Providing for Concurrence by House with Amendment in Senate Amendment to H.R. 4253, Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008
Floor Speech
PROVIDING FOR CONCURRENCE BY HOUSE WITH AMENDMENT IN SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 4253, MILITARY RESERVIST AND VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS REAUTHORIZATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - January 16, 2008)
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Mr. BUCHANAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for yielding me the time, and I rise in support of the resolution.
I'd also like to thank my fellow freshman, Congressman Altmire, and I want to thank the chairman of our Small Business Committee, because she has been very bipartisan from day one. She's been very helpful to me, and I think, frankly, this is what the country is looking for. So I want to thank the freshman Congressman. I think this is a very powerful thing.
Also, I just wanted to say that I know there's a Senate compromise, and a number of provisions in that are important to me.
This resolution incorporates legislation I introduced in May and the House passed in June, creating an important program within the Small Business Administration. This will give our veterans not just a chance at success in a small business enterprise, but provide them with the help and assistance a grateful Nation can offer.
My legislation is intended to help veterans through grants, information services and contacts with professionals in their field of endeavor. This Federal support will enhance the ability of veterans to become an entrepreneur in his or her own right.
The measure puts an emphasis on providing veterans with the market research, financial options, and technological training important to becoming a successful small business owner.
This legislation not only expands the number but the scope of Veteran Outreach Centers. It ensures the opening of more doors in terms of that and the opportunity for women veterans. Assisting our women returning from combat has been an area long overlooked, and it's high time we did something about it.
I know in my personal situation, I went in as an 18-year-old in the Air National Guard. At 23, I had a chance to get in business for myself, for a kid that grew up in a blue-collar family, and I've lived that American Dream, being self-employed for 30 years. I want to make sure that our veterans have that same opportunity today for all the sacrifices they are making.
I'm excited today that the House will pass a resolution that will help individuals make an important transition from a veteran to a small business entrepreneur, and we are one step closer to having this important legislation signed into law.
I urge my colleagues to suspend the rules and support the resolution.
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