15 U.S.C. § 634c — Additional duties of Office of Advocacy

(a) In general. The Office of Advocacy must continuously: (1) receive complaints, criticisms, and suggestions about the Administration^* and federal agencies affecting small businesses; (2) advise small businesses how to resolve questions and problems in their relationship with the Federal Government; (3) propose changes to federal-agency policies and activities so they better fulfill the Small Business Act and communicate those proposals to the proper agencies; (4) represent small-business views and interests before affected federal agencies; (5) enlist public and private agencies, businesses, and organizations to share information about federal programs and services benefiting small businesses, and information about how small businesses can participate in or make use of those programs and services; and (6) perform its responsibilities under title 5, chapter 6. (b) Outreach and input from small businesses on trade promotion authority. (1) Definitions. (A) “Agency” has the meaning in title 5, section 551; this section does not define it. (B) “Chief Counsel for Advocacy” means the Small Business Administration’s Chief Counsel for Advocacy. (C) “Covered trade agreement” means an agreement negotiated under title 19, section 4202(b). (D) “Working Group” means the group convened under paragraph (2)(A). (2) Working group. (A) Within 30 days after the President submits the notice required by title 19, section 4204(a), the Chief Counsel must convene a group with one selected employee from the U.S. Trade Representative, Commerce, Agriculture, and any other agency the Chief Counsel and Trade Representative find relevant. (B) Within 30 days after convening it, the Chief Counsel must identify a diverse group of small businesses or representatives to give the group views on the agreement’s possible economic effects on manufacturing, services, and agriculture. (3) Report. (A) Within 180 days after convening the group, the Chief Counsel must report to the listed House and Senate committees on the agreement’s effects on small businesses. The report must identify industry priorities, opportunities, and challenges; assess effects on new or expanding small-business exporters; analyze affected industries’ competitiveness; identify potentially threatening state-owned enterprises and steps for a level playing field; identify agency rules needing changes for compliance; and explain the methods used, including participants by industry, selection, and other appropriate factors. (B) The President may delay the report until negotiations end to avoid disruption, but the delay must permit submission at least 45 days before either House acts on the agreement. (C) The Chief Counsel must, when practicable, coordinate the report with the International Trade Commission, Trade Representative, other agencies, and trade advisory committees to avoid unnecessary duplication.