Women's Business Ownership Act of 2011 - Establishes the Commission on Women's Business Ownership to review and make recommendations concerning: (1) the status of women business owners across the United States, and their progress made since the 1980 White House Conference on Small Business; (2) the role of the federal government in aiding and promoting women business owners; and (3) data collection procedures with respect to women-owned businesses, including federal initiatives and procurement.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 744 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 744
To establish the National Commission on Women's Business Ownership, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2011
Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to
the Committees on Small Business and Oversight and Government Reform,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the National Commission on Women's Business Ownership, 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 ``Women's Business Ownership Act of
2011''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``National
Commission on Women's Business Ownership'' (in this Act referred to as
the ``Commission'').
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Review.--The Commission shall--
(1) review the status of women business owners across the
United States and the progress made by women business owners
since the 1980 White House Conference on Small Business;
(2) review the role of the Federal Government in aiding and
promoting women business owners; and
(3) review data collection procedures with respect to
women-owned businesses, including for Federal initiatives and
procurement, with the goal of recommending improvements to
those procedures.
(b) Recommendations.--Based on the review conducted under
subsection (a), the Commission shall develop recommendations on--
(1) private-sector initiatives for providing management and
technical assistance to women business owners;
(2) ways to create greater access to credit for women
business owners; and
(3) ways to enhance Federal procurement opportunities for
women business owners.
(c) Business Ownership.--For purposes of this Act, a business is
owned by a woman if--
(1) the sole owner is a woman;
(2) 50 percent or more of the partners are women; or
(3) 50 percent or more of the stock is owned by women, if
the business is a corporation.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 9
members appointed as follows:
(1) Three members appointed by the President.
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives from a list of 15 individuals nominated for
appointment by the chairman of the Committee on Small Business
of the House of Representatives.
(3) Three members appointed by the majority leader of the
Senate from a list of 15 individuals nominated for appointment
by the chairman of the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship of the Senate.
(b) Qualifications.--
(1) In general.--Individuals appointed under subsection (a)
shall be specially qualified to serve on the Commission by
virtue of their education, training, or experience and may not
be officers or employees of the Federal Government or Members
of Congress.
(2) Political affiliation.--Of the 3 members appointed
under each of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a)--
(A) not more than 2 members appointed under each
paragraph may be of the same political party;
(B) at least one member appointed under each
paragraph shall be a woman; and
(C) at least one member appointed under each
paragraph shall be an individual who is a small
business owner.
(3) Geographical balance.--In making appointments under
subsection (a), the appointing authorities should give
consideration to achieving geographical balance in the
membership of the Commission.
(c) Term.--Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for the
life of the Commission, except that if any member of the Commission
becomes an officer or employee of the Federal Government or a Member of
Congress that individual may continue as a member of the Commission for
not longer than the 30-day period beginning on the date that individual
becomes an officer or employee or a Member of Congress.
(d) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(e) Pay.--
(1) In general.--Members of the Commission shall serve
without pay, except as provided in paragraph (2).
(2) Travel expenses.--While away from their homes or
regular places of business in the performance of services for
the Commission, members of the Commission shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the
Government service are allowed travel expenses under section
5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson of the Commission shall be designated by the President. The
term of office of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall be the
life of the Commission.
(h) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet not less than 4 times, and
not more than 6 times, each year. Meetings shall be at the call of a
majority of the members of the Commission.
SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Director and Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall have a Director who
shall be appointed by the Commission. The Commission, with the
recommendation of the Director, may appoint and fix the pay of
4 additional personnel.
(2) Applicability of certain laws.--The Director and staff
of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of that title, relating to classification and
General Schedule pay rates, except that an individual so
appointed may not receive pay in excess of the maximum annual
rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General
Schedule.
(b) Services.--The Commission may procure temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States
Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent
of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the
General Schedule.
(c) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon the request of the Commission,
the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a
reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency
to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying out the duties
of the Commission under this Act.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying
out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take
testimony, and receive evidence, as the Commission considers
appropriate.
(b) Delegation.--Any member or agent of the Commission may, if
authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission is
authorized to take by this section.
(c) Access to Information.--The Commission may secure directly from
any department or agency of the United States information necessary to
enable it to carry out this Act. Upon the request of the Chairperson of
the Commission, the head of a department or agency shall furnish that
information to the Commission.
(d) Use of Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments
and agencies of the United States.
(e) Administrative Support.--The Administrator of General Services
shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, such
administrative support services as the Commission may request.
SEC. 7. REPORTS.
The Commission shall transmit to the President and to Congress
interim reports as the Commission considers appropriate and shall
transmit a final report to the President and to Congress not later than
26 months after the date of the Commission's first meeting. The final
report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and
conclusions of the Commission, including recommendations for
legislation and administrative actions the Commission considers
appropriate.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall cease to exist on the date that the Commission
transmits its final report to the President and to Congress.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and Procurement Reform .
Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line