National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague, Mr. Smith, for yielding.

I rise today in support of my amendment to formally codify the Boots to Business program, and I want to thank my friend from Iowa, Congressman Rod Blum, for his work on this amendment and on our bill, the Veterans Entrepreneurship Training Act.

As transitioning servicemembers enter civilian life, they bring adaptability and experience to excel as entrepreneurs. However, they often lack business-specific skills or experience that can help bring their ideas to reality.

The Boots to Business program seeks to fill these gaps and helps prepare transitioning servicemembers, their spouses, and also veterans for challenges starting their own small business.

Participants take a 2-day, in-person course on business ownership, followed by an in-depth, 8-week online course that teaches them day-to- day skills they will need to run a successful small business, such as the fundamentals in developing a business plan and how to acquire financing.

I am grateful my amendment is included in the NDAA, and I am hopeful we can continue to expand Boots to Business so that more servicemembers and veterans can start and grow their own small business.

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