Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019
Floor Speech
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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3537) to amend the Small Business Act to codify the Boots to Business Program, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3537 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM. Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ``(h) Boots to Business Program.-- ``(1) Covered individual defined.--In this subsection, the term `covered individual' means-- ``(A) a member of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; ``(B) an individual who is participating in the Transition Assistance Program established under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code; ``(C) an individual who-- ``(i) served on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard or Reserves; and ``(ii) was discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable; and ``(D) a spouse or dependent of an individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C). ``(2) Establishment.--Beginning on the first October 1 after the enactment of this subsection and for the subsequent 4 fiscal years, the Administrator shall carry out a program to be known as the `Boots to Business Program' to provide entrepreneurship training to covered individuals. ``(3) Goals.--The goals of the Boots to Business Program are to-- ``(A) provide assistance and in-depth training to covered individuals interested in business ownership; and ``(B) provide covered individuals with the tools, skills, and knowledge necessary to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan, identify sources of capital, connect with local resources for small business concerns, and start up a small business concern. ``(4) Program components.-- ``(A) In general.--The Boots to Business Program may include-- ``(i) a presentation providing exposure to the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern; ``(ii) an online, self-study course focused on the basic skills of entrepreneurship, the language of business, and the considerations involved in self-employment and ownership of a small business concern; ``(iii) an in-person classroom instruction component providing an introduction to the foundations of self employment and ownership of a small business concern; and ``(iv) in-depth training delivered through online instruction, including an online course that leads to the creation of a business plan. ``(B) Collaboration.--The Administrator may-- ``(i) collaborate with public and private entities to develop course curricula for the Boots to Business Program; and ``(ii) modify program components in coordination with entities participating in a Warriors in Transition program, as defined in section 738(e) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (10 U.S.C. 1071 note). ``(C) Use of resource partners.-- ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall-- ``(I) ensure that Veteran Business Outreach Centers regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the Boots to Business Program; and ``(II) to the maximum extent practicable, use a variety of other resource partners and entities in administering the Boots to Business Program. ``(ii) Grant authority.--In carrying out clause (i), the Administrator may make grants to Veteran Business Outreach Centers, other resource partners, or other entities to carry out components of the Boots to Business Program. ``(D) Availability to department of defense.--The Administrator shall make available to the Secretary of Defense information regarding the Boots to Business Program, including all course materials and outreach materials related to the Boots to Business Program, for inclusion on the website of the Department of Defense relating to the Transition Assistance Program, in the Transition Assistance Program manual, and in other relevant materials available for distribution from the Secretary of Defense. ``(E) Availability to veterans affairs.--In consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Administrator shall make available for distribution and display at local facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs outreach materials regarding the Boots to Business Program which shall, at a minimum-- ``(i) describe the Boots to Business Program and the services provided; and ``(ii) include eligibility requirements for participating in the Boots to Business Program. ``(5) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection and every year thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report on the performance and effectiveness of the Boots to Business Program, which may be included as part of another report submitted to such Committees by the Administrator, and which shall include-- ``(A) information regarding grants awarded under paragraph (4)(C); ``(B) the total cost of the Boots to Business Program; ``(C) the number of program participants using each component of the Boots to Business Program; ``(D) the completion rates for each component of the Boots to Business Program; ``(E) to the extent possible-- ``(i) the demographics of program participants, to include gender, age, race, relationship to military, military occupational specialty, and years of service of program participants; ``(ii) the number of small business concerns formed or expanded with assistance under the Boots to Business Program; ``(iii) the gross receipts of small business concerns receiving assistance under the Boots to Business Program; ``(iv) the number of jobs created with assistance under the Boots to Business Program; ``(v) the number of referrals to other resources and programs of the Administration; ``(vi) the number of program participants receiving financial assistance under loan programs of the Administration; ``(vii) the type and dollar amount of financial assistance received by program participants under any loan program of the Administration; and ``(viii) results of participant satisfaction surveys, including a summary of any comments received from program participants; ``(F) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Boots to Business Program in each region of the Administration during the most recent fiscal year; ``(G) an assessment of additional performance outcome measures for the Boots to Business Program, as identified by the Administrator; ``(H) any recommendations of the Administrator for improvement of the Boots to Business Program, which may include expansion of the types of individuals who are covered individuals; ``(I) an explanation of how the Boots to Business Program has been integrated with other transition programs and related resources of the Administration and other Federal agencies; and ``(J) any additional information the Administrator determines necessary.''.
