---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9502"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9502"
heading: "Minority Business Development Agency"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9502"
units:
  - "Chapter 120 — Minority Business Development"
---

# §9502. Minority Business Development Agency

- (a) **In general—** There is within the Department of Commerce the Minority Business Development [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1).
- (b) **Under Secretary—**
  - (1) **Appointment and duties—** The [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) shall be headed by the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) of Commerce for Minority Business Development, who shall—
    - (A) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate;
    - (B) except as otherwise expressly provided, be responsible for the [administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) of this chapter; and
    - (C) report directly to the [Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=13).
  - (2) **Compensation—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) shall be compensated at an annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level III of the Executive Schedule under [section 5314 of title 5](/usc/5/5314.md).
    - (B) **Omitted—**
  - (3) **References—** Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Director of the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) shall be deemed to be a reference to the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19).
- (c) **Report to Congress—** Not later than 120 days after November 15, 2021, the [Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=13) shall submit to Congress a report that describes—
  - (1) the organizational structure of the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1);
  - (2) the organizational position of the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) within the Department of Commerce; and
  - (3) a description of how the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) shall function in relation to the operations carried out by each other component of the Department of Commerce.
- (d) **Office of Business Centers—**
  - (1) **Establishment—** There is established within the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) the Office of Business Centers.
  - (2) **Director—** The Office of Business Centers shall be administered by a Director, who shall be appointed by the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19).
- (e) **Offices of the Agency—**
  - (1) **In general—** In addition to the regional offices that the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) is required to establish under [paragraph (2)](#e-2), the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) shall establish such other offices within the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) as are necessary to carry out this chapter.
  - (2) **Regional offices—**
    - (A) **In general—** In order to carry out this chapter, the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19) shall establish a regional office of the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) for each of the regions of the United States, as determined by the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/9501.md?p=19).
    - (B) **Duties—** Each regional office established under [subparagraph (A)](#e-2-A) shall expand the reach of the [Agency](/usc/15/9501.md?p=1) and enable the Federal Government to better serve the needs of [minority business enterprises](/usc/15/9501.md?p=9-A) in the region served by the office, including by—
      - (i) understanding and participating in the business environment of that region;
      - (ii) working with—
        - (I) [MBDA Business Centers](/usc/15/9501.md?p=7) that are located in that region;
        - (II) resource and lending partners of other appropriate [Federal agencies](/usc/15/9501.md?p=4) that are located in that region; and
        - (III) Federal, [State](/usc/15/9501.md?p=17), and local procurement offices that are located in that region;
      - (iii) being aware of business retention or expansion programs that are specific to that region;
      - (iv) seeking out opportunities to collaborate with regional public and private programs that focus on [minority business enterprises](/usc/15/9501.md?p=9-A); and
      - (v) promoting business continuity and preparedness.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, § 100003, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1448.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1)(B) and (e)(1), (2)(A), was in the original “this division”, meaning div. K of Pub. L. 117–58, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1445, which is classified prinicpally to this chapter. For complete classification of division K to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9501 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section is comprised of section 100003 of Pub. L. 117–58. Subsec. (b)(2)(B) of section 100003 amended section 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.