---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 7106"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "7106"
heading: "Duties of the Council"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/7106"
units:
  - "Chapter 97 — Women’s Business Enterprise Development"
---

# §7106. Duties of the Council

- (a) **In general—** The [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) shall advise and consult with the [Interagency Committee](/usc/15/7108.md?p=5) on matters relating to the activities, functions, and policies of the [Interagency Committee](/usc/15/7108.md?p=5), as provided in this chapter. The [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) shall meet jointly with the [Interagency Committee](/usc/15/7108.md?p=5) at the discretion of the chairperson of the [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) and the chairperson of the [Interagency Committee](/usc/15/7108.md?p=5), but not less than biannually.
- (b) **Meetings—** The [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) shall meet separately at such times as the [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) deems necessary. A majority of the members of the [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) shall constitute a quorum for the approval of recommendations or reports issued pursuant to this section.
- (c) **Recommendations—** The [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) shall make annual recommendations for consideration by the [Interagency Committee](/usc/15/7108.md?p=5). The [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) shall also provide reports and make such other recommendations as it deems appropriate to the [Interagency Committee](/usc/15/7108.md?p=5), to the President, to the [Administrator](/usc/15/7108.md?p=2) (through the Assistant [Administrator](/usc/15/7108.md?p=2) of the Office of [Women](/usc/15/7108.md?p=7)’s Business Ownership), and to the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
- (d) **Other duties—** The [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) shall—
  - (1) review, coordinate, and monitor plans and programs developed in the public and private sectors, which affect the ability of [women-owned business](/usc/15/7108.md?p=8) enterprises to obtain capital and credit;
  - (2) promote and assist in the development of a [women](/usc/15/7108.md?p=7)’s business census and other surveys of [women-owned businesses](/usc/15/7108.md?p=8);
  - (3) monitor and promote the plans, programs, and operations of the departments and agencies of the Federal Government which may contribute to the establishment and growth of [women](/usc/15/7108.md?p=7)’s business enterprise;
  - (4) develop and promote new initiatives, policies, programs, and plans designed to foster [women](/usc/15/7108.md?p=7)’s business enterprise;
  - (5) advise and consult with the [Interagency Committee](/usc/15/7108.md?p=5) in the design of a comprehensive plan for a joint public-private sector effort to facilitate growth and development of [women](/usc/15/7108.md?p=7)’s business enterprise;[^1]
  - (6) not later than 90 days after the last day of each fiscal year, submit to the President and to the Committee on Small Business of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, a report containing—
    - (A) a detailed description of the activities of the [council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4),[^2] including a status report on the [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4)’s progress toward meeting its duties outlined in subsections [(a)](#a) and [(d)](#d) of this section;
    - (B) the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4); and
    - (C) the [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4)’s recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as the [Council](/usc/15/7108.md?p=4) considers appropriate to promote the development of [small business concerns](/usc/15/636e.md?p=6) owned and controlled by [women](/usc/15/7108.md?p=7).
- (e) **Form of transmittal—** The information included in each report under [subsection (d)](#d) that is described in subparagraphs [(A)](#d-6-A) through [(C)](#d-6-C) of subsection (d)(6), shall be reported verbatim, together with any separate additional, concurring, or dissenting views of the [Administrator](/usc/15/7108.md?p=2).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Semicolon probably should be followed by “and”.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be capitalized.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–533, title IV, § 406, as added Pub. L. 103–403, title IV, § 413, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4195; amended Pub. L. 105–135, title III, § 303, Dec. 2, 1997, 111 Stat. 2609.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 406 of Pub. L. 100–533, title IV, Oct. 25, 1988, 102 Stat. 2696, related to requirement of reports to the President and Congress by the National Women’s Business Council, prior to the general amendment of title IV of Pub. L. 100–533 by Pub. L. 103–403.

### Amendments

1997—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–135, § 303(1), inserted “(through the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership)” after “Administrator”.

Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 105–135, § 303(2), added par. (6).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–135, § 303(2), added subsec. (e).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Small Business of Senate changed to Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of Senate. See Senate Resolution No. 123, One Hundred Seventh Congress, June 29, 2001.

### Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–135 effective Oct. 1, 1997, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–135, set out as a note under section 631 of this title.