text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``White House Quadrennial Small 
  Business Summit Act of 2001''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act--
              (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
          the Small Business Administration;
              (2) the term ``Chief Counsel'' means the Chief Counsel for 
          Advocacy of the Small Business Administration;
              (3) the term ``Small Business Commission'' means the 
          national White House Quadrennial Commission on Small Business 
          established under section 6;
              (4) the term ``Small Business Summit''--
                      (A) means the White House Quadrennial Summit on 
                  Small Business conducted under section 3(a); and
                      (B) includes the last White House Conference on 
                  Small Business occurring before 2002;
              (5) the term ``small business'' has the meaning given the 
          term ``small business concern'' in section 3 of the Small 
          Business Act;
              (6) the term ``State'' means any of the 50 States of the 
          United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
          Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands; and
              (7) the term ``State Summit'' means a State Summit on Small 
          Business conducted under section 3(b).
  
  SEC. 3. NATIONAL AND STATE QUADRENNIAL SUMMITS ON SMALL BUSINESS.
  
      (a) Quadrennial Summits.--There shall be a national White House 
  Quadrennial Summit on Small Business once every 4 years, to be held 
  during the second year following each Presidential election, to carry 
  out the purposes set forth in section 4.
      (b) State Summits.--Each Small Business Summit referred to in 
  subsection (a) shall be preceded by a State Summit on Small Business, 
  with not fewer than 1 such summit held in each State, and with not 
  fewer than 2 such summits held in any State having a population of more 
  than 10,000,000.
  
  SEC. 4. PURPOSES OF SMALL BUSINESS SUMMITS.
  
      The purposes of each Small Business Summit shall be--
              (1) to increase public awareness of the contribution of 
          small business to the national economy;
              (2) to identify the problems of small business;
              (3) to examine the status of minorities and women as small 
          business owners;
              (4) to assist small business in carrying out its role as 
          the Nation's job creator;
              (5) to assemble small businesses to develop such specific 
          and comprehensive recommendations for legislative and 
          regulatory action as may be appropriate for maintaining and 
          encouraging the economic viability of small business and 
          thereby, the Nation; and
              (6) to review the status of recommendations adopted at the 
          immediately preceding Small Business Summit.
  
  SEC. 5. SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS.
  
      (a) In General.--To carry out the purposes set forth in section 4, 
  the Small Business Commission shall conduct Small Business Summits and 
  State Summits to bring together individuals concerned with issues 
  relating to small business.
      (b) Summit Delegates.--
              (1) Qualification.--Only individuals who are owners or 
          officers of a small business shall be eligible for appointment 
          or election as delegates (or alternates) to the Small Business 
          Summit, or be eligible to vote in the selection of delegates at 
          the State Summits pursuant to this subsection.
              (2) Appointed delegates.--Two months before the date of the 
          first State Summit, there shall be--
                      (A) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by the 
                  Governor of each State;
                      (B) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by each 
                  Member of the House of Representatives, from the 
                  congressional district of that Member;
                      (C) 1 delegate (and 1 alternate) appointed by each 
                  Member of the Senate from the home State of that 
                  Member; and
                      (D) 53 delegates (and 53 alternates) appointed by 
                  the President, 1 from each State.
              (3) Elected delegates.--The participants at each State 
          Summit shall elect 3 delegates and 3 alternates to the Small 
          Business Summit for each congressional district within the 
          State, or part of the State represented at the Summit, or not 
          fewer than 9 delegates, pursuant to rules developed by the 
          Small Business Commission.
              (4) Powers and duties.--Delegates to each Small Business 
          Summit shall--
                      (A) attend the State summits in his or her 
                  respective State;
                      (B) elect a delegation chairperson, vice 
                  chairperson, and other leadership as may be necessary;
                      (C) conduct meetings and other activities at the 
                  State level before the date of the Small Business 
                  Summit, subject to the approval of the Small Business 
                  Commission; and
                      (D) direct such State level summits, meetings, and 
                  activities toward the consideration of the purposes set 
                  forth in section 4, in order to prepare for the next 
                  Small Business Summit.
              (5) Alternates.--Alternates shall serve during the absence 
          or unavailability of the delegate.
      (c) Role of the Chief Counsel.--The Chief Counsel shall, after 
  consultation and in coordination with the Small Business Commission, 
  assist in carrying out the Small Business Summits and State Summits 
  required by this Act by--
              (1) preparing and providing background information and 
          administrative materials for use by participants in the 
          summits;
              (2) distributing issue information and administrative 
          communications, electronically where possible through an 
          Internet web site and e-mail, and in printed form if requested;
              (3) maintaining an Internet web site and regular e-mail 
          communications after each Small Business Summit to inform 
          delegates and the public of the status of recommendations and 
          related governmental activity; and
              (4) maintaining, between summits, an active interim 
          organization of delegate representatives from each region of 
          the Administration, to advise the Chief Counsel on each of the 
          major small business issue areas, and monitor the progress of 
          the Summits' recommendations.
      (d) Expenses.--Each delegate (and alternate) to each Small Business 
  Summit and State Summit--
              (1) shall be responsible for the expenses of that delegate 
          related to attending the summits; and
              (2) shall not be reimbursed either from funds made 
          available pursuant to this section or the Small Business Act.
      (e) Advisory Committee.--
              (1) In general.--The Small Business Commission shall 
          appoint a Summit Advisory Committee, which shall be composed of 
          10 individuals who were participants at the most recently 
          preceding Small Business Summit, to advise the Small Business 
          Commission on the organization, rules, and processes of the 
          Summits.
              (2) Preference.--Preference for appointment under this 
          subsection shall be given to individuals who have been active 
          participants in the implementation process following the most 
          recently preceding Small Business Summit.
      (f) Public Participation.--Small Business Summits and State Summits 
  shall be open to the public, and no fee or charge may be imposed on any 
  attendee, other than an amount necessary to cover the cost of any meal 
  provided, plus, with respect to State Summits, a registration fee to 
  defray the expense of meeting rooms and materials of not to exceed $20 
  per person.
  
