110 HR 4253 EH: Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007
U.S. House of Representatives
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Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Title I—VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 101. Increased funding for the Office of Veterans Business Development.
Sec. 102. Interagency task force.
Sec. 103. Permanent extension of SBA Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs.
Sec. 104. Office of Veterans Business Development.
Sec. 105. Increasing the number of outreach centers.
Sec. 106. Independent study on gaps in availability of outreach centers.
Title II—NATIONAL RESERVIST ENTERPRISE TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABILITY
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Purpose.
Sec. 203. National Guard and Reserve business assistance.
Sec. 204. Veterans Assistance and Services program.
Title III—RESERVIST PROGRAMS
Sec. 301. Reservist programs.
Sec. 302. Reservist loans.
Sec. 303. Noncollateralized loans.
Sec. 304. Loan priority.
Sec. 305. Relief from time limitations for veteran-owned small businesses.
Sec. 306. Service-disabled veterans.
Sec. 307. Study on options for promoting positive working relations between employers and their Reserve Component employees.
Sec. 308. Increased Veteran Participation Program.
2.In this Act—
(1)the term activated means receiving an order placing a Reservist on active duty;
(2)the term active duty has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code;
(3)the terms Administration and Administrator mean the Small Business Administration and the Administrator thereof, respectively;
(4)the term Reservist means a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, as described in section 10101 of title 10, United States Code;
(5)the term Service Corps of Retired Executives means the Service Corps of Retired Executives authorized by section 8(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1));
(6)the terms service-disabled veteran and small business concern have the meaning as in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632);
(7)the term small business development center means a small business development center described in section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648); and
(8)the term women’s business center means a women’s business center described in section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656).
<enum>I</enum><header>VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT</header>
<section id="H4EBE144ACF6D4D6A9CDF1F4E2F2FD1DD"><enum>101.</enum><header>Increased funding for the Office of Veterans Business Development</header>
<subsection id="H1F9EBD4943574179BE4219DFE3C9B8A2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In General</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Veterans Business Development of the Administration, to remain available until expended—</text>
<paragraph id="H3649ACC36E914AFE85CBD48E3ED3867D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$2,100,000 for fiscal year 2008; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6DA34CE7BD3343CAB95FB2814B348900"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$2,300,000 for fiscal year 2009.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2B88B2ECA54A417FB480AF40FE886C8F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Funding Offset</header><text>Amounts necessary to carry out subsection (a) shall be offset and made available through the reduction of the authorization of funding under section 20(e)(1)(B)(iv) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/631">15 U.S.C. 631</external-xref> note).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HBE379329F997432CA659703D55E7DBC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that any amounts provided pursuant to this section that are in excess of amounts provided to the Administration for the Office of Veterans Business Development in fiscal year 2007, should be used to support Veterans Business Outreach Centers.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H3A6B4D56FE9F41CF9DAFDCEA7D29436B"><enum>102.</enum><header>Interagency task force</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 32 of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/657b">15 U.S.C. 657b</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4F62BC1FC0DB4F34A84E951F6590FED8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (c) as (f); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H437C41726397451EBEC5FBB00485D65C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (b) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="Small" id="HB16A5326E5C74C5F90AAAA31FFCF427C">
<subsection id="H3DADE01C0CAB4E269E96C100877E0300"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Interagency Task Force</header>
<paragraph id="H497294E855594BA0BB3EAD91E6AF1079"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the President shall establish an interagency task force to coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies necessary to increase capital and business development opportunities for, and increase the award of Federal contracting and subcontracting opportunities to, small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans (in this section referred to as the <quote>task force</quote>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H08A0B94CFE214092B312F8F0DBC076EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Membership</header><text>The members of the task force shall include—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC964A1891B9E4C0E8DDEF29C1020F55"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Administrator, who shall serve as chairperson of the task force;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDFF867E066D04A7485D22FF6A71CC227"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a senior level representative from—</text>
<clause id="HB2BC2048FFB749CD88613CEF4ECA7BFE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Department of Veterans Affairs;</text></clause>
<clause id="H041A7EBCF01242C69197F662186DB5E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Department of Defense;</text></clause>
<clause id="H7A41983FC8EC455E8D1CBC57A8D2D5AB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Administration (in addition to the Administrator);</text></clause>
<clause id="HD0BB4DC09CF145319DF27700C4DF25B0"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the Department of Labor;</text></clause>
<clause id="H12DE47754DE0418B9916E78C077F907D"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Department of the Treasury;</text></clause>
