Establishment of the United States Council on Worker Cooperatives

(a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Labor shall establish the United States Council on Worker Cooperatives (in this section referred to as the Council) to coordinate, across the Federal Government, activities relating to the formation and expansion of worker-owned cooperative businesses. (b) Chair The Secretary of Labor shall— (1) serve as the chair of the Council; or (2) appoint a designee to serve as the chair of the Council. (c) Members The Council shall be comprised of the following members: (1) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration. (2) The Commissioner of Internal Revenue. (3) The Secretary of the Treasury. (4) The Secretary of Commerce. (5) A representative from the National Economic Council. (6) The Director of the Domestic Policy Council. (7) A representative chosen by the Secretary of Agriculture to represent the Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development of the Department of Agriculture, as established under section 310B(e)(12) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)(12)). (8) Any other members as determined by the Secretary of Labor. (d) Responsibilities The Council shall— (1) develop a Federal strategy to incorporate worker-owned cooperative businesses as a tool for national economic development; (2) identify regulatory barriers within the Federal Government to the formation and expansion of worker-owned cooperative businesses; (3) propose solutions to the barriers identified in paragraph (2) to form and expand worker-owned cooperative businesses in the United States; and (4) coordinate— (A) the availability of data and research relating to— (i) barriers to entry for the creation of worker-owned cooperative businesses; and (ii) benefits of worker-owned cooperative businesses; (B) educational initiatives across Federal agencies to increase awareness and understanding of the worker-owned cooperative business model; and (C) between existing and future initiatives relating to worker-owned cooperative businesses to avoid duplication or conflicting objectives. (e) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this section, and each year thereafter, the Council shall submit to the Congress and publish on a public website a report that includes a description of— (1) any progress made by the Council with respect to the responsibilities described in subsection (d); (2) policy recommendations relating to the promotion of the formation and expansion of worker-owned cooperative businesses; and (3) the successes, best practices, and challenges that Federal agencies have in the promotion of the formation and expansion of worker-owned cooperative businesses and initiatives. (f) Sunset The Council shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this section.