Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2021
Floor Speech
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3469) 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. 3469
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 2021''. 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.''.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, H.R. 3469, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2021. But before I begin, let me say how proud I am of the committee's work on behalf of small businesses. I am pleased that we have worked together on these bills that we are taking up today because small businesses deserve nothing less.
I would also like to thank Ranking Member Luetkemeyer for his bipartisan leadership on our effort today and the work of our Small Business Committee members who continuously strive to make critical changes in policy for entrepreneurs.
This week is National Veterans Small Business Week, and I would like to take a moment to honor and salute the contributions veterans have made to American small businesses and in our country.
The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2021 is timely because it would make vital improvements to SBA's Boots to Business Program, as well as offer certainty to transitioning servicemembers by authorizing the program for 5 years.
Since its inception in 2011, SBA's Boots to Business Program has been a vital resource for transitioning servicemembers and their spouses looking to launch and grow their small businesses.
Boots to Business offers a 2-day, in-person entrepreneurial education and training program as part of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program. This valuable program is delivered throughout the country by Veterans Business Outreach Centers. Each year, more than 200,000 servicemembers make the transition from military to civilian life, and transition assistance is a critical component to ensure that our veterans have meaningful employment opportunities.
Veterans are uniquely positioned to succeed in starting and growing their own small businesses. The leadership skills, organizational abilities, and tenacity they developed through their time in the military lend themselves perfectly to the rigors of entrepreneurship. According to the SBA, veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self- employed than nonveterans, with 1 in 10 veterans owning a small business and, in return, employing 5.8 million individuals.
I want to thank Mr. Schneider and Mr. Williams for their work to provide meaningful entrepreneurship assistance to veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, America's veterans, and their families, deserve our support as they transition back to civilian life. SBA's Boots to Business Program is a critical part of that support for veterans looking to begin their next chapter through entrepreneurship.
I am pleased to support this legislation, which will go a long way in ensuring transitioning servicemembers success in civilian life once their tours of duty are complete.
In light of National Veterans Small Business Week and Veterans Day next week, there is no better time for Congress to show their support for veteran entrepreneurs. I thank my colleagues, Mr. Brad Schneider from Illinois and Mr. Roger Williams from Texas, for working together in support of America's veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3469, which will provide statutory authority for the ``Boots to Business'' program, which provides entrepreneurship training to individuals, such as veterans and active service members, to be administered by the Small Business Administration.
I want to first thank my colleague, Representative Schneider, for introducing this legislation that will help veterans who served our country with honor and bravery, transition from military to civilian life.
Administered through the Office of Veteran Business Development in the Small Business Administration (SBA), the B2B program offers transitioning service members and military spouses a foundational two- day, in-person course for an introduction to business ownership which can be followed by optional online courses on topics including market research, business fundamentals, and revenue readiness.
Since B2B launched in 2013, more than 50,000 service members and spouses have participated in the program.
The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2021 would authorize this program for five years.
Honorable Americans who serve this nation deserve to be equipped with the training, expertise, and tools they need to make a successful career transition from the Armed Services.
This program offers critical courses that provide deep insight into starting and running a business and can make the difference for so many of our brave service men and women.
It is important that our heroic veterans continue to have the opportunity to participate in the ``Boots to Business'' program and pursue their business and entrepreneurial goals.
The U.S. Census shows that 5.7 million individuals are employed by a recorded 2 million veteran-owned businesses.
Veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than those who have no military background.
Many of the leadership, problem solving, and communications skills learned in the armed forces translate to entrepreneurial and business success, and the ``Boots to Business'' program does immeasurably important work helping veterans start and grow businesses.
Our veterans deserve the upmost respect, and part of this is giving them the tools they need to succeed.
I am proud to support this legislation.
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