<clause id="H2676307E540E49E2A47CF535F834009C"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the General Services Administration; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H084DF377C53149E498AB4C0061F47BC"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the Office of Management and Budget; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFB5B03FC354F4475968B3C63F8199641"><enum>(C)</enum><text>4 representatives from a veterans service organization or military organization or association, selected by the President.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEEE791AF3CFE4AD680EF9D00006EFD4D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The task force shall coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and develop proposals relating to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H661B1250247C4F76A52FA58201DFC3CB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>increasing capital access and capacity of small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans through loans, surety bonding, and franchising;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0F63036DE90D492098C9A16358A269D3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>increasing access to Federal contracting and subcontracting for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans through expanded mentor-protégé assistance and matching such small business concerns with contracting opportunities;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H013388D420EF4260A29469454C4D84DF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>increasing the integrity of certifications of status as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans or a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H49E6796B76D74A17B1864818EAEEAFFA"><enum>(D)</enum><text>reducing paperwork and administrative burdens on veterans in accessing business development and entrepreneurship opportunities;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE693CF5CAD0844B3AE7108DB371312E"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increasing and improving training and counseling services provided to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5851313F3C4645FB8912E5A05BEDBD59"><enum>(F)</enum><text>making other improvements relating to the support for veterans business development by the Federal Government.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0CF8F95E4DB0410A9588DDF6A0D62BF0"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>The task force shall submit an annual report regarding its activities and proposals to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6B6578E03FC141FC88FFC1F884C08BDB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD2A4565EA62F4A0D955996AF1F912100"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="H0ACBDC9CB37640A7BECA2D88F33CD1BE"><enum>103.</enum><header>Permanent extension of SBA Advisory Committee on Veterans Business Affairs</header>
<subsection id="HC8C48B821E7748609F5B53F5A5D8D08D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assumption of Duties</header><text>Section 33 of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/657c">15 U.S.C. 657c</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H20AA31FA94504D1CBBF1F037A505E5E7" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking subsection (h); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF17AA746F8E241B5A0421197B74B534D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsections (i) through (k) as subsections (h) through (j), respectively.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H69D439EC9D034232A8D8C600CD33F868"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Permanent extension of authority</header><text>Section 203 of the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/657b">15 U.S.C. 657b</external-xref> note) is amended by striking subsection (h).</text></subsection></section>
<section id="H731350D0D44F44CABBB8FB09F436F43C" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header>Office of Veterans Business Development</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 32 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/657b">15 U.S.C. 657b</external-xref>), as amended by section 102, is further amended by inserting after subsection (c) (as added by section 102) the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD85D4C8C9FC54A9D902BE57576E619F0">
<subsection id="H22526CEF67294585007BB1AB72C8AA71"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Participation in TAP workshops</header>
<paragraph id="H8E4ED6DDB8C94D72ACE149AD49F27E67"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Associate Administrator shall increase veteran outreach by ensuring that Veteran Business Outreach Centers regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the workshops of the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Labor.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H26905AB99CFC4794B6FB90EF01710028"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Presentations</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), a Center may provide grants to eligible entities located in Transition Assistance Program locations to make presentations on the opportunities available from the Administration for recently separating veterans. Each such presentation must include, at a minimum, the entrepreneurial and business training resources available from the Administration.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE09C37D8758C4A55AA53594F7CD0B700"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Written materials</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Associate Administrator of Veterans Business Development shall create written materials that provide comprehensive information on self-employment and veterans entrepreneurship, including information on Small Business Administration resources available for such topics, and shall make these materials available for inclusion in the Transition Assistance Program manual.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H20B63ECE6C94407F96AC651555743119"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>The Associate Administrator shall submit to Congress progress reports on the implementation of this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H1E708AFC978347AFAE1B72B9197B5EA6"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Women Veterans Business Training Resource Program</header><text>The Associate Administrator shall establish a Women Veterans Business Training Resource Program. The program shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H17E983112B0F42DDB6FD15AFB4ECF74B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>compile information on resources available to women veterans for business training, including resources for—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC894BE086D4346058C63AB06D841B201"><enum>(A)</enum><text>vocational and technical education;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H71E89A24F2FD431CAA091533999BF5EC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>general business skills, such as marketing and accounting; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H24D00AFA14BD4B909DC7998710EDA02F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>business assistance programs targeted to women veterans; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5DE2964C413846CD83D3639584829E7D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>disseminate the information through Veteran Business Outreach Centers and women’s business centers.