summary
Introduced
05/14/2020
05/14/2020
In Committee
05/14/2020
05/14/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
To establish the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce and to support the economic resilience of minority business enterprises during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. This bill permanently authorizes the Minority Business Development Agency and provides funding for the agency to assist minority businesses affected by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The agency shall award grants to certain private, nonprofit organizations that (1) primarily provide services to minority businesses (e.g., education or making grants), and (2) are unable to pay financial obligations such as payroll. Such organizations must also be unable to engage in the same level of fundraising as the preceding year due to effects of COVID-19 . The agency must give priority to recipients that will use grant funds for purposes that include (1) providing paid sick leave to employees unable to work because of COVID-19, (2) making payroll payments to retain employees, or (3) repaying obligations they cannot satisfy because of revenue losses due to COVID-19. The agency must also conduct outreach to its business center network to provide guidance regarding other federal programs that are available to support minority businesses. The head of the agency shall be a member of the interagency Small Business Procurement Advisory Council. The agency must report on its activity and make recommendations for actions to promote its purposes, and the Government Accountability Office must review and report on the effectiveness of agency programs, any failure by a grant recipient to comply with its requirements, and recommendations for program improvement. The amounts provided by the bill are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO) and the Senate PAYGO rule.
AI Summary
This bill permanently authorizes the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) within the Department of Commerce and provides funding for the agency to assist minority business enterprises (MBEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The MBDA will award grants to certain private, nonprofit organizations that primarily provide services to MBEs and are unable to pay financial obligations due to the effects of COVID-19. The agency must prioritize recipients that will use the funds for purposes such as providing paid sick leave, making payroll payments to retain employees, or repaying obligations they cannot satisfy due to revenue losses from COVID-19. The bill also requires the MBDA to conduct outreach to its business center network to provide guidance on other federal programs available to support MBEs, and mandates audits and reports to Congress on the agency's activities and effectiveness.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Small Business, 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. (on 05/14/2020)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6869/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6869/BILLS-116hr6869ih.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6869/BILLS-116hr6869ih.pdf.pdf |
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