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Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 24, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of the Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans Act, otherwise known as the SERV Act. This bill would study the barriers that veterans face when starting or owning a small business.

Starting a small business is not a one-size-fits-all process. Each individual encounters unique challenges when striving to open their dream business. That is why it is essential that, as Members of Congress, we support legislative initiatives aimed at identifying and addressing the obstacles that small business owners and entrepreneurs face.

The SERV Act is one such initiative. It would enhance outreach and promotion of existing veteran-focused small business programs, ensuring that veterans can access all available services, resources, capital, and credit.

This bill would provide a report on the availability of veteran and reservist small business owners' access to credit. It would require the Small Business Administration's Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development to develop an action plan for outreach and promotion of the many programs available to veterans transitioning into the small business world. It will ensure that the task force reports annually to Congress on its outreach efforts for programs available to veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, and their spouses.

For many of our Nation's veterans, transitioning back to civilian life can be daunting, especially for those seeking to start their own small business.

As an Air Force veteran and vice ranking member on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I believe it is not only crucial but imperative that our government support our Nation's veterans in every possible way.

The SERV Act is a bill that will provide robust support for veterans' small business development and help veterans achieve their entrepreneurial goals.

I thank Chairman Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for their support of this legislation and moving it forward. Certainly, I thank the lead sponsors, Representatives Alford and Davids, for their gracious support of me and for helping to sponsor this bill and move it forward.

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