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H488A358CB9434F6DAB00F6D3C643C01B" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Increasing the number of outreach centers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall use the authority in section 8(b)(17) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/637">15 U.S.C. 637(b)(17)</external-xref>) to ensure that the number of Veterans Business Outreach Centers throughout the United States increases—</text>
<paragraph id="H20C461BAFA064F52B8117348002D1807"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by at least 2, for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009, in accordance with funding provided in sections 101(a)(1) and (a)(2) of this Act; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H944A7A99F1494C47006B49F16E5F61AA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by the number that the Administrator considers appropriate, based on existing need, for each fiscal year thereafter.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="HB2BD63E6571B4F59883C5271A21D844F"><enum>106.</enum><header>Independent study on gaps in availability of outreach centers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall sponsor an independent study on gaps in the availability of Veterans Business Outreach Centers across the United States. The purpose of the study shall be to identify the gaps that do exist so as to inform decisions on funding and on the allocation and coordination of resources. Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study.</text></section>
<enum>II</enum><header>NATIONAL RESERVIST ENTERPRISE TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABILITY</header>
<section id="HA8FF21755DE3409E8300A8481CB990"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote><short-title>National Reservist Enterprise Transition and Sustainability Act of 2007</short-title></quote>.</text></section>
<section id="H8B0ED5C36ABE43F9B4261200CE48FB08"><enum>202.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of this title is to establish a program to—</text>
<paragraph id="H84E2D573331D4A0A89FD02C31753EAA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide managerial, financial, planning, development, technical, and regulatory assistance to small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HAFFAAED7D318448CB360CF7B757268FD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide managerial, financial, planning, development, technical, and regulatory assistance to the temporary heads of small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3CE089DC64F7416AA39536A35FAEF5EC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>create a partnership between the Small Business Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9F49D0FCFA9346B8A7999F772CBE7989"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">utilize the service delivery network of small business development centers, women’s business centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, and centers receiving funding from the National Veterans Business Development Corporation, and any other Veterans Business Assistance program which receives federal funding, to expand the access of small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists to programs providing business management, development, financial, procurement, technical, regulatory, and marketing assistance;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H30C5AE432A10435FBB979D003BF6EE1C"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">utilize the service delivery network of small business development centers, women’s business centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, and centers receiving funding from the National Veterans Business Development Corporation, and any other Veterans Business Assistance program which receives federal funding, to quickly respond to an activation of Reservists that own and operate small business concerns; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H92C74D26F6DA4229ADB522CB95CF881F"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">utilize the service delivery network of small business development centers, women’s business centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers, and centers receiving funding from the National Veterans Business Development Corporation, and any other Veterans Business Assistance program which receives federal funding, to assist Reservists that own and operate small business concerns in preparing for future military activations.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H506AC34209C04457B94E998F32661EB7"><enum>203.</enum><header>National Guard and Reserve business assistance</header> <text display-inline="no-display-inline">The <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/631">15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HDE5ECEEEEBC244BB0046C622D625CBCA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating section 37 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/631">15 U.S.C. 631</external-xref> note) as section 38; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8B821A0342674670B1B5F626686528EB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after section 36 the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H0F452A5F6D7944919B676CB7E406B1C">
<section id="HDA48A7C9801F4AD299962C5976FB4F99"><enum>37.</enum><header>Reservist enterprise transition and sustainability</header>
<subsection id="HBAF69F60E5D3431F81DC9657D515B68F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In General</header><text>The Administrator shall establish a program to provide business planning assistance to small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HDDB5A8D4049147498000B33774267EB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section—</text>
