Bill Summary
The Global Small Business Network Act is a bill that aims to support the establishment of small business development centers (SBDCs) internationally and promote international commerce. This Act recognizes the important role that small businesses play in the United States economy and seeks to extend the benefits of the SBDC model to other countries. It highlights the success of the Small Business Network of the Americas' initiative in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, and proposes the creation of a Global Small Business Network program to further support small businesses in the United States and in foreign countries. The Act also allows for the establishment of regional networks, such as the Small Business Network of the Americas and the ASEAN Small Business Network, to facilitate partnerships between small businesses in the United States and foreign countries. The Act authorizes grants for qualified entities to develop SBDCs in foreign countries and promote economic connectivity between small businesses in the United States and other countries. It also requires the Secretary of State to submit reports on the progress of the Global Small Business Network program and its impact on small businesses in the United States and foreign countries. The Act defines key terms such as "qualified entity," "small business concern," and "small business development center" to clarify its scope and purpose.
Possible Impacts
1. Small business owners in the United States could have access to technical assistance, regulatory guidance, and educational programs through the small business development centers (SBDC) in the US. This could potentially help them grow and expand their businesses, as well as provide employment opportunities for others.
2. The establishment of SBDCs in other countries could promote economic opportunities for small businesses to thrive and engage with the United States economy. This could open up new markets and potential partnerships for small businesses in the US.
3. The Global Small Business Network Act could also provide grants for the development of small business development centers in foreign countries, which could help create jobs and foster economic growth in those countries. This could potentially lead to increased trade and commerce between the US and these countries.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8628 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8628
To support the establishment of small business development centers
internationally and promote international commerce, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 20, 2020
Mr. Castro of Texas (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, and Mrs.
Wagner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To support the establishment of small business development centers
internationally and promote international commerce, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Global Small Business Network Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Small businesses empower citizens of a country,
strengthen communities, provide employment to millions, and
form the backbone of the United States economy.
(2) Small business concerns across the United States have
benefitted from access to technical assistance, regulatory
guidance, and educational programs through small business
development centers (referred to in this Act as ``SBDC'') in
the United States.
(3) The SBDC model has successfully been adopted in Central
America, South America, and the Caribbean, through assistance
from the Small Business Network of the Americas' initiative
funded through the Department of State.
(4) The Small Business Network of the Americas' initiative
is a highly effective program that works with host governments
in the Americas to establish small business development
centers, primarily funded by the host governments.
(5) SBDC networks outside the United States serve as
important conduits of commerce with the United States,
providing important information, tools, and regulatory guidance
to small businesses interested in trading with the United
States.
(6) The establishment of SBDCs in other parts of the world
promotes opportunities for small businesses to thrive and
engage with the United States economy.
SEC. 3. GLOBAL AND REGIONAL NETWORKS.
(a) Global Small Business Network.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development and the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration, is authorized to establish and
administer a Global Small Business Network program.
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Global Small Business
Network program is to--
(A) enhance the ability of small business concerns
in the United States that are affiliated with a small
business development center to export to foreign
markets and take part in international commerce; and
(B) facilitate partners for small business concerns
in the United States and resilient business
environments in foreign countries through the
development of small business development centers in
foreign countries.
(3) Affiliation.--The Secretary of State shall determine if
a small business development center in a foreign country may
affiliate with and participate in the Global Small Business
Network program.
(4) Coordination.--The Secretary of State may coordinate
with a national or local government of a foreign country that
agrees to assist with developing small business development
centers in such country pursuant to a grant awarded under
subsection (c).
(5) Duplication of efforts.--The Secretary of State shall
leverage existing programs administered by the Department of
State, the United States Agency for International Development,
and other United States Government agencies for the purposes of
the Global Small Business Network program.
(b) Regional Networks.--
(1) Small business network of the americas.--The Secretary
of State may establish a Small Business Network of the Americas
for purposes of allowing national and local governments of a
foreign country located in Western Hemisphere to participate in
the Global Small Business Network program.
(2) ASEAN small business network.--The Secretary of State
may establish an ASEAN Small Business Network for purposes of
allowing national and local governments of a foreign country
that is a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations to participate in the Global Small Business Network
program.
(c) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State may make grants to
any qualified entity that submits an application in such form,
and satisfying such requirements, as the Secretary may require.
(2) Types of grants.--A qualified entity may receive a
grant for one or both of the following purposes:
(A) To assist national and local governments of a
foreign country to develop a small business development
center, or multiple centers, in such country,
regardless of whether such country participates in a
regional network described in subsection (b).
(B) To promote economic connectivity between small
business concerns in the United States and economies
covered by the Global Small Business Network, including
through an internet platform to--
(i) enhance the ability of small business
concerns in the United States to take part in
international commerce; and
(ii) facilitate the growth of small
businesses in foreign countries through the
development of small business development
centers in foreign countries.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of State $2,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2022 through 2026, in addition to amounts otherwise available for
economic activities and foreign assistance, to carry out this section.
With respect to each such fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to
use--
(1) up to $1,000,000 of such amount to establish and
operate the Small Business Network of the Americas; and
(2) up to $1,000,000 of such amount to establish and
operate the ASEAN Small Business Network.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of this Act and every two years thereafter for a
period of four years, the Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development and the Administrator of the Small
Business Administration, shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Small
Business of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on
the status of the Global Small Business Network program.
(2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) An assessment of support provided to small
business concerns in the United States that have
utilized programs through the Global Small Business
Network, including information on the number of
businesses supported, the geographic location of such
businesses, the number of jobs supported, and the
amount of economic activity generated.
(B) A description of methods and strategies to
develop small business development centers in foreign
countries for the two years after the date of such
report.
(C) A list, and the current status, of all
operating small business development centers in foreign
countries that are affiliated with the Global Small
Business Network program.
(D) A list, and the current status, of all new
small business development centers in foreign countries
set up through the Global Small Business Network
program in the two years before the date of the report,
even if no longer affiliated with the Global Small
Business Network program.
(E) A description of the estimated timelines for
national and local governments of a foreign country
participating in the Small Business Network of the
Americas and the ASEAN Small Business Network to--
(i) complete the creation of a small
business development center in such country;
and
(ii) establish connections between such a
small business development center with small
business development centers in the United
States.
(F) A description of international commercial
activity resulting from participation in the Global
Small Business Network program.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Qualified entity.--The term ``qualified entity'' means
an entity that is--
(A) an institution of higher education (as such
term is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)), except that such term
does not include institutions described in section
102(a)(1)(c) of such Act;
(B) a consortium of two or more institutions of
higher education described in subparagraph (A); or
(C) a nonprofit entity with experience in operating
or working with small business development centers in
the United States.
(2) Small business concern.--The term ``small business
concern'' has the meaning given the term under section 3(a) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
(3) Small business development center.--The term ``small
business development center''--
(A) with respect to a center located in the United
States--
(i) has the meaning given such term in
section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632); and
(ii) includes a women's business center, as
such term is used under section 29 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656); and
(B) with respect to a center located in a foreign
country, means an entity that--
(i) provides small business-oriented
employment or natural resources development
programs;
(ii) promotes studies, research, and
counseling concerning the managing, financing,
and operation of small businesses;
(iii) provides management and technical
assistance regarding small business
participation in international markets and
international commerce, including with the
United States;
(iv) provides delivery or distribution of
services and information described in this
subparagraph; or
(v) provides access to business analysts
who can refer a small business to available
experts.
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