  SEC. 6. WHITE HOUSE QUADRENNIAL COMMISSION ON SMALL BUSINESS.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established the White House 
  Quadrennial Commission on Small Business.
      (b) Membership.--
              (1) Appointment.--The Small Business Commission shall be 
          composed of 9 members, including--
                      (A) the Chief Counsel;
                      (B) 4 members appointed by the President;
                      (C) 1 member appointed by the Majority Leader of 
                  the Senate;
                      (D) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader of 
                  the Senate;
                      (E) 1 member appointed by the Majority Leader of 
                  the House of Representatives; and
                      (F) 1 member appointed by the Minority Leader of 
                  the House of Representatives.
              (2) Selection.--Members of the Small Business Commission 
          described in subparagraphs (B) through (F) of paragraph (1) 
          shall be selected from among distinguished individuals noted 
          for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to the 
          issue of small business and the purposes set forth in section 
          4.
              (3) Time of appointment.--The appointments required by 
          paragraph (1)--
                      (A) shall be made not later than 18 months before 
                  the opening date of each Small Business Summit; and
                      (B) shall expire 6 months after the date on which 
                  each Small Business Summit is convened.
      (c) Election of Chairperson.--At the first meeting of the Small 
  Business Commission, a majority of the members present and voting shall 
  elect a member of the Small Business Commission to serve as the 
  Chairperson.
      (d) Powers and Duties of Commission.--The Small Business 
  Commission--
              (1) may enter into contracts with public agencies, private 
          organizations, and academic institutions to carry out this Act;
              (2) shall consult, coordinate, and contract with an 
          independent, nonpartisan organization that--
                      (A) has both substantive and logistical experience 
                  in developing and organizing conferences and forums 
                  throughout the Nation with elected officials and other 
                  government and business leaders;
                      (B) has experience in generating private resources 
                  from multiple States in the form of event sponsorships; 
                  and
                      (C) can demonstrate evidence of a working 
                  relationship with Members of Congress from the majority 
                  and minority parties, and at least 1 Federal agency; 
                  and
              (3) shall prescribe such financial controls and accounting 
          procedures as needed for the handling of funds from fees and 
          charges and the payment of authorized meal, facility, travel, 
          and other related expenses.
      (e) Planning and Administration of Summits.--In carrying out the 
  Small Business Summits and State Summits, the Small Business Commission 
  shall consult with--
              (1) the Chief Counsel;
              (2) Congress; and
              (3) such other Federal agencies as the Small Business 
          Commission determines to be appropriate.
      (f) Reports Required.--Not later than 6 months after the date on 
  which each Small Business Summit is convened, the Small Business 
  Commission shall submit to the President and to the Chairpersons and 
  Ranking Members of the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and 
  the House of Representatives a final report, which shall--
              (1) include the findings and recommendations of the Small 
          Business Summit and any proposals for legislative action 
          necessary to implement those recommendations; and
              (2) be made available to the public.
      (g) Quorum.--Four voting members of the Small Business Commission 
  shall constitute a quorum for purposes of transacting business.
      (h) Meetings.--The Small Business Commission shall meet not later 
  than 20 calendar days after the appointment of the initial members of 
  the Small Business Commission, and not less frequently than every 30 
  calendar days thereafter.
      (i) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Small Business Commission shall 
  not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the manner in which the 
  original appointment was made.
      (j) Executive Director and Staff.--The Small Business Commission 
  may appoint and compensate an Executive Director and such other 
  personnel to conduct the Small Business Summits and State Summits as 
  the Small Business Commission may determine to be advisable, without 
  regard to title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
  competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter 
  III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General 
  Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the Executive 
  Director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level 
  V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
      (k) Funding.--Members of the Small Business Commission shall be 
  allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence at 
  rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
  chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
  or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
  Small Business Commission.
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
  
      (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out each Small Business Summit and the State 
  Summits required by this Act, $5,000,000, which shall remain available 
  until expended. New spending authority or authority to enter contracts 
  as provided in this title shall be effective only to such extent and in 
  such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
      (b) Specific Earmark.--No amount made available to the Small 
  Business Administration may be made available to carry out this title, 
  other than amounts made available specifically for the purpose of 
  conducting the Small Business Summits and State Summits.
target: White House Quadrennial Small Business Summit Act of 2001 - Mandates a national White House Quadrennial Summit on Small Business, once every four years, to undertake specified actions with respect to the recognition, development, and promotion of American small business. Requires each Quadrennial Summit to be preceded by a State Summit on Small Business.Establishes the White House Quadrennial Commission on Small Business to: (1) conduct the Quadrennial and State Summits to bring together individuals concerned with issues relating to small business; and (2) appoint a Summit Advisory Committee from participants at the last Quadrennial Summit. Directs the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration to assist in carrying out the Quadrennial and State Summits.Requires each Summit's Commission to report to the President and the chairpersons and ranking members of the congressional small business committees on its findings, recommendations, and proposals for legislative changes to implement such recommendations.Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: A bill to provide for national quadrennial summits on small business and State summits on small business, to establish the White House Quadrennial Commission on Small Business, and for other purposes.