<paragraph id="H81B23C9455E6497EAE56FBF1858E0816"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the terms <term>activated</term> and <term>activation</term> mean having received an order placing a Reservists on active duty, as defined by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/101">section 101(1)</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3F5D7F9160D641F58F1B8138C0BB725C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <term>Administrator</term> means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, acting through the Associate Administrator for Small Business Development Centers;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4AA28DF54A78484A95B211258BA2B2E7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term <term>Association</term> means the association established under section 21(a)(3)(A);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H52F09FA0DDF5456A001B85A5CACD22BE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the term <term>eligible applicant</term> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H151BCF6470FA4C58B5F91CF5D22DEFB5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a small business development center that is accredited under section 21(k);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9C3BB78F45DF443D9B5DFB8FB1D303EF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a women’s business center;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2C2239E651EE4E91A59009C8DFC01D8E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a Veterans Business Outreach Center that receives funds from the Office of Veterans Business Development; </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6EF9B2FFD6ED40A3A75D1FE769309367"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an information and assistance center receiving funding from the National Veterans Business Development Corporation under section 33; or</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE3ABF3C2AF3442DC949729F3003C8FC6"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other Veterans Business Assistance program which receives federal funding;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1AF1746617614BB0B4B83896EB5CE59E"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the term <term>enterprise transition and sustainability assistance</term> means assistance provided by an eligible applicant to a small business concern owned and operated by a Reservist, who has been activated or is likely to be activated in the next 12 months, to develop and implement a business strategy for the period while the owner is on active duty and 6 months after the date of the return of the owner;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8328D0DE414D4324B76553AFC9E539E3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the term <term>Reservist</term> means any person who is—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEBA99B60573E462D9DEEA0868BB24F2B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, as defined by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/10101">section 10101</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF33C0CBEDAA24DA89D9BBCA5A882E9FA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>on active status, as defined by <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/101">section 101(d)(4)</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H357D8EE6267141E890378323E4DB1EE2"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the term <term>small business development center</term> means a small business development center as described in section 21 of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/648">15 U.S.C. 648</external-xref>);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA9A530316E2B4B80A3124BCAD400B96F"><enum>(8)</enum><text>the term <term>State</term> means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBE79A19922A04C5699D1A69EA9891498"><enum>(9)</enum><text>the term <term>women’s business center</term> means a women’s business center described in section 29 of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/656">15 U.S.C. 656</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H1EF18025B50E477ABAC6C2D698D40017"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>The Administrator may award grants, in accordance with the regulations developed under subsection (d), to eligible applicants to assist small business concerns owned and operated by Reservists by—</text>
<paragraph id="H5E768DFA9B904B67BDE13672240BE90"><enum>(1)</enum><text>providing management, development, financing, procurement, technical, regulatory, and marketing assistance;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF1A04D2796E64BF3BEC05AC98CEAF69"><enum>(2)</enum><text>providing access to information and resources, including Federal and State business assistance programs;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3CCF30361BAC4EDBBEA9871FF6E9A01B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>distributing contact information provided by the Department of Defense regarding activated Reservists to corresponding State directors;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB4A99D5B432D48468B4FF35B491DC7C8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>offering free, one-on-one, in-depth counseling regarding management, development, financing, procurement, regulations, and marketing;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8A21549C9D5048A7B49D6696A0133DF4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>assisting in developing a long-term plan for possible future activation; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1C7E4100F37847039600B6A9CAB0A075"><enum>(6)</enum><text>providing enterprise transition and sustainability assistance.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2D05FA2D83E04A8E993F3EB79B45CB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Other Federal departments and agencies</header><text>The Administrator shall make available informational materials established by this section to other Federal departments and agencies for their own internal programs.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H3344D3414F674026BFA7E4F5A0D70095"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Rulemaking</header>