I rise today in support of H.R. 3537, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019, and I thank Mr. Spano for joining me in introducing this legislation and helping lead this effort to improve the program to ensure veterans can continue to take advantage of the Boots to Business Program.
It is an honor to be here today to celebrate and honor our Nation's veteran entrepreneurs. Just this week we celebrated Veterans Day and last week we marked National Veterans Small Business Week.
Every member of the military has already demonstrated their love of country by committing everything, including potentially their lives, in the service of our Nation. When their service in uniform is completed, many veterans direct their passion to starting a business. Such dedication to Nation and community should be recognized every day. This is patriotism and not a partisan issue.
That is why I am pleased that the Small Business Committee can once again highlight how we put aside the differences we may have in some areas and now bring these bipartisan bills to the floor today.
Entrepreneurship has always been a bedrock of the American economy, particularly for our returning vets. That is why our committee is focused on bipartisan solutions to repay our veterans through policies designed to ease the risk of starting and running a business.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Chabot, as well as the committee staff, for working with us to increase the opportunities and resources for veteran entrepreneurs.
H.R. 3537 bolsters the Small Business Administration's Boots to Business Program to enhance our ability to ensure that it is effectively serving aspiring veteran businessowners.
There are approximately 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses generating $1 trillion in receipts. Such successes are a draw for many of the men and women leaving the service today to become their own bosses.
Entrepreneurship provides a promising opportunity to continue serving their country, creating jobs in their local communities, while supporting their families.
Empowering vets to succeed as entrepreneurs should be a viable option for people trained to lead, inspire, and achieve remarkable things. Their success spurs local economic development and demonstrates our commitment to their aspirations of entrepreneurship.
But starting a business can be complex and sometimes daunting. The process can seem overwhelming, but programs like Boots to Business offer resources and assistance from experts, giving aspiring entrepreneurs the lessons of others' previous experience.
Initially launched in 2012, the Boots to Business Program offers transitioning servicemembers and military spouses insights into self- employment and business ownership. The Veterans Business Outreach Centers are trained and empowered to deliver these services to over 180 military installations nationwide. In 2018, over 17,000 veterans, servicemembers, and military spouses participated in the 2-day course.
Research has shown that servicemembers are distinctly qualified to start and run their own businesses. While serving in the military, they learn how to make good decisions in chaotic environments and are natural, confident, and driven leaders.
Each year, more than 200,000 servicemembers make the transition from military to civilian life. Transition assistance is critical to ensure that those who serve in the military have opportunities for meaningful employment.
H.R. 3537 addresses the many issues we have heard from veterans by updating many aspects of the program and also offering certainty by codifying it for the next 5 years.
Mr. Speaker, I again thank Mr. Spano and the committee for their work on this important bill.
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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Again, I want to thank my colleague, the ranking member, from Ohio.
By developing new products, advancing research, and creating new markets, entrepreneurs are a vital force in our economy. Over the years, we have repeatedly seen the important role veterans play in this process.
Due to their leadership, training, perseverance, knowledge of procurement processes, and other skills acquired in the military, veterans are often exceptionally well qualified to launch and manage their own business. In fact, veterans own one in ten small firms in our country and support more than 5 million jobs.
Despite being positioned to succeed as entrepreneurs, servicemembers transitioning into civilian life face obstacles starting their own small business.
The Boots to Business Program is designed to alleviate these challenges by providing a path to entrepreneurship for veterans without compelling them to attend business school, which could mean more time away from their families.
Boots to Business is unlike any other entrepreneurial development program offered by the SBA, because its curriculum focuses on educating servicemembers about the basic concepts of business, SBA resources, real world insight, and how to manage expectations, and it is directly tied in to their transition programming.
The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act not only codifies the program for the next 5 years, but also ensures that the information is accessible and readily available to all servicemembers wishing to test the waters of entrepreneurship.
At our hearing on the bill, Retired Army Captain Scott Davidson perhaps put it best when he described Boots to Business as helping servicemembers take a ``step in the direction of entrepreneurship and foster and channel the warrior ethos that had them succeed in the military to boost success in the boardroom.''
H.R. 3537 is a commonsense move and one supported by The American Legion.
I, again, thank my colleague Mr. Spano for joining me in introducing this legislation.
We all duly and respectfully observed Veterans Day on Monday. Every day, we must reinforce our obligation to servicemembers by giving them the education and tools to seize the opportunity of entrepreneurship.
Again, I thank the chairwoman and ranking member for their support, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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