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S. 1208: Small Business Export Opportunity Development Act of 2009

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S. 1208: Small Business Export Opportunity Development Act of 2009

111th Congress · introduced 2009-06-08 · Commerce · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6268-6271)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2009-06-08 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6268-6271) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Small Business Export Opportunity Development Act of 2009

Plain summary

Small Business Export Opportunity Development Act of 2009 - Amends the Small Business Act to establish within the Small Business Administration (SBA) an Office of Export Development and Promotion (Office), headed by an Associate Administrator for Export Development and Promotion, to undertake specified activities with respect to the development and promotion of small business goods and services abroad. Requires the Associate Administrator to: (1) develop a program through which SBA export finance specialists, regional and local loan officers, and small business development center (SBDC) personnel facilitate the access of small businesses to relevant export financing programs of the Export-Import Bank and to export and pre-export financing programs available through the SBA and the private sector; (2) provide international trade counseling for small businesses; (3) set up export assistance programs within each SBDC; (4) establish an export development grant program for small businesses; (5) develop performance measures to support Office export growth goals; and (6) discharge SBA export promotion responsibilities. Directs the SBA Administrator to fill certain vacant positions at Export Assistance Centers (as established under the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988). Allows the Administrator to guarantee small business loans of up to $5 million for the purpose of developing foreign markets. Makes eligible under the SBA's Preferred Lenders Program any lender participating in the Delegated Authority Lender Program of the Export-Import Bank. Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee the timely payment of an express (expedited) loan of up to $500,000 made to a small business for an export development activity. Increases the maximum amount of small business international trade loans. Directs the Administrator to expand the network of lenders participating in export loan programs. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish within the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) the position of Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Small Business, with specified duties. Directs the Administrator to carry out a program to provide technical assistance, counseling, and reference materials to small businesses relating to resources, procedures, and requirements for mechanisms to resolve international trade disputes or address unfair international trade practices under international trade agreements or federal law.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Small Business Export Opportunity Development Act of 2009

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong111-s1208 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111