<paragraph id="HE7FB715178104037A25844205340594F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator, in consultation with the Association and after notice and an opportunity for comment, shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFB61B89B6C76415583BEE510FBEDEB6C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The Administrator shall promulgate final regulations not later than 180 days of the date of enactment of the <short-title>Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007</short-title>.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H99FDC6B7A77B4A11A429133F0102FCA3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The regulations developed by the Administrator under this subsection shall establish—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1E16B0F0D5F64C89A48913B3468FDF00"><enum>(A)</enum><text>procedures for identifying, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, States that have had a recent activation of Reservists;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H142F460B5834453F9612AC3121A69DD9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>priorities for the types of assistance to be provided under the program authorized by this section;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H15B253ADAC06451E871C11FB74EA2641"><enum>(C)</enum><text>standards relating to educational, technical, and support services to be provided by a grantee;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6B7D5B8CDBDF4BF69ECBD8ACA60004A1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>standards relating to any national service delivery and support function to be provided by a grantee;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD1EDBCD455544362B9DB15B32363D0A"><enum>(E)</enum><text>standards relating to any work plan that the Administrator may require a grantee to develop; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD5AF86F0C8A4479DA7EA1E00EFCCA5C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>standards relating to the educational, technical, and professional competency of any expert or other assistance provider to whom a small business concern may be referred for assistance by a grantee.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H4AFB6DC240C94E1E9F9FAD317183EC1"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Application</header>
<paragraph id="H27C2E1702F2E472D9B08186E524737E0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each eligible applicant desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Administrator at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Administrator may reasonably require.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0939D0E674C344218C6790E6CF72B475"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall describe—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF83EF6B27FF648639FB96177591E297C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the activities for which the applicant seeks assistance under this section; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC9296844A0194AE3A1B3D1F763F0099"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how the applicant plans to allocate funds within its network.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HBA28D35BE8CD475F9E8DC56547ED5795"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Award of Grants</header>
<paragraph id="HAB47F099DE7140A98CE455A980BA46E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The Administrator shall award grants not later than 60 days after the promulgation of final rules and regulations under subsection (e).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2E72932080EF4EF6832FC00DD6E117C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amount</header><text>Each eligible applicant awarded a grant under this section shall receive a grant in an amount not greater than $300,000 per fiscal year.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HDAB5F706EBAD48C789B2FBDEBEC55AA"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="H31AA27A36B894F5EB344E1899946B51"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7A1333965AEF4662AB9C712F8335754B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>initiate an evaluation of the program not later than 30 months after the disbursement of the first grant under this section; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H64EDDE6EB038470CA552F6CEC2359115"><enum>(B)</enum><text>submit a report not later than 6 months after the initiation of the evaluation under paragraph (1) to—</text>
<clause id="H732B9AF1F77D4130A829FC52ED24D6B1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Administrator;</text></clause>
<clause id="H64AB00CD54BE47739F35C4328CC1A011"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H6EBC7A2C7F2946FE9772A124D2CA0073"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H903D81B07DFE42CBB64329D319F72C71"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0648FB4ED1D7448F9EBF813C127CB7D0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>address the results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1); and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4C26FECF022243738D008DDC68835C1E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>recommend changes to law, if any, that it believes would be necessary or advisable to achieve the goals of this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H0CA8E7D1F26F4C498B783CF77CEDD5B0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Authorization of Appropriations</header>
<paragraph id="HF10AAD1DB92D4E29A5E2669F2F9C5730"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD9926ED905DF4C8EB956EA3969899838"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$5,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007</short-title>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6B215813BD7540839C69AE682700C3AB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$5,000,000 for the fiscal year following the fiscal year described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H513341C7688E4F61B9868ED6C9C82BCD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Funding offset</header><text>Amounts necessary to carry out this section shall be offset and made available through the reduction of the authorization of funding under section 20(e)(1)(B)(iv) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/631">15 U.S.C. 631</external-xref> note).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="HF5443DF5959147F3AA38FF84908632BC" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header>Veterans Assistance and Services program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 21 of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/648">15 U.S.C. 648</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7ABC86CB3CE74311A0906763C373D1D8">
<subsection id="HFA2504131BD6484E00E6C0B5876C2F26"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Veterans Assistance and Services program</header>
