118 STAT. 3455 PUBLIC LAW 108–447—DEC. 8, 2004 CHAPTER 2—OFFICE OF VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SEC. 143. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS BUSINESS AFFAIRS. (a) RETENTION OF DUTIES.—Section 33(h) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657c(h)) is amended by striking ‘‘October 1, 2004’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2006’’. (b) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY.—Section 203(h) of the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 657b note) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2004’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2006’’. SEC. 144. OUTREACH GRANTS FOR VETERANS. Section 8(b)(17) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(17)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘‘, veterans, and members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces’’. SEC. 145. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— ‘‘(1) $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2005; and ‘‘(2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.’’. SEC. 146. NATIONAL VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORA TION. Section 33(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657c(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Corporation is a private entity and is not an agency, instrumentality, authority, entity, or establishment of the United States Government.’’. CHAPTER 3—MANUFACTURING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT SEC. 147. SMALL BUSINESS MANUFACTURING TASK FORCE. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of the Small Business Administration (referred to in this subtitle as the ‘‘Administrator’’) shall establish a Small Business Manufacturing Task Force (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Task Force’’) to address the concerns of small manufacturers. (b) CHAIR.—The Administrator shall assign a member of the Task Force to serve as chair of the Task Force. (c) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— (1) evaluate and identify whether programs and services are sufficient to serve the needs of small manufacturers; (2) actively promote the programs and services of the Small Business Administration that serve small manufacturers; and (3) identify and study the unique conditions facing small manufacturers and develop and propose policy initiatives to support and assist small manufacturers. (d) MEETINGS.— (1) FREQUENCY.—The Task Force shall meet not less than 4 times per year, and more frequently if necessary to perform its duties. 15 USC 631c.
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