staff1 on outreach activities of ,select,u,s,a1 requests for information received by ,select,u,s,a1 and efforts of ,select,u,s,a to resolve issues4 7e7 ,increased opportunities for rural areas and smaller ,states ,select,u,s,a shall endeavor-- 7#a7 to increase foreign direct investment opportunities for rural areas and smaller ,states2 and 7#b7 to make its services increasingly available to rural areas and smaller ,states1 including through-- 7,a7 teleconferencing2 7,b7 geographic positioning of conferences and events of ,select,u,s,a1 when practicable2 and 7,c7 increased attention by staff of ,select,u,s,a4 7f7 ,participation of other agencies ,all ,federal agencies with responsibility for activities relating to business investment decisions shall cooperate with ,select,u,s,a1 as requested by the ,executive ,director1 to support the objectives of ,select,u,s,a4 #c4 ,federal interagency investment working group 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established the ,federal ,interagency ,investment ,working ,group 7in this section referred to as the ,working ,group71 which shall be convened and chaired by the ,executive ,director of ,select,u,s,a1 in coordination with the ,director of the ,national ,economic ,council4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,working ,group shall consist of senior officials from-- 7#a7 agencies represented on the ,trade ,promotion ,coordinating ,committee established by section #bcab of the ,export ,enhancement ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #dgbg72 and 7#b7 such other agencies as the ,secretary of ,commerce may designate4 7c7 ,functions ,the ,working ,group shall coordinate activities to promote business investment and respond to specific issues that affect business investment decisions4 #d4 ,reports and notifications to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,not later than ,december #ca of each year1 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall submit to ,congress a report on the activities of ,select,u,s,a during the preceding fiscal year4 7b7 ,contents ,each report submitted under subsection 7a7 shall include1 for the period covered by the report1 the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the outreach activities of ,select,u,s,a4 7#b7 ,a statement of the funds used by ,select,u,s,a4 7#c7 ,an assessment of the number of foreign firms that located in the ,united ,states using the services provided by ,select,u,s,a1 including the economic effect of such locations for the ,united ,states1 and an assessment of related services provided by ,select,u,s,a to ,state1 local1 regional1 and tribal economic development organizations and international investors4 7#d7 ,a description of the progress made by the ,united ,states in increasing its share of foreign direct investment from the ,asia and ,pacific regions4 7#e7 ,a description of the efforts of ,select,u,s,a in promoting foreign direct investment in rural areas or smaller ,states4 7#f7 ,a description of the efforts of ,select,u,s,a in coordinating with other ,federal agencies1 including the ,united ,states and ,foreign ,commercial ,service established under section #bcja of the ,export ,enhancement ,act of #aihh 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #dgba71 the ,department of ,state1 and the ,foreign ,agricultural ,service of the ,department of ,agriculture4 7#g7 ,any findings that are made by ,select,u,s,a in conducting its activities and are relevant to promoting the ,united ,states as a destination for foreign direct investment4 #e4 ,government ,accountability ,office assessment of effectiveness of ,select,u,s,a 7a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report assessing the effectiveness of ,select,u,s,a in increasing1 encouraging1 and supporting foreign direct investment in the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,recommendations ,the report required by subsection 7a7 shall include1 as appropriate1 recommendations for ways ,select,u,s,a may-- 7#a7 increase foreign direct investment in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 better coordinate with other ,federal agencies and other entities2 7#c7 better serve rural areas and smaller ,states1 including by tailoring activities to those areas and ,states2 7#d7 increase foreign direct investment in those areas and ,states2 and 7#e7 more effectively use its resources4 #f4 ,requirements for political appointees of ,department of ,commerce 7a7 ,training certification required for new political appointees ,at the beginning of each fiscal year1 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall certify to ,congress that each newly appointed political official of the ,department of ,commerce has received training on each of the following3 7#a7 ,regulations and policies governing the use of subordinates for non-official business4 7#b7 ,restrictions against the use of the political appointee's title or position for personal gain or creating the appearance of such use4 7#c7 ,key regulations and policies governing official travel1 including the ,federal ,travel ,regulation1 as well as departmental travel policies1 particularly regarding the necessity for adequately documented justification to support any per diem overages4 7#d7 ,the advisability of monitoring renovation work done to their office suites to ensure the cost of such work does not contravene congressional budget restrictions4 7b7 ,report on renovations to office suite of ,under ,secretary for ,international ,trade ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a written report regarding the renovations to the office suite of the ,under ,secretary for ,international ,trade regarding whether expenditures associated with those renovations exceeded the #e1jjj limit imposed by ,congress and whether the expenditures contravened section #acda of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,anti-,deficiency ,act74 7c7 ,certification on procedures regarding categorization of work on certain office suites ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall certify to ,congress that the ,secretary has implemented procedures requiring thorough documentation to support the categorization of any work performed on an official office suite of a politically appointed official as-- 7#a7 general or routine maintenance2 or 7#b7 renovation work that is subject to congressional budget restrictions4 7d7 ,report on encouraging whistleblowing ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the steps the ,secretary has taken to make subordinates working for politically appointed officials feel empowered to report instances of potential regulatory1 policy1 or rule violations to their superiors or to the ,inspector ,general of the ,department of ,commerce4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations for ,select,u,s,a ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out ,select,u,s,a #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjag through #bjba4 ,december #f1 #bjaf,reported with an amendment