<paragraph id="HB3F1733FFC344B92BEC009D7D900EE48"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A Small Business Development Center may apply for an additional grant to carry out a veterans assistance and services program.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6ADCBDA176B8471BAFAFDC4C6540DCF6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements of program</header><text>Under a program under paragraph (1), the Center shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7DE52DE2277240FBA6A04D3B953FE136"><enum>(A)</enum><text>create a marketing campaign to promote awareness and education of the services of the Center that are available to veterans, and to target the campaign toward veterans, disabled veterans, military units, Federal agencies, and veterans organizations;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7C134067FA094FCD96F5784972E715D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>use technology-assisted online counseling and distance learning technology to overcome the impediments to entrepreneurship faced by veterans and members of the Armed Forces; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H62EBA56E908F4CE584FAB3777FE925A5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>increase coordination among organizations that assist veterans, including by establishing virtual integration of service providers and offerings for a one-stop point of contact for veterans who are entrepreneurs or small business owners.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC16801E7938D43E2BCB17D294B07024E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Minimum amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each grant under this subsection shall be for at least $75,000.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDC5B69C6870E423FB8B2A07BF3764900"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Maximum amount</header><text>A grant under this subsection may not exceed $250,000.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4A4F9D159DB040F7801F9C007BEC0069"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Subject to amounts approved in advance in appropriations Acts, the Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the provisions of this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>RESERVIST PROGRAMS</header>
<section id="H5B8E9717005B4E938161D918A04797D6"><enum>301.</enum><header>Reservist programs</header>
<subsection id="H0CE8E91A430243289614FCCB26D6C406"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Application Period</header><text>Section 7(b)(3)(C) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(C)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H75FD57B0C3924C2285FDFE00E5B20352"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>90 days</quote> and inserting <quote>1 year</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H80807D1BBD8B4EB19C4666025E003D00"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following: <quote>The Administrator may, when appropriate (as determined by the Administrator), waive the ending date specified in the preceding sentence and provide a later ending date.</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HF659B8945B31444C982BFB66BF66C5EF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pre-Consideration Process</header>
<paragraph id="HE76D0B62DE1D4BE0806C00A0446752EB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>eligible Reservist</term> means a Reservist who—</text>
<subparagraph id="H00537A375ACE44AAACA36CEB56DD00A7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>has not been ordered to active duty;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H67E59914CE444BE89170ED47B9A8039"><enum>(B)</enum><text>expects to be ordered to active duty during a period of military conflict; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5DC5505178ED484F8544CD00E4D6A0C3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>can reasonably demonstrate that the small business concern for which that Reservist is a key employee will suffer economic injury in the absence of that Reservist.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF15F69FBB89E4499A25257A31502FB4B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a pre-consideration process, under which the Administrator—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD6273411A1F44F68AFCEBA08592D7EA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>may collect all relevant materials necessary for processing a loan to a small business concern under section 7(b)(3) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)</external-xref>) before an eligible Reservist employed by that small business concern is activated; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFC25A916B0BD4803B7ABB1CC7B265487"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall distribute funds for any loan approved under subparagraph (A) if that eligible Reservist is activated.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H11F4BD39A3FF470CAF60458DDF7B00E9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Outreach and Technical Assistance Program</header>
<paragraph id="H5697039149B94D55BDA3E4CDC22429E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, shall develop a comprehensive outreach and technical assistance program (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>program</quote>) to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC160A65A403C4925AF00907182F9BBF6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>market the loans available under section 7(b)(3) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)</external-xref>) to Reservists, and family members of Reservists, that are on active duty and that are not on active duty; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5BF9E335E9FC40F197005E571619B5FB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provide technical assistance to a small business concern applying for a loan under that section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCA807C6BD6AA47D391ED32EDB766462D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Components</header><text>The program shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7BE9CD58A5274BE09DB7378C2BA1B305"><enum>(A)</enum><text>incorporate appropriate websites maintained by the Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF1B9D077BBB945DDB9B35B3E66778EB6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require that information on the program is made available to small business concerns directly through—</text>
<clause id="H58742CF5814443CDB066015673C0FD01"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the district offices and resource partners of the Administration, including small business development centers, women’s business centers, and the Service Corps of Retired Executives; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H192BEAA08E8C4BDE997B41079B928E5C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>other Federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE94BDC1D9D0C4F82BA5437D148A9CBFD"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header>
<subparagraph id="H6443523D2D2141509B5200F9E288B91C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter until the date that is 30 months after such date of enactment, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the status of the program.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H684A50BA5D3643BE9D9200E8F2EE8EBA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>Each report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include—</text>
<clause id="H007D91A900D74A6FAE92CF4796F818FA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for the 6-month period ending on the date of that report—</text>
<subclause id="HB38C0D84E0C14891865C626DBBB3EE5C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the number of loans approved under section 7(b)(3) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)</external-xref>);</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H9C084EAC5905426C9800879DF9D1D800"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the number of loans disbursed under that section; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H16A277EAD9194B1F88AD520E9CB40BF"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the total amount disbursed under that section; and</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H74C8D178E28A412EBE76BA2E4E980093"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>recommendations, if any, to make the program more effective in serving small business concerns that employ Reservists.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HBAE6B75DD0B34B25AFA20097390752FE"><enum>302.</enum><header>Reservist loans</header>
<subsection id="HAB7619EBBF284EB1BC00F3561E6000FA"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In General</header><text>Section 7(b)(3)(E) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)(E)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>$1,500,000</quote> each place such term appears and inserting <quote>$2,000,000</quote>.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H4E8BBCD486534BC482A94FF1E4B77793"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Loan Information</header>
<paragraph id="H98E858754A054D5DA01C8F006974FD69"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator and the Secretary of Defense shall develop a joint website and printed materials providing information regarding any program for small business concerns that is available to veterans or Reservists.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H597065A7B8624884BD4423BA685B5417"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Marketing</header><text>The Administrator is authorized—</text>
<subparagraph id="H084125DFD12743F786B778437E3F2B3B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to advertise and promote the program under section 7(b)(3) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> jointly with the Secretary of Defense and veterans’ service organizations; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFA630C370738416695F6553F432970EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to advertise and promote participation by lenders in such program jointly with trade associations for banks or other lending institutions.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H14E84A7F23BF4D099237E41C6F008795"><enum>303.</enum><header>Noncollateralized loans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b)(3) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="Small" id="HA1AB529C800C4653A8ADA400543B0239">
<subparagraph id="HB9BCA74CC4344CF7A9B7CE62745B7CFD"><enum>(G)</enum>
<clause display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H41A490AF3641485F00E8C0ED584F17A8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may make a loan under this paragraph of not more than $50,000 without collateral.</text></clause>
<clause indent="up1" id="H6FF5354B1B3F461483EFC8FA5400C96C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The Administrator may defer payment of principal and interest on a loan described in clause (i) during the longer of—</text>
<subclause id="HEC9108885DD449D582A79010F16D2533"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the 1-year period beginning on the date of the initial disbursement of the loan; and</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H42553E39DD9C403E82CF4100809FC8FA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the period during which the relevant essential employee is on active duty.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H6E5068042D1148379F794ECC4800BBD5"><enum>304.</enum><header>Loan priority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 7(b)(3) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)(3)</external-xref>), as amended by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="Small" id="H4D4B67B4D18A4B0AA8C664DB799FEB9B">
<subparagraph id="H9BC478139FFB4EA79E6B13D355BD3309"><enum>(H)</enum><text>The Administrator shall give priority to any application for a loan under this paragraph and shall process and make a determination regarding such applications prior to processing or making a determination on other loan applications under this subsection, on a rolling basis.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="HA466736656D648AA9D8DF9867D82F5A7" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>305.</enum><header>Relief from time limitations for veteran-owned small businesses</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 3(q) of the <act-name parsable-cite="SBA">Small Business Act</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/632">15 U.S.C. 632(q)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" act-name="Small" id="HD13C4DF376054AFFABF306DBB25D681B">
<paragraph id="H0D7FFAE81C1241CFAA526F869B87FD6B"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Relief from time limitations</header>
<subparagraph id="H557B85DA59224E659786B935DC96A830"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any time limitation on any qualification, certification, or period of participation imposed under this Act on any program that is not subject to the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/661">2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.</external-xref>) and is available to small business concerns shall be extended for a small business concern that—</text>
<clause id="H7285A1BA49BD45F3B7000597C94FCE1E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is owned and controlled by—</text>
<subclause id="H2A67D12829184086A595A557CBB3F140"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a veteran who was called or ordered to active duty under a provision of law specified in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/101">section 101(a)(13)(B)</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, on or after September 11, 2001; or</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H036275C41FAC47FF8FF180DC3CD82EF4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>a service-disabled veteran who became such a veteran due to an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the active military, naval, or air service during a period of active duty pursuant to a call or order to active duty under a provision of law referred to in subclause (I) on or after September 11, 2001; and</text></subclause></clause>
<clause id="H6F71E942348B47E1A8D84D37604DAE39"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>was subject to the time limitation during such period of active duty.</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2933221B3D664A86BD57C2BA8C4C2451"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>Upon submission of proper documentation to the Administrator, the extension of a time limitation under subparagraph (A) shall be equal to the period of time that such veteran who owned or controlled such a concern was on active duty as described in that subparagraph.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0CA7D0928E554F6398CC10A2D1E1AB17"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exception for programs subject to Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not apply to any programs subject to the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/2/661">2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="HD4F4B9B5B7544878BCD1E2C07C6BA3B"><enum>306.</enum><header>Service-disabled veterans</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 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 describing—</text>
<paragraph id="HD5FB1CD00CFB4D5DAFB981B3558E831C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the types of assistance needed by service-disabled veterans who wish to become entrepreneurs; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDD2C1EECAF644B3B9B021D03A169477"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any resources that would assist such service-disabled veterans.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="H75A88592B3CC48D8BB3259507D3FA2D7"><enum>307.</enum><header>Study on options for promoting positive working relations between employers and their Reserve Component employees</header>
<subsection id="H8EC22C2F4F2D44DD9DDB80A10093AD00"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study Required</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on options for promoting positive working relations between employers and Reserve component employees of such employers, including assessing options for improving the time in which employers of Reservists are notified of the call or order of such members to active duty other than for training.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H80CF040F76104BF0A868501782F7C6D6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header>
<paragraph id="H71207ECA2BB84DA5AFF604E5934FE3F5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC31CE232807D4456A687F0DC7C4D8518"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFB26CF376E7E4DB7A09253F793AB3D4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of—</text>
<clause id="H567BA8AB330F4ABE8DF4F0B9BB773598"><enum>(i)</enum><text>what measures, if any, are being taken to inform Reservists of the obligations and responsibilities of such members to their employers;</text></clause>
<clause id="HDAC33605D3194495AC8B4BE13FA275CD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>how effective such measures have been; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H6C123C8403C4437B810116053113E266"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>whether there are additional measures that could be taken to promote positive working relations between Reservists and their employers, including any steps that could be taken to ensure that employers are timely notified of a call to active duty; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H911308CD7D394C3A98BCFD1E438C2808"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assess whether there has been a reduction in the hiring of Reservists by business concerns because of—</text>
<clause id="H6872B318DD6A436DA49DD0B26853441E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>any increase in the use of Reservists after September 11, 2001; or</text></clause>
<clause id="H19CAD8E67CFF4CB192BA00B1DCC98B66"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any change in any policy of the Department of Defense relating to Reservists after September 11, 2001.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H062806B79B9643CB8E522120376826C0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text>
<paragraph id="HA4267232E5E140DCB695CF003227F338"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBE547AACE77A47DFA3122DEF7564DA05"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H68E255A80F8341229C7C08FB77BB82E2" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>308.</enum><header>Increased Veteran Participation Program</header>
<subsection id="H21EA90E0491A451500840087CF023953"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: </text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H9E711D09899C4A6AAC15A848E7921649" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="HFD566639BE4541CD9D3174A120530058"><enum>(32)</enum><header>Increased veteran participation program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall carry out an Increased Veteran Participation Program. For a loan made under this paragraph, the following shall apply: </text>
<subparagraph id="H55A7352F66C64B34BAB067B3C16527B6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The loan shall be made to a business concern the majority ownership interest of which is directly held by individuals who are veterans of the Armed Forces or members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H569A7197B44C4E1885DE51E6179403DD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The loan shall include the participation by the Administration equal to 90 percent of the balance of the financing outstanding at the time of disbursement. </text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD177AB2F393540BBA77FAD4974A34782"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The fees on the loan under paragraphs (18) and (23) shall not apply.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="H37B74A8D2E804320BAEC39D9B457A62C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Notice and comment</header><text>The program required by section 7(a)(32) of the Small Business Act, as added by subsection (a), shall be established after the opportunity for notice and comment and not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section>
Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 2007.Lorraine C. Miller